Portlands bridges connect walkable neighborhoods full of food carts, microbreweries, vintage shops, and indie theaters. Festivals animate Pioneer Courthouse Square and Waterfront Park, while nature beckons from Forest Park to the Columbia River Gorge. Portland rewards curiosity, and early September is prime time to explore.
🟢 Where To Eat
photo: Trip Advisor
Dan & Louis Oyster Bar
📍208 SW Ankeny St, Old Town
A century-old haunt with creaky wooden booths and unmatched maritime character, this Portland institution serves impeccably fresh oysters and a soul-satisfying clam chowder that’s practically heritage. For a classic seafood fix, few places capture Old Portland better.
Canard
📍734 E Burnside St, East Burnside
Canard plays by its own rules — and wins. Think French bistro meets Pacific Northwest mischief: steam burgers, foie gras dumplings, and an addictive duck stack with maple syrup. James Beard–level finesse, without the pretense.
Fogo de Chão
📍930 SW 6th Ave, Downtown
For an all-you-can-eat celebration of fire-roasted meats, this Brazilian steakhouse delivers both spectacle and substance. Skewers arrive tableside in a dizzying parade — from picanha to pork ribs — while the Market Table offers a lush spread of charcuterie, salads, and more.
🔵 Where To Stay
The Nines
📍525 SW Morrison St, Downtown
Housed in the former Meier & Frank building, this high-style hotel is wrapped in velvet, art, and history. Its rooftop restaurant Departure offers views as bold as its cocktails. Steps from Pioneer Square, it’s ideal for urban explorers with a taste for luxury.
Hotel Zags
📍515 SW Clay St, Downtown
This boutique stay is equal parts hotel and gear-lending library. Guests can check out bikes, fishing poles, and more — perfect for a city that believes in play. Expect lush courtyards, a mural-clad facade, and easy access to Portland’s cultural core.
Learn More: https://theeatguide.com/career-oppertunities/
🟡 Where To Play
Portland Farmers Market at PSU
📍South Park Blocks between SW College & Montgomery
📅 Saturday, Sept. 6, 8:30am–2pm
One of the best markets in the country, this Saturday ritual pulses with seasonal bounty. Grab heirloom tomatoes, Oregon berries, hand-laminated pastries, and Portland-roasted coffee — all to a soundtrack of buskers and rustling leaves.
The Dahlia Festival
📍Swan Island Dahlias, 995 NW 22nd Ave, Canby
📅 Now through Sept. 30
A bloom-lover’s dream. Over 40 acres explode in color with 370+ varieties of dahlias. Wander fields of ruffled perfection, shop tubers for next year’s garden, or simply picnic with the bees. Admission is free and the joy is contagious.
The Corn Maize at Sauvie Island
📍16511 NW Gillihan Rd
📅 Opening Labor Day Weekend
Kick off the fall season with this quintessential Portland outing. Navigate towering corn stalks in a creatively designed maze, then reward your inner kid with kettle corn and a hayride. It's all set on idyllic Sauvie Island, just 30 minutes from downtown.
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