When you think of your native city, can you also think of any road signs or stickers that sound or look weird?
We bet you have met such in real life or at least on the web.
The citizens of Portland, Oregon have one universal appeal expression that piques the tourist’s curiosity.
‘Keep Portland Weird’ and do these ten abnormal things to be like a local.
Contents
- 1. Eat Weird Ice Cream
- 2. Hug a Fellow Creature
- 3. Find Magic in the Hole
- 4. Go Back to a Weird School
- 5. Feel Creepy at Freakybuttrue Peculiarium
- 6. Drink Like Rimsky Korsakov
- 7. Try Not to Get Lost in Shanghai Tunnels
- 8. Hunt Out the World’s Smallest Park
- 9. Look at the Vacuum Cleaner
- 10. Try Vegan Striptease
- Portland Safety Overview
1. Eat Weird Ice Cream
Can you see that bone marrow on the photo?
We will try to describe in words.
There’s one place in Oregon’s Portland where they serve you absolutely crazy tastes of ice cream.
Bone marrow is just one of them and it will drive you crazy.
Find the Salt&Straw shop for the best weird handmade ice cream flavors (goat cheese, smoked cherry, black olive flavors on the list).
2. Hug a Fellow Creature
Portland is the region where you can cuddle with any beautiful creature (human) you choose.
The website of the Cuddle Up to Me service offers a database of professional cuddlers who will literally make your day.
You can choose it to be either a long or a short procedure which can last for a few hours if you like.
3. Find Magic in the Hole
This is the original slogan of the Voodoo Doughnut company in Portland.
Except for the most delicious donuts in Oregon, you will also get a chance to buy authentic hats, mugs, special occasion gifts and more.
They have become popular thanks to the idea of adding some very unusual fillings and toppings to the regular doughnuts.
Of course, you can buy a voodoo doll shaped yummy donut, or the one with some bacon on top.
Up to you!
4. Go Back to a Weird School
Beer, bourbons, cider, and wines can all be drunk at this detention bar.
In the historic building of the elementary school by the name of Kennedy has been restored and turned into a hotel, a theater, and an eatery.
You can shop here for coffee and foods, gifts, cards, and just have fun.
5. Feel Creepy at Freakybuttrue Peculiarium
This place in Portland is for the lovers of creepy and weird museum exhibit items.
There you will be able to witness the strangest explorations of the science fiction, as well as the embodiment of ideas of the old creepy legends.
The place is weird, dark, and way too unpleasant for the kids so you should better take your soulmate with you.
6. Drink Like Rimsky Korsakov
Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov, a great composer known around the world as the author of Sheharazade ballet and Golden Cockerel opera, used to start his morning with a cup of hot coffee and a honey bun.
A Victorian house in Portland has been turned into a cozy coffee shop.
It allows you to start your mornings in the way the great musician did it.
Enter Rimsky Korsakoffee to get the best coffee in the weird atmosphere or get water from a water gun (also possible).
7. Try Not to Get Lost in Shanghai Tunnels
Would you like to go underground in your area in Oregon?
Head to the Shanghai Tunnels on the territory of Old Chinatown.
Go under the ground to feel creepy and think of scary things that, according to the legends and stories, had happened here in the tunnels.
Once upon a time, there were evil captains who moored ships on Portland shores to kidnap men for the crew.
The Shanghai tunnels then served as a dungeon.
8. Hunt Out the World’s Smallest Park
Hint: move along the SW Naito Parkway in downtown Portland and look under your feet as you approach SW Taylor Street.
The Mills End Park is the tiniest green zone in the city with tiny trees, grass, and own nameplate.
9. Look at the Vacuum Cleaner
In the weird city of Portland, you will spend the day without cleaning.
Though you will still look at the vacuums.
There’s a cool Stark’s Vacuum Museum where you can learn the history of the vacuums and see many pictures and first cleaning robots on shelves.
There is no admission fee, although the museum is open during the regular vacuum store hours.
10. Try Vegan Striptease
Portland is home for Casa Diablo vegan strip club.
Not only is it the major striptease city in the United States, but no country in the world has that vegan strip area.
If you have visited one of the numerous ‘normal’ strip clubs in Oregon, it’s time to go different and try it like a vegan.
Portland Safety Overview
READ THE FULL REPORT: Portland Safety Review
Safety Index:
- OVERALL RISK: MEDIUM
- TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK: LOW
- PICKPOCKETS RISK: MEDIUM
- NATURAL DISASTERS RISK: MEDIUM
- MUGGING RISK: LOW
- TERRORISM RISK: MEDIUM
- SCAMS RISK: LOW
- WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK: LOW
“Portland, Oregon is definitely a unique and quirky city, with its ‘Keep Portland Weird’ slogan and unusual attractions like a vegan strip club and a vacuum cleaner museum.”