35 Fun Free Things to Do in Portland
Want to get out of the house but tired of the sticker shock? You’ve come to the right place. I live in Portland on a budget and am allergic to staying home. Here are the city’s best free destinations and activities. Some you could do on a whim. Others you’ll want to put on the calendar. I gave extra credit to the indoor activities since it takes more creativity to come up with free things to do when the weather doesn’t cooperate. Fair warning, plenty of parks are on the list, but I kept them from taking over. Towards the end, I threw in a few day trip suggestions near Portland. Enjoy!
Free things to do in Portland
1. Hike in Forest Park
Forest Park’s Ridge Trail has a great view of the St Johns Bridge
I know I promised not to fill the list with parks, but Forest Park is awesome, even on dreary days. Covering 5,200 acres in the Tualatin Mountains, it’s one of the largest urban forests in the United States. With over 80 miles of hiking trails, you’re in no danger of running out of places to explore. By venturing to the more obscure trailheads, you can escape the crowds, even on summer weekends.
Forest Park is free to visit, including parking at its trailheads. For a rewarding introduction to the park, start at Lower Macleay Park and hike along Balch Creek. In less than a mile, you’ll reach Portland’s famous Stone House, also called the Witch’s Castle. Continuing on the trail will bring you to other great free attractions in Portland, like the Bird Alliance of Oregon (#10) and the viewpoint at Pittock Mansion (#9). To find a less traveled route, check out the fire lanes at the north end of Forest Park.
2. See the Portland Troll
Ole Bolle
One of the newest and coolest free attractions in Portland is a giant troll named Ole Bolle. He lives on the campus of Nordic Northwest, the city’s Scandinavian cultural center. Even kneeling, Ole Bolle is an imposing 19-foot tall. He’s investigating one of several small cabins behind Fogelbo, a Swedish-style log house on the National Register of Historic Places. Approach him if you dare. His gaze holds no malice but more than a little mischief. Ole Bolle is one of six Pacific Northwest trolls in Danish artist Thomas Dambo’s Way of the Bird King exhibit. Like his fellow trolls, volunteers constructed him from recycled material to show how trash can turn into something magical. After your troll encounter, head inside Nordia House to see the gift shop and gallery space. If your budget allows for eating out, Broder Sud in Nordia House is a great place to have lunch.
Parking at Nordic Northwest is free. Public restrooms are inside Nordia House.
3. Portland Rose Garden and Washington Park
International Rose Test Garden
The International Rose Test Garden is one of Portland’s best free activities year-round. When the roses bloom from around May through October, it’s nothing short of extraordinary. Over 10,000 rose bushes grow in the garden, from dainty miniature roses to humongous parti-color blooms. They cover trellises, snake up lampposts, and fill rows of neat beds. At any time of year, you can see views of downtown Portland and, on a clear day, Mt Hood. The rose garden is one of several free attractions in Portland’s Washington Park, along with the Vietnam Veteran’s Memorial, the Holocaust Memorial, beautiful hiking trails reminiscent of Forest Park, and the Hoyt Arboretum, a museum of living trees (#4 below).
Parking at the Rose Garden is metered at around $2.40/hour. A free shuttle connects the attractions within Washington Park. The garden has public restrooms.
4. Hoyt Arboretum
The Maple Trail in the Hoyt Arboretum
Also part of Washington Park, the Hoyt Arboretum is a very different experience from the Rose Garden. This museum of living trees feels more like the woods of Forest Park than a formal garden. With over 2,300 tree species, the arboretum has highlights for every season. The larches and Japanese maples are a treat in the fall. The Winter Garden, Holly Trail, and Redwood Trail are among the best destinations for winter hiking. In spring, wildflowers like violets and trillium appear along the paths. Around April, the Magnolia Trail is sublime. In summer, all the trails are lush and green. Both native Pacific Northwest species and trees from around the world grow in the arboretum, a testament to Portland’s mild climate. Most trees are labeled with their species for wannabe botanists like me.
The Hoyt Arboretum is free. Parking is metered at around $2.40/hour. Restrooms are inside the Visitor Center, open 10 AM - 4 PM.
5. Portland Saturday Market and Tom McCall Waterfront Park
Booths at the Portland Saturday Market
The Portland Saturday Market is the kind of place where browsing is at least as fun as buying. Vendors fill the market space in the downtown waterfront with locally-made products like art, jewelry, clothing, and gift items on Saturdays from March through December. A stage hosts live music performances. The food carts are tempting places to get a snack to eat by the river. On hot (and not-so-hot) days, kids love playing in the fountain next to the market. After seeing the booths, take a stroll along the Willamette River in Tom McCall Waterfront Park, where cherry blossoms bloom in springtime. For more free things to do nearby, try out a scavenger hunt for Portland’s downtown murals and the famous white stag sign.
Parking near the Portland Saturday Market is metered. It’s easy to get there on public transit, especially the MAX. If you spend at least $25 at the market, you can get a free transit ticket home or validation for SmortPark lots from the market’s information booth.
6. Browse rare books at Powell’s
Powell’s Books
Powell’s Books is, I’ll admit, more fun if you’re buying books. If you’re trying not to spend money, it’s still worth a visit just to see the collection. With over a million books, Powell’s is the world’s largest new and used bookstore. It occupies a city block over multiple stories. If you’re just browsing, I’d suggest visiting when the Rare Book Room is open from 10 AM to 5 PM daily. To get inside, head to the information counter in the Pearl Room and pick up a pass to enter. The Rare Book Room looks like the library of a wealthy Victorian industrialist, with dark wood bookshelves full of beautiful volumes and tomes. The books inspire respect, awe, and, sometimes, surprise, like the time I found an old cookbook with recipes for dormouse soup and roasted sparrows.
7. Hike up Powell Butte
Powell Butte
I’d call Powell Butte Portland’s most underrated park. When I lived in southeast Portland, I used to go every week. I still visit now and again, even though it’s a longer drive. Don’t be discouraged by the strip malls you pass on the way there. Once you start driving up the butte, you’ll feel like you’ve left the city. Powell Butte is a 614-foot extinct volcanic cinder cone. The summit is covered with open prairies where wildflowers bloom in the spring and summer. The base of the butte is forested, allowing you to move through different ecosystems as you explore. The park is a great place to see wildlife. I’ve watched deer walk in front of me in no particular hurry. Songbirds flit between the berry bushes. Hawks circle overhead. On a clear day, you’ll see the peaks around Portland, like Mount Hood, Mount Adams, Mount St Helens, Mount Jefferson, Rocky Butte, and Larch Mountain.
Parking is free at Powell Butte. Don’t leave valuables in the car. I’ve seen broken glass here often. There’s a restroom building near the parking lot.
8. Central Eastside shops
Cargo
Most stores aren’t very fun if you’re on a budget. A tease, one might say. Portland has a few notable exceptions, places with such interesting stuff that browsing becomes fascinating. In the Central Eastside District, Cargo is a multi-level store full of varied and wonderful goods from around the world, none of them boring. Think antique pharmacy signs written in Sanskrit and a section devoted to kimonos. A block away is Asia America, an art and furniture store that feels more like a gallery than a retail shop. One of the newest additions to the Central Eastside shops is Memory Den, a vintage mall with over 100 vendors, plus a tattoo parlor, library, and bar. Beyond the Central Eastside, Mississippi Ave has excellent browsing potential, especially at Paxton Gate, where you might see a taxidermy ibex next to a display of crystals.
9. See the views at Pittock Mansion
Pittock Mansion
Perched high above downtown, Pittock Mansion has some of the best views in Portland. This 1914 manor was once the home of the Pittock family, early Portland richies. Now, it’s one of the city’s more popular attractions for both locals and tourists. There’s an admission fee to tour the inside, but it’s free to explore the grounds, which, to me, are the most interesting part. The stately mansion is impressive, but the real showstopper is the view from the backyard. Wander around to the back of Pittock Mansion to see the conifer-covered hills of Forest Park transition to the skyscrapers downtown. On a clear day, Mount Hood looms in the background.
Parking at Pittock Mansion is metered at around $2.40/hour. Parking is free if you hike there from one of the Forest Park trails. Don’t leave valuables (or stuff in general) in the car. The #20 bus will also get you within walking distance. Public restrooms are available.
10. Bird Alliance of Oregon
Wildlife enclosures at the Bird Alliance of Oregon
The Bird Alliance of Oregon (formerly the Portland Audubon Society) is one of Portland’s hidden gems. This 172-acre wildlife sanctuary has four miles of forested hiking trails with excellent birdwatching potential. Visiting is free, including parking. You’ll start at the Wildlife Care Center, where enclosures house birds being rehabilitated. The indoor areas have a nature store and an interpretive center with exhibits about the local birdlife. Besides the trails within the sanctuary, the Bird Alliance connects to the trails in Forest Park and the hike to Pittock Mansion.
Dogs are not allowed at the Bird Alliance of Oregon. Public restrooms are available. Parking, restrooms, and indoor areas are ADA-accessible. The trails are unpaved, uneven, and sometimes steep.
11. Birdwatching at Smith and Bybee Wetlands
White pelicans at Smith and Bybee wetlands
The Bird Alliance of Oregon isn’t Portland’s only birdwatching hotspot. Smith and Bybee Wetlands Natural Area is a lesser-known park where you have an excellent chance of seeing raptors, songbirds, ducks, herons, egrets, and white pelicans. A gentle 2-mile hiking trail, the Interlakes Trail, connects the park’s two lakes, Smith Lake and Bybee Lake. Both have wetland areas that are favorites for wildlife, like birds, reptiles, amphibians, beavers, and river otters. Hiking at Smith and Bybee is one of the best free things to do in Portland year-round. From April through June, you can take a kayak or canoe onto the water.
Dogs are not allowed at Smith and Bybee Natural Area. Look for restrooms next to the free parking lot. The Interlakes Trail is flat, wide, and even, with ramps to reach the wildlife viewing areas.
12. First Thursdays at the Portland Art Museum
Portland Art Museum
The Portland Art Museum charges admission most days, but it’s free for everyone on the first Thursday of the month from 10 AM to 7 PM. Kids 17 and under can always visit for free, as can veterans and active-duty military. The museum’s collection spans centuries and continents, showing works from antiquity to the present day. Beyond the museum downtown, its partner, the Tomorrow Theater in southeast Portland, is also free on the first Thursday of the month. Tickets are released a month before screenings. Reserve a spot ahead of time. For an art museum that’s always free, check out the Jordan Schnitzer Museum at Portland State University.
13. See the Grotto
The Grotto
The Grotto in northeast Portland is a peaceful place to visit when you want to escape the stress and chaos of life. This Catholic ministry welcomes people of all faiths to explore its grounds. The centerpiece of the Grotto is the altar at the base of a natural basalt cliff. In 1923, workmen carved out a recess in the cliff to house the stone altar. The areas below the cliff are all free to visit, including the altar, chapel, forested walking paths, religious art, and gift shop. For an admission fee, an elevator will bring you to the observatory, gardens, trails, and shrines on top of the cliff.
Parking at the Grotto is free. Public restrooms are available. Leashed dogs are welcome in the outdoor areas of the lower level but not the upper gardens. Address: 8840 NE Skidmore St, Portland, OR 97220.
14. Comedy in the Park
Laurelhurst Park
Laurelhurst Park in southeast Portland has fun, free things to do at any time of year. It’s great for last-minute plans on a beautiful day. Large mature trees shade the park’s walking paths. Flowering bushes bloom in spring and summer, while the changing leaves add beauty to a fall visit. The park’s pond is a favorite among the local ducks. The south side of the park has a basketball court, soccer field, volleyball court, and playground. One of Laurelhurst’s summer highlights is Comedy in the Park, the free stand-up comedy shows that start at 6:30 PM every Friday starting in June. Bring snacks and a blanket for a cheap night out.
15. Art walks, fairs, and events
Portland Open Studios
Portland hosts free events throughout the year to showcase the work of local artists. Here’s what to put on your calendar:
During First Thursday in the Pearl, art galleries in the Pearl District host free open houses on the first Thursday of the month from April through October. Some galleries offer drinks, snacks, and a chance to meet the artists.
Last Thursday on Alberta St is a street fair with artist booths and gallery open houses on the last Thursdays in June, July, and August. Unlike most art fairs, both vending and visiting are free.
Portland Open Studios is a free yearly event in October that lets the public tour over 100 studios throughout Portland and meet the local artists working there.
Art in the Pearl is Portland’s largest art fair. It takes place over Labor Day Weekend each year in the Pearl District’s North Blocks Park. Look for fine art offerings, from blown glass to paintings to metalwork.
16. Zymoglyphic Museum
Unexpected taxidermy at the Zymoglyphic Museum
The Zymoglyphic Museum is one of those places that seems like it could only exist in Portland. The museum occupies the upper level of a converted garage in a residential neighborhood. You’ll think you’re in the wrong place until you’re standing right in front of it. Once inside, head up the stairs to find a strange and haunting dreamscape. The exhibits center around the imagined Zymoglyphic Region, exploring concepts like progress, decay, and societal evolution. Come with questions. Leave with more questions.
The Zymoglyphic Museum is open on the 2nd and 4th Sunday of each month from 11 AM to 3 PM. Admission is free. It’s located at 6225 SE Alder St, Portland, Oregon. No restrooms.
17. Explore Sellwood
Oaks Bottom in Sellwood
Portland’s Sellwood neighborhood looks like a cute small town. If you live anywhere else in the city, visiting feels a bit like taking a day trip without the travel time. Sellwood has tons of things to do, many of them free. On a nice day, the parks are some of the best in Portland. Oaks Bottom Wildlife Refuge has an easy hiking trail around a wetland area where I often spot birds, frogs, and turtles. Sellwood Riverfront Park is a great place to get down to the water on hot days. The 21-mile Springwater Corridor bike trail connects both parks to destinations as spread out as downtown Portland and Boring, Oregon. On a rainy day, check out Sellwood’s vintage shops and the Portland Puppet Museum (#18 below). If your budget allows for eating out, the Sellwood food carts are a great place to get a cheap and delicious lunch.
18. Portland Puppet Museum
Portland Puppet Museum
The Portland Puppet Museum has the puppets of your wildest dreams. And I know how wild your puppet dreams get. The only permanent puppet museum on the West Coast, this hidden gem in Sellwood is a labor of love. The gallery on the ground floor has puppets from dozens of countries. Some are hundreds of years old. The total collection numbers in the thousands, far too many to show at once, so exhibits rotate every few months. Upstairs is the gift shop, which, along with donations and performances, helps fund the museum. Stop by Thursday - Sunday, 2 PM to 8 PM. The museum is free, with donations welcome. Address: 906 SE Umatilla St, Portland, OR 97202.
19. St Johns and Cathedral Park
Cathedral Park
Like Sellwood, Portland’s St Johns neighborhood has a unique character. Visiting is best on a nice day when you can take advantage of the parks, especially the stunning Cathedral Park on the banks of the Willamette River. The St Johns Bridge passes overhead. Its supports look like cathedral buttresses, and I doubt you’ll ever find a more beautiful underpass. Grassy lawns and picnic tables stretch out on either side of the bridge. Paths through the park are great for a stroll with the dog. Head up the hill to cross the St Johns Bridge and watch the ships pass. Forest Park is on the other side. In town, the St Johns neighborhood is cute and walkable. One of my favorite spots is Blue Moon Camera, a vintage camera shop with a free exhibit devoted to historical cameras.
20. Hike or drive up Council Crest
Dog park at Council Crest
Council Crest in southwest Portland is one of the best viewpoints in the city and a great cheap date. The park occupies a clearing on top of a 1,073-foot hill, one of the tallest points in Portland, with views of the surrounding mountains. Look for Mount Hood, Mount St Helens, Mount Adams, Mount Rainier, and Mount Jefferson on a clear day. The lawns in Council Crest Park are perfect for a sunset picnic. The park’s off-leash dog area has a great view of Mount Hood. You can drive up to Council Crest and park for free. A couple of urban hiking trails also lead to the summit. Starting at Marquam Nature Park (free 2-hour parking) will bring you through a pretty forest on a 3.5-mile out-and-back hike with the Council Crest viewpoint as the finale.
21. Watch the Vaux swifts
Vaux swifts roost in the Chapman Elementary School chimney
From late August to early October, watching the Vaux swifts at Chapman Elementary School is one of the best free things to do in Portland. Each fall, hundreds of swifts roost overnight in the school’s decommissioned chimney, one of the stops along their migration. To see them, bring a picnic blanket or lawn chairs to the yard outside the school a little before sunset. Make sure you have a view of the chimney. Crowds gather to watch the swifts roost, so it’ll be easy to see where to sit. You’ll be waiting for a bit. I highly recommend bringing snacks. The swifts begin circling and then diving down into the chimney as the last of the daylight fades. Once they start, it happens fast.
22. Visit the Oregon Historical Society
Walk through a covered wagon at the Oregon Historical Society
The Oregon Historical Society downtown is one of the lesser-known attractions in Portland. The museum charges admission, but it’s free for Multnomah County residents. Just bring proof of residency, like a driver’s license. Kids 17 and under can visit for free regardless. The museum explores the history of all things Oregon through photos, videos, artifacts, and displays. The History Hub has games, puzzles, and interactive screens that are great for engaging kids. Beyond the permanent collection are rotating exhibits related to history, art, and culture.
23. Have a picnic at Mt Tabor
Reservoir on Mt Tabor
Like many locals, I often take Mt Tabor for granted. Each time I visit, I’m reminded what a great escape it is. One of the best and oldest parks in Portland, this 636-foot cinder cone is another legacy of the area’s volcanic history. While you never lose sight of the city, the mature trees and impressive vistas make it feel like a world apart. You can make the trek up to the summit to see a glimpse of Mt Hood and views of the city from above. One of Mt Tabor’s highlights is the sunny lawn next to the large open-air reservoir, a perfect picnic spot. Beyond it, you’ll be able to see the downtown skyline. On the third Saturday in August, Mt Tabor hosts one of Portland’s silliest and most popular free events, the Adult Soapbox Derby.
Parking at Mt Tabor is free. Look for restrooms, a picnic area, and a playground near the parking lot.
24. Portland Night Market
Portland Night Market
Portland Night Markets are among the few free indoor activities in the city that you can enjoy after dark. The markets happen on select Fridays and Saturdays throughout the year from 4 PM to 11 PM. It’s fun to browse the vendor booths to see the local products like art, home goods, food, and spirits. You can find a few samples as you wander. The food cart snacks make for a cheap night out. All ages are welcome.
25. Kennedy School and Alberta Arts District
Kennedy School
The Alberta Arts District is one of the best neighborhoods in Portland to spend a relaxing afternoon, even if you’re trying not to spend money. Alberta Street is cheerful and walkable, full of cool murals, art galleries, unique shops, and vintage stores. On the last Thursday of the month in June, July, and August, check out the artist booths and street fair. Close to Alberta Street, the McMenamins Kennedy School is worth a visit. This former elementary school opened in 1915. Today, it’s a hotel with a bunch of quirky extras. Many of the activities cost money, like the bars, restaurant, soaking pool, and movie theater, but wandering is free and, honestly, one of the most interesting things to do there. Many of the original features remain from the school. The art is weird. Walking the halls comes with the charged thrill of cutting class.
26. Explore Elk Rock Island
Elk Rock Island
Elk Rock Island is one of Portland’s most overlooked parks and a wonderland of ecological diversity. Seven distinct ecosystems exist side-by-side, plus some of the oldest exposed rock in the region. Fellow nature nerds, plan on a summer or early fall visit. High water levels in the Willamette River block access to the island for much of the year. You can walk there in drier months when a land bridge connects the island to the shore. Start at Spring Park Natural Area. Follow the trail past the playground for about a half mile. When the river is low, walk across the platform of 40 million-year-old basalt to reach Elk Rock Island. From here, you can make a circle around the shore or check out the trails on top. In all, there are about 1.5 miles of hiking trails. Look for bald eagles overhead while you’re here.
Parking is free in the neighborhood around Spring Park Natural Area. There’s a port-a-potty, picnic area, and playground at the park entrance.
27. See the views at Rocky Butte
Rocky Butte viewpoint
Like Mt Tabor and Powell Butte, Rocky Butte is one of Portland’s extinct cinder cones. At 614 feet, the viewpoint at the top has a 360-degree panorama of Portland’s east side. Visit on a clear day to see the Cascade peaks. The best view is of Mount Hood. You might also spot Mount St Helens and Mount Jefferson if the visibility is good. Or, visit at night. Rocky Butte is one of the few Portland parks that’s open until midnight. Visit after dark to admire the city lights from above. Besides the viewpoint at the top, Joseph Wood Hill Park on Rocky Butte has lawns for picnicking, some hiking trails, and natural climbing walls. Parking is free, but read posted signs carefully.
28. Tryon Creek State Natural Area
Old Main Trail at Tyron Creek
Tyron Creek is the only Oregon state park within Portland city limits. Visiting is free, including parking. The park’s main charm is that it feels like the woods. Houses don’t intrude on the forest. With miles of interconnecting hiking trails, you can pick your distance from less than a half mile to about 8 miles if you go everywhere. There aren’t any showstopping features, but you can find picturesque footbridges, shaded picnic tables, a babbling creek, big trees, flowers, and wildlife. The Visitor Center has some displays about the park’s ecology and activities for kids. One of the best times to visit Tryon Creek is in the spring when the trillium blooms (usually April). The park has so many flowers that it hosts an annual Trillium Festival in April. This free festival has family-friendly activities and a native plant sale.
29. See the roses at Peninsula Park
Peninsula Park Rose Garden
Peninsula Park in northeast Portland is the kind of place that tempts me to drop a handkerchief so that a dashing gentleman will return it to me, inevitably. It has the majesty of the International Rose Test Garden with a fraction of the name recognition. Seeing the park’s 5,000 roses in bloom is one of the best free things to do in Portland during the summer. The octagonal gazebo, brick walkways, and large fountain add character to the park’s formal rose garden. Beyond the flowers, look for ball fields and a playground. The lawn is a great place to bring a blanket and a novel. Parking is free. The park has public restrooms, picnic tables, and benches.
30. Visit Stark’s Vacuum Museum
The vacuum museum
Bear with me here. It’s a long winter. The Stark’s Vacuum store on NE Grand Ave has a bonus feature: a free vacuum museum. It won’t be the largest or most awe-inspiring museum you’ll ever visit. Historical vacuums cover one of the walls of the shop. The salesperson will try to interest you in buying a vacuum while you look at the exhibits. The most interesting part about visiting is seeing how much human ingenuity has gone into cleaning dust off the floor over the decades. There are electric and manual vacuums. One memorable model requires two operators to function. Even if you take your time, visiting doesn’t take long. After seeing the vacuums, consider heading to the Central Eastside shops. Memory Den Vintage Mall is a 10-minute walk away. Or, on a nice day, head down to the Eastbank Esplanade for a walk along the Willamette River.
31. Light Festivals
Peacock Lane
Portland winters mean early sunsets and long nights. To brighten the gloom, the city has light festivals in the darkest months. Some are pricey, but several are free to visit:
See the holiday lights of Peacock Lane every year from December 15th to 31st. Residents of the 4-block street volunteer to decorate their homes and yards with dazzling light displays. Each house is different. Some themes are classic. Others, like the Home Alone-themed house, get creative with it.
Each December, the Christmas Ships Parade brings 50-60 decorated boats to the Willamette River, all decked out with holiday lights. Watch them for free from the parks, bridges, and walkways along the river.
The annual Portland Winter Light Festival lasts for a week in February. Look for stunning and creative light displays around the city, especially in downtown Portland around Pioneer Courthouse Square and the World Trade Center.
32. Oregon Rail Heritage Center
Locomotive at the ORHC
The Oregon Railroad Heritage Center (ORHC) is a museum in southeast Portland devoted to the state’s railroading history. It’s technically free. When I visited, the gentleman at the entrance asked for a $5 donation so nicely that I couldn’t refuse. The center houses three historic locomotives in its large open space. Towards the back, you can see the shop where skilled volunteers repair antique locomotives and train cars. If you love trains, it’s a blast. My interest is tepid at best, but it was still pretty cool to see the locomotives up close. As technology becomes more lightweight and digitally-based, vintage trains stand out all the more for their heavy steel and visible mechanics. They are, in a word, substantial.
Parking for the ORHC is free. Look for the parking lot across the railroad tracks from the center. Inside are public restrooms. Address: 2250 SE Water Ave, Portland, OR 97214.
Free things to do near Portland
33. Watch the fish migrate at Bonneville Dam
Migrating salmon at Bonneville Dam
Bonneville Dam is one of the best free attractions near Portland that everyone forgets. The dam is in a beautiful place, spanning the Columbia River with the dramatic slopes of the Gorge on either side. Head inside to take a self-guided tour. You’ll see the dam’s complex hydroelectric equipment. Helpful signs explain how it works. The highlight of the dam is the underwater fish viewing area. Depending on the season, you might see a variety of fish and other wildlife, like diving birds. The best time to go is when the salmon are migrating from August through October. On your way to the dam, stop by the fish hatchery to see pools full of colorful rainbow trout, baby salmon, and gigantic sturgeon.
Learn more about visiting Bonneville Dam.
34. See the Columbia Gorge waterfalls
Multnomah Falls is free to visit (sometimes)
One of my favorite things about living in Portland is that some of Oregon’s most incredible waterfalls are only a 30-minute drive from downtown. Most of them are free to visit, like Latourell Falls, Bridal Veil Falls, Horsetail Falls, Ponytail Falls, Triple Falls, and Elowah Falls. The Mac Daddy of waterfalls, Multnomah Falls, is free for part of the year. In the summer, you need a $2 timed reservation permit from 9 AM to 6 PM. Bring a bag lunch, marvel at the grandeur of the waterfalls, and see the views from Vista House.
Learn more about the best waterfall hikes near Multnomah Falls.
35. Flower festivals
Adelman’s Peony Garden
As the flower farms around Portland become more popular, their admission prices have been rising. Two flower festivals near Portland are still free as of 2025: the Swan Island Dahlia Festival and the Open House at Adelman’s Peony Garden. Both have breathtaking fields of blooms that are well worth the drive from Portland.
The Dahlia Festival has a little more in terms of activities, like a large gift shop, food carts, a formal garden, and a cut flower stand. On weekends, the farm hosts live music. The festival runs from August through Labor Day, Wednesday through Sunday, 9:00 AM to 5:30 PM.
Adelman’s Peony Garden is all about the flowers. There’s a display garden beside the sprawling peony fields. Stop by the cut flower area to see dozens of peonies in a dazzling variety of shapes and colors. The garden is open to the public daily from April 26th to June 15th, 9 AM to 6 PM.
Swan Island Dahlias
Best free things to do in Portland, the summary:
Hike in Forest Park
See the Portland Troll
Portland Rose Garden
Hoyt Arboretum
Portland Saturday Market and Tom McCall Waterfront Park
Browse rare books in Powells
Hike up Powell Butte
Central Eastside shops
See the views at Pittock Mansion
Oregon Bird Alliance
Birdwatching at Smith and Bybee Wetlands
First Thursdays at the Portland Art Museum
See the Grotto
Comedy in the Park
Art walks, fairs, and events
Zymoglyphic Museum
Explore Sellwood
Portland Puppet Museum
St Johns and Cathedral Park
Hike or drive up Council Crest
Watch the Vaux swifts
Visit the Oregon Historical Society
Have a picnic at Mt Tabor
Portland Night Market
Kennedy School and Alberta Arts District
Explore Elk Rock Island
See the views at Rocky Butte
Tryon Creek State Natural Area
See the roses at Peninsula Park
Visit Stark’s Vacuum Museum
Light festivals
Oregon Rail Heritage Center
Watch the fish migrate at Bonneville Dam
See the Columbia Gorge waterfalls
Visit the peony festival
Enjoy your economical day in Portland!
With love,
Emma
Explore nearby
Visit the best parks for hiking in Portland.
Check out my list of fun and creative date ideas in Portland.
Find the best indoor activities in Portland. Many are free or cheap.
