Top 6 Things To Do In Portland During The GSWS
As noted in another post, this year the Gay Softball World Series (GSWS) is being played in Portland, Oregon!
Personally, I have never been to Portland but it's been on the list for the longest time. I asked fellow Portlandians(?) what their favorite things to do are and came up with this list.
Here are the top 6 things to do in Portland while you're in town for the GSWS:
Trails of Forest Park
There are 80+ miles of trails right in the city limits for you to explore. I was looking at the map and it's insane how close to downtown it actually is. If you're in town on Labor Day when businesses are closed, why not enjoy the day hiking? Or if your team gets eliminated a lot quicker than you wanted them to, why not let out that frustration by walking for miles until your legs can't?
Also nearby are the Oregon Zoo, Japanese Gardens, Pittock Mansion (with an amazing view of the city and Mt. Hood) and the Hoyt Arboretum.
Little Neighborhoods to Explore
The unique shops, art, food, and beverages of the many little neighborhoods: St Johns, Mississippi, Alberta, and NW 23rd are just a few. Each neighborhood is full of adorable local shops and restaurants that you could spend hours in. Don't spend your time eating at chains like Applebee's or your hotel's Outback. Take some time and explore the local offerings the city has because there are plenty!
Local Breweries
Portland, besides being known as the "Weird City" or "Rip City" if you're a Trailblazers fan, is famous for its breweries. There are a ton of breweries in the city and each of them have their own style or quirk that make them special compared to the rest. There are too many to recommend so simply find one on the map and just go. They are everywhere.
Right now, I've heard that you should try the sours. They're the newer type of brew that are picking up popularity. If you don't want to explore too much though, there's always a solid IPA to drink.
And if you're too lazy to do what I said by looking at a map, here are three:
Food Pods
Portland is home to at least 500 food carts available at any given time. The carts are generally set up in "pods" which is what gives them the name. Scattered throughout the city, you can find these food carts offering a wide variety of food. From Egyptian to Korean to Mexican to Italian, the list goes on and on. Like I said before, don't waste your time eating Applebee's. You'll regret it.
Wineries
If you've seen a theme, a lot of the things to do in Portland involve eating or drinking.
If you want to get out of town, there are several wineries just a quick drive away. You can check out one of Oregon's oldest wineries, Ponzi Historic Estate. Or you can try one of the most popular and well known wineries in Oregon known as the Eyrie Vineyards.
Waterfalls, Coastal Mountain Hiking and More
If you do have more time and want to do some more hiking outside of the city range, there is an abundance of hiking in the Columbia Gorge, Mt. Hood/Cascades, Multnomah Falls (pictured) and the coastal mountain range. The variety of views you can get all in one state are incredible and I highly recommend you explore if you have the time.
Pro tip:
You will need a portable charger. This is not a "maybe" kind of purchase. Think about it for a second. You're at a massive softball field complex outside for essentially the entire day. Where are you going to plug in your phone? The grass? Nope. Here's my favorite portable charger!