DESTINATIONS LGBTQ+ TRAVEL |PORTLAND
5
OF THE BEST
Portland attractions
Powell’s City of Books is a haven for bibliophiles. It
occupies four storeys across an entire city block, making it the world’s largest independent bookstore.
powells.com
Portland Art Museum is
home to Claude Monet’s most famous work, Water Lilies.
portlandartmuseum.org
Pittock Mansion tells the story of Portland’s transformation from a
pioneer town to a modern city. The grounds offer stunning views of the region, with
snowcapped Mount Hood looming large in the distance.
pittockmansion.org
Explore the waterfalls of Columbia River Gorge on a day trip outside the city with First Nature
Tours, owned by gay couple Kieron and Camron Wilde.
firstnaturetours.com
One of Portland’s monikers is City of Roses, and there are opportunities to see flowers of all varieties in bloom here. Visit the Japanese Gardens (pictured), Rose Test Gardens and Lan Su Gardens.
japanesegarden.org lansugarden.org
fast act Travel Portland has trade
ast fact
resources and information at
travelportland.com/ about-us/information-for- travel-professionals
Central to Portland’s culinary success, they say, are
the hundreds of food carts on street corners or organised in ‘pods’ that allow chefs to gauge the appetite for their culinary creations without the high set-up costs of opening bricks-and-mortar premises.
One such pod is Lil’ America, a collection of carts owned by the LGBTQ+ community and people of colour. Los Plebes tacos stand co-founder Eddie Garcia was born in Mexico but grew up in Portland. His favourite aspect of Lil’ America is the pod’s wonderful sense of community. “We want to see each other succeed,” he enthuses. “We have a good relationship and help each other in emergencies.”
IN VINO VERITAS No meal in Portland is complete without local wine. Although most American production is concentrated in California, Oregon is proudly the country’s fourth-largest wine-producing state, and a day trip to a vineyard is a must for all city stays. One example is Ponzi Vineyards in Willamette Valley, which has won international acclaim for producing some of the world’s finest pinot noir, pinot gris, pinot blanc, chardonnay and white riesling. As a testament to its high standing in the country, its Ponzi Arneis was served at President Obama’s inauguration. Another option closer to Portland comes from Vivianne
Kennedy, a transgender woman who, along with fellow winemaker Cristina Gonzales, owns Community Wine Bar PDX on SW Dakota Street. “I aim to remove the pretentiousness from wine drinking and reduce the barriers to enjoying it. But, most importantly, I want to create a safe space for my trans family,” she says.
48 5 JUNE 2025
Vivianne tells me that winemaking allows her to combine a love of both art and science. Her journey into the industry coincided with a journey of “coming into the light” as her true self. Today, Community Wine Bar has incorporated many elements to make the premises accessible. It offers tastings in English, Spanish and American Sign Language (ASL) and regularly donates proceeds to non-profit organisations, including Q Center – an LGBTQ+ community space and the largest of its kind in the Pacific Northwest. Vivianne adds: “It’s always challenging for all small business owners, however the locals are incredibly supportive. And Oregonians have a creative spirit – this is a city of makers.” TW
BOOK IT
Virgin Voyages offers an 11-night package combining a seven- night Alaskan Glacier Blues & Coastal Views round-trip sailing from Seattle with a four-night pre-cruise stay in Portland. The price starts at £2,729 including return BA flights from Heathrow to Seattle, five days’ car hire, four nights’ room-only at Hotel Lucia in Portland and a week-long sailing in an Insider cabin on Brilliant Lady, for an August 23, 2026, departure.
virginvoyages.com
America As You Like It offers a city break to Portland, with BA flights from Heathrow and four nights’ room-only at the Jupiter Next, from £949. A nine-night fly-drive, Oregon’s All American Road Trip starts from £1,380, with flights, eight days’ car hire and room-only accommodation including two nights at the Sentinel Hotel in Portland.
americaasyoulikeit.com
travelweekly.co.uk
CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT: Downtown Portland; Hopscotch artwork; flying the flag for the LGBTQ+ community PICTURES: Travel Portland/Diego G Diaz, David Alvarado; Domhnall O’Donoghue
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