portlandia tour of portland

A 'Portlandia' tour guide: 21 Oregon locations where the TV show filmed

• Published: Mar. 08, 2018, 2:23 p.m.
• Kristi Turnquist | The Oregonian/OregonLive

Augusta Quirk/IFC

By Kristi Turnquist | The Oregonian/OregonLive

Whether you think "Portlandia" is sharp satire or misses the mark when it comes to spoofing life in the Rose City, there's no doubt that the series has given viewers all across the country a glimpse of Portland.

The series, which is airing its eighth and final season on IFC, has played a significant role in putting Portland on the pop culture map. The opening credits alone are an offbeat tourism reel, spotlighting such Portland standbys as  Mary's Club, the downtown strip joint;  Powell's City of Books; and that ubiquitous filmed-in-Portland image, a bridge spanning the Willamette River.

Co-creators and costars  Fred Armisen and  Carrie Brownstein, along with a long list of famous guest stars and local actors, have performed sketches in restaurants, coffee shops, boutiques, parks and more, mostly in Portland's central city.

"Portlandia" may be nearing the end of its run on IFC, but the comedy sketch series is likely to live on, streaming on Netflix and popping up in vintage videos shared on Twitter or Facebook. Which means that people are still going to wonder where the "Dream of the '90s" music video, "Put a Bird On It," and other memorable "Portlandia" scenes were filmed.

We’re here to help. Whether you’re a Portlander indulging guests, or a tourist looking for that “Portlandia” experience, here’s a guide to some of the most notable locations where “Portlandia” filmed since it began, back in 2011.

And if you want to just soak up "Portlandia" atmosphere, you can't go wrong wandering the shopping areas of Southeast Hawthorne Boulevard, Southeast Belmont Street ,  Northeast Alberta Street or  North Mississippi Avenue, where shops stocking items with birds on them still abound.

Mark Graves/The Oregonian/OregonLive

Powell's City of Books

Visiting celebrities, out-of-town authors and locals alike know the downtown flagship location of Powell's as a symbol of Portlanders' love of books. No wonder we see the exterior in the "Portlandia" opening credits. The marquee also appears in the Season 1 sketch featuring Spyke (Armisen) pedaling around downtown, yelling about "bicycle rights!" (1005 W. Burnside St.)

Yoga Pearl/Prasad

Th e yoga studio in the trendy Pearl District was the setting for the Season 3 "Meditation Crush" sketch, in which Brownstein plays a woman who, during a meditation class, finds herself drawn to a fellow silent meditator (Armisen.) She fantasizes about the two of them sharing passionate moments until the session is over and Armisen's meditator is a nasal-talking jerk. Bonus: The Season 5 "Fart Patio" sketch, about the gastric after-effects of dining at a raw-food restaurant, was filmed at  Yoga Pearl's vegan café, Prasad. (925 N.W. Davis Ave.)

Where the "Colin the Chicken" sketch was filmed

The Gilt Club, the restaurant where the famed "Colin the Chicken" sketch from Season 1 was filmed, is no more. We reported in January of 2014 that the Gilt Club had closed for good . But we'll always remember Armisen and Brownstein as diners obsessed with whether the chicken on the menu was local, organic and how the bird – Colin was his name – was raised. (306 N.W. Broadway)

Mary's Club

The  establishment described on its own web site as "infamous as 'Portland's First Topless'" has been catering to stripper-seeking customers since the '50s. Its distinctive marquee is featured in the "Portlandia" opening credits. (129 S.W. Broadway)

Beth Nakamura/The Oregonian/file, 2011

Portland City Hall

From the beginning of "Portlandia," the fictional mayor of Portland (played by Kyle MacLachlan) has conducted his frequently wacky business at the historic Portland City Hall building. (1221 S.W. Fifth Avenue)

Portland's City Hall is seen in the background of this scene from "Portlandia."

The Oregonian/OregonLive/file, 2012

Vera Katz Eastbank Esplanade

The very first sketch on the very first episode of "Portlandia" also functioned as a sort of theme statement for the show. Armisen plays a guy who's in Los Angeles, telling his friend (played by Brownstein) about the amazing discoveries he's made in Portland, Oregon. Then we segue into "The Dream of the '90s," the music video in which Armisen and a chorus of eccentric Portlanders sing about the city where young people go to retire, where "the tattoo ink never runs dry." It was filmed at the esplanade along the Willamette Rive r. (S.E. Water Avenue and Hawthorne Boulevard)

Oblique Coffee Roasters

You can't throw a bottle of Kombucha – not that you'd want to do something so aggressive, not to mention littering – without hitting a Portland coffee shop. "Portlandia" had a fondness for the Southeast Portland business which its web site describes as "A super bitchin' Victorian Coffee Mercantile with scrumtrulescent beans micro roasted in an uber German cast iron roaster named Bart!" No wonder "Portlandia" filmed sketches there, including a Season 3 segment featuring guest star Patton Oswalt as a guy in a coffee shop typing funny Evite replies on his laptop. To be specific, in the episode, it says onscreen that Oswalt is at Oblique Coffee, whose exterior is shown. But the interior scenes were filmed at Albina Press, at 5012 S.E. Hawthorne Blvd. (3039 S.E. Stark Street)

The Slide Inn

The  Southeast Portland neighborhood restaurant serves German and American food, not to mention brunch. It's turned up in several "Portlandia" sketches, including the Season 8 episode featuring guest star Rachel Bloom going on a date. (2348 S.E. Ankeny Street)

Augusta Quirk/ IFC

Carrie Brownstein, Fred Armisen, Sean Tarjyoto and Rachel Bloom in the third episode of "Portlandia" Season 8.

The Oregonian/OregonLive/file, 2011

Olympia Provisions

With its updated industrial space aura and "MEAT" sign, the Southeast outpost of Olympia Provisions restaurant (the business was known until 2015 as Olympic Provisions) was an ideal location for the Season 5 "Dream of the 1890s" music video, which spoofed the "Dream of the '90s" sketch, and made fun of Portland's fixation on pickling vegetables, brewing beer, growing out mutton-chop facial hair, knitting and other old-timey customs. (107 S.E. Washington Street)

The Oregonian/OregonLive/file, 2015

Burnside Skatepark

Portland's landmark skateboarding park appears in the "Portlandia" opening credits, and also turned up in a Season 2 sketch, in which the Fred and Carrie characters look for feedback on their new designs for Portland Police uniforms. ( Located under the Burnside Bridge, on the east side of the Willamette River, at Southeast Second Avenue)

Land ("Put a Bird On It")

The  art gallery and gift shop in the Mississippi neighborhood served as a location for the famous Season 1 sketch, "Put a Bird On It!" in which Bryce Shivers (Armisen) and Lisa Eversman (Brownstein) put birds on everything – even birds. (3925 N. Mississippi Avenue)

Paxton Gate

The Portland location of the store known for its eclectic variety of taxidermy, plants, jewelry, gardening tools, vintage scientific gizmos and so on was the location for the Season 2 sketch featuring frequent "Portlandia" guest star Jeff Goldblum as the proprietor or an artisanal knot store. (4204 N. Mississippi Avenue)

Photo courtesy of Caravan - The Tiny House Hotel

Caravan - The Tiny House Hotel

The Season 5 episode, "House for Sale," included a sketch in which Armisen and Brownstein tried to downsize into a tiny house, so compact the bathroom also functioned as a home office. The sketch was filmed at Northeast Portland's Caravan – The Tiny House Hotel. (5015 N.E. 11 th Avenue)

Portlandia-TinyHouse from Will Cate on Vimeo .

Good Neighbor Pizzeria

The Season 2 finale, "Brunch Village," made fun of that most ridiculous of Portland traditions, standing in line for hours to get into the hot brunch restaurant of the moment. The fictional brunch spot was called "Fisherman's Porch," and the exteriors were filmed at Good Neighbor Pizzeria. ( 800 N.E. Dekum Street)

In Other Words

You can't think of "Portlandia" without recalling the many sketches that took place at Women and Women First, the fictional feminist bookstore operated by Toni (Brownstein) and Candace (Armisen.) Up until 2016, those sketches were filmed at  In Other Words, a longtime Portland feminist bookstore and community center. But in a blistering statement posted on the In Other Words website, the community center said it was discontinuing its relationship with "Portlandia" for a number of reasons. Among them: sketches that are "trans-antagonistic and trans-misogynist"; the show's role in helping fuel destructive gentrification; the show's lack of diversity; and the fact that being on the show doesn't make any money for the center, and instead attracts tourists and fans who "come to our door to stand outside, take selfies, and then leave. The vast majority of them don't come inside." (14 N.E. Killingsworth St.)

The Oregonian/OregonLive/file, 2006

Here’s a rare “Portlandia” location that’s not in the central city. In the Season 4 finale, “Getting Away,” characters took a trip to “New Beavertown," which was actually the Troutdale area. (Pictured is Troutdale's Stark Street Bridge at its intersection with the Historic Columbia River Highway, at milepost 16.7)

Fred Armisen, Carrie Brownstein, k.d. lang and others in the "Portlandia" episode, "Getting Away."

The Rose Quarter

Sometimes, "Portlandia" hit its satirical target right on the nose, as with a Season 4 sketch in which Armisen and Brownstein's characters get down with their public radio-loving selves at a "Prairie Home Companion" tailgate party in the Rose Quarter. (1 N. Center Court Street)

Fred Armisen and Carrie Brownstein in the "Prairie Home Companion" tailgate party sketch, in "Portlandia."

Steve Dipaola/Associated Press

Moda Center

The arena a t the Rose Quarter is where the Portland Trail Blazers play, if you're wanting to see some NBA action, or catch the Blazer Dancers doing their thing, as featured in the Season 4 episode in which Toni and Candace decide to give the dancers a feminist makeover. (1 N. Center Court Street)

The Oregonian/OregonLive/file, 2014

Bagdad Theater & Pub

The historic  Southeast theater served as a location for the Season 2 episode, "Cat Nap," featuring guest star Kristen Wiig as a crazed fan of the fictional band, Cat Nap, whose lineup included Kevin, a cat. (3702 S.E. Hawthorne Blvd.)

"Portlandia" fans who plan to be in the area in August, can check out Pickathon for themselves. It's the independent music festival where the show filmed a Season 6 episode. (Pickathon 2018 happens Aug. 3-5, at Pendarvis Farm, 16581 S.E. Hagen Rd., in Happy Valley)

Portlandia tour guide video and map

Watch our video to see notable Portland spots where "Portlandia" filmed, all mapped out for your convenience.

Beth Nakamura/The Oregonian/OregonLive

"Portlandia" and the ongoing debate about its impact on Portland

As the eighth and final season of  "Portlandia" was about to debut, I wrote about the ongoing debate about the show's impact on Portland. Some love "Portlandia" for its spot-on satire about the Rose City, while others blame it for helping fuel gentrification.

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Our guide was amazing. perfect mix of history and humor", "a must-do in portland, entertaining, informative, and wonderfully fun. five stars", "the best walking tour i have ever taken", "unforgettable experience, the perfect introduction to portland's unique vibe", "loved every moment, you'll see portland in a whole new light. highly recommend".

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At Secrets of Portlandia, we’re passionate about revealing the hidden gems and rich history of Portland, Oregon through unforgettable walking tours. Join us to explore the city’s enchanting secrets and create lasting memories. Walk with us and discover the heart and soul of Portlandia.

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At Secrets of Portlandia, we take pride in our #1 rated free walking tours of Portland! Join our tour to experience the hidden wonders of the Rose City. Our experienced, passionate guides will lead you through the enchanting streets, revealing the best-kept secrets and captivating stories that have shaped this amazing city for nearly 200 years.

Immerse yourself in the rich history, diverse culture, and breathtaking architecture that make Portland a true gem of the Pacific Northwest. From iconic landmarks to off-the-beaten-path treasures, our carefully crafted tours offer a unique and unforgettable experience for both locals and visitors alike. Book a tour with us, and let us show you all the greatest places in Portland, one step at a time.

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Our tour lasts about 2 hours, including a bathroom break in the middle of the tour.

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Yes, our walking tours are designed to accommodate a wide range of fitness levels. While some tours may involve moderate walking, we offer options suitable for most participants. Please feel free to inform us about any specific mobility concerns, and we’ll do our best to accommodate your needs.

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We recommend wearing comfortable walking shoes and dressing appropriately for the weather, as most tours are conducted rain or shine. It’s also a good idea to bring a water bottle, sunscreen, and a camera to capture the unforgettable moments along the way.

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Portland’s weather can be unpredictable, but our tours go ahead rain or shine. In the event of inclement weather, we recommend bringing appropriate rain gear and umbrellas. Rest assured that exploring the city’s secrets in the rain can be a uniquely memorable experience. But we do try to lead our tour under the cover of buildings whenever we can to keep everybody dry!

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Our tour starts at Pioneer Courthouse on SW 6th Avenue. We’ll be just across the street from Pioneer Square.

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If you have any questions about our free walking tours of Portland, please contact us by email or with this web form! We are excited to have you in Portland and we’d be happy to help you plan your trip any way we can.  assist you in exploring the hidden wonders and captivating stories of Portland, Oregon. Join us on this unforgettable journey as we reveal the city’s best-kept secrets, one step at a time. We can’t wait to welcome you to Portland!

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'Portlandia' Tour Of Portland - With Reviews & Ratings

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• Mobile Voucher Accepted
• Hotel pickup Available
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• Duration: 3 Hrs
• Departure Details : Downtown Portland hotels or prearranged meeting spot
• Return Details : Returns to original departure point
• Cancellation Policy : Cancel up to 2 days in advance for a full refund Tours booked using discount coupon codes will be non refundable.

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After pickup at your downtown Portland hotel or meeting spot, hop in your tour van with your guide and start your Portlandia tour at Voodoo Doughnut, a Portland institution where the line regularly flows out the door. Pick out the doughnut that looks most interesting to you perhaps the beloved Bacon Maple Bar and then head to a nearby coffee shop. When you order your complimentary third-wave coffee (dont worry, your guide can explain what that means), recall the 'artisan' baristas seen on the show. Coffee isnt the only thing your guide can give tips on: Feel free to ask for recommendations on local eateries, shops, breweries, bike rentals, and more. If youre looking for the best deal on a mustache trim or a custom-made bow tie, its likely your guide knows the hippest places to go. Dont be surprised if you spot said bow ties in a window display on a walk around the trendy Mississippi Avenue neighborhood. Stop in Land, an art gallery and shop where the shows iconic phrase put a bird on it was hatched. Afterward, continue to more filming locations including a popular area for food trucks and carts. Check out the location where the episode Stus Stews was filmed, and then feel free to purchase any food youd like from the trucks. Options include Asian fusion, barbecue and sandwiches. Then head up to Killingsworth Street to visit the In Other Words Feminist Community Center, a nonprofit lending library and event venue that serves as the inspiration behind Portlandia s Feminist Bookstore. You'll also get to drive through the Alberta street and Laurelhurst neighborhoods that have inspired many scenes and characters on the show. You'll make your way to the Verna Katz Esplanade, where the opening scene of the series, "Dream of the '90s," was filmed. Learn about the tongue-in-cheek skit where Fred explains how it's the city where young people come to retire, and unicycles are a normal mode of transportation. Your last stop is at the 'Portlandia' sculpture in front of the Portland Building featured in Portlandias opening credits. From there, enjoy a ride (in your van, not on a unicycle) to your hotel or other downtown pickup point.

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Doughnut at Voodoo Doughnut

Cup of coffee at Public Domain Coffee

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Subject to favorable weather conditions. If canceled due to poor weather, you will be given the option of an alternative date or full refund

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Traveler Reviews

The tour guide was excellent. Great way to see all the different neighborhoods and find out some of the behind the scenes info about Portlandia. We even stopped for coffee at Coava where Jerry Seinfeld and Fred Armisen went on Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee - because I was a Seinfeld fan - and the only one on the tour that day. It was a rainy Thursday in January, but the tour was the highlight of my visit to Portland.

This tour was amazing!

This was fun. I have not watched the program and was at a disadvantage because of that....however, the guide did his best to help get me up to speed. I would liked to have had a little more explanation...

Excellent, excellent! We were ready for something different, and different and fascinating we got from our very knowlegable and friendly guide. We especially enjoyed Hippo Hardware, the wierd Ace Hotel, and the free Voodoo doughnut.

Really good overall! Enjoyed going to the less crowded Voodoo Doughnuts, exploring Mississippi Avenue and seeing the famous bookstore! Wish we had had more time to see specific houses used in the show. We did have a little glitch with having to get moved from the 9AM tour to the 2PM tour due to lack of participants. Triple confirm your pick-up spot with the dispatch person on the phone to make sure it works with the tour guide too. The guide wasn't pleased with where or when she had told us to meet him.

Sooooooo much fun.

This was a great way to se many neighborhoods of Portland early in our visit and we enjoyed getting up close to Portlandia landmarks.

Ron Davies was my tour guide and was fantastic! The tour was much more than just Portlandia and gave a great flavor to the neighborhoods and history of the City. Appreciated the effort he put into the tour.

Ronis a fabulous and personable guide. He made the say informative and fun.

We thoroughly enjoyed our tour. Ron was a charming and informative tour guide. He went above and beyond to give us the best tour.

The Potlandia Experience

Portland's growing marijuana culture tour, bus tours in portland oregon.

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Potlandia Experience Tour

We have lined up the ultimate Potlandia Experience. Oregon’s best 420-friendly sightseeing tour. Join us for a once-in-a-lifetime and unforgettable experience!

• Hour Glass 3.5 Hours

Weed & Waterfall Tours

A visit to Oregon is never complete without experiencing nature in some respect. Witness the nature and wilderness of the lovely Columbia River Gorge!

ALL ARE WELCOME

The Potlandia Experience Marijuana Tour is the latest offering from Great Oregon Tours, one of the top-rated tour companies in Portland, Oregon. Our guides are the best in the business and you’re sure to be entertained and educated about Portland’s growing marijuana culture. The Potlandia Experience is the most distinctive Portland tour around with the bonus of its DOPE tour bus.

Check-Out What Our Customers Say! ★★★★★

I went with two others and we all agreed we had an amazing time. We felt very taken care of by our tour guide, Matt. When you're not from the area, you can feel really vulnerable when you're high. However, Matt always checked in at the right times and made the experience really fun. The bus was equipped with every tool you could want, and had water which was a really sweet thought. The stops were awesome, my favorite was a local skate park. I would definitely recommend spending your day on this experience, it made me and my boyfriend fall in love with Portland!

We went for a brewery tour for Father's Day and this was by far the best party bus I've been on. Fun exterior and the driver was extremely kind, accommodating, and safe. We all felt very taken care of the entire time, including the water and snacks on the bus. I would highly recommend this for your next event.

The tour guide is passionate and personable, and immediately created a chill, welcoming environment for the experience. The locations chosen to visit were clearly chosen with the intention to share the Classic Portland Experience. This experience is for everyone - Toking Tourists who want to see Portland, or Locals who love the Cannabis Culture. I did go with a friend, but would have definitely had fun and felt safe alone because of how inclusive and respectful the scene is, and because of the community environment the Tour Guide created.

The Potlandia Experience was a great time! We used their service for a company event and our guests thoroughly enjoyed the "trip". Matt, the owner and driver was the perfect combination of professional and fun. I hope to use his services again in the future.

I've been on the bus multiple times and took it down to Medford with my team. Everyone loved the bus and made this trip so much better then last time! Thanks Potlandia for the amazing day/night out!

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The Potlandia Experience specializes in amazing tours of either the city of Portland and all it has to offer or out into the Columbia River Gorge to see some of Oregon‘s beauty at its finest. Our city tour incorporates dispensaries, food carts, voodoo doughnuts, Portland Rose Gardens, Pittock Mansion as well as the Burnside skatepark. Throughout the tour you will learn all about Portland’s history, The good the bad and the ugly as well as some fun facts sprinkled in. You will get a chance to get some amazing local food and check out incredible artwork and murals. You will get to see Portland city life as well as nature all in one trip and we will even have a chance to get out and literally smell the roses. Our Columbia River Gorge tour takes you to see some of the best waterfalls that Oregon has to offer as well as an incredible view looking out over the gorge from Crownpoint Vista house. If you enjoy experiencing new things and being able to relax then this is definitely the tour for you so check out our website and book your tour today and leave the rest up to us. We look forward just seeing you very soon! …

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Portland, OR 97220

Parkrose, Northeast Portland

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The guys very knowledgeable and very awesome. Ride around smoke get food. One of the best city tours I've ever seen. He's got water and pieces and ashtrays and papers and trays,to have a nice smoking experience on your tour. First stop dispensary then food places and other places. If you smoke the good stuff. And you're important check it out, I highly recommend it

Me taking a picture with the bus

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New management and glad I booked versus reading prior inaccuracies. Matt (hope I have this right) is outgoing and great at his tour. The 4/20 tour was the best of a tour for me ever! Meetup and confirmation all via text- no issues & day prior as noted The bus was tastefully decorated in weed decor just like you would expect with Cheech and Chong. He had a nice setup with paraphernalia (lighters, bomb, ashtrays etc); water; chips and a goodie bag. Everyone enjoys a merch bag lol We were a group of 5 strangers who will all agree had a great time with no driving involved. Especially on a misty Portland day. Matt gave us the safety talk and then the itinerary for the day. At the end of the tour all the stops he planned were in sync and flowed. In between he gave us many mini talks about Portland that were very interesting, intriguing & kept our attention. Usually they tied in to the places we stopped at. Without giving away the whole tour if you are open minded and ready to relax and enjoy the local spots to smoke, eat, drink, & support then this is "that" tour.

See all photos from stefanie m. for The Potlandia Experience

This trip was a lot of fun. We were able to visit a number of locations including a skate park, which was novel. Our guide was very knowledgeable and would come sit with us and just converse. He also dropped us off at a spot more convenient to our hotel.

Super fun ride and even better driver We went for a brewery tour for Father's Day and this was by far the best party bus I've been on. Fun exterior and the driver was extremely kind, accommodating, and safe. We all felt very taken care of the entire time, including the water and snacks on the bus. I would highly recommend this for your next event.

This experience is the ultimate Portland Pot experience. The tour guide is passionate and personable, and immediately created a chill, welcoming environment for the experience. The locations chosen to visit were clearly chosen with the intention to share the Classic Portland Experience. This experience is for everyone - Toking Tourists who want to see Portland, or Locals who love the Cannabis Culture. I did go with a friend, but would have definitely had fun and felt safe alone because of how inclusive and respectful the scene is, and because of the community environment the Tour Guide created.

Matt was so much fun to have as our tour guide! He knows a lot of stuff about a lot of stuff!! The tour was so much fun and very relaxing! I loved the spots he took us to, especially the food trucks and the view of the city! I really liked the dispensary he took us to (we returned to that same spot several times during our week there! I do wish though, that he would have taken to a second shop; maybe one with some more glass? That would be my only suggestion. If you are unfamiliar with the area or are not familiar with dispensaries protocols due this tour on one of your first days there!! It will give you a sense of things/areas that you might want to further explore on your stay!

The Potlandia Experience was a great time! We used their service for a company event and our guests thoroughly enjoyed the "trip". Matt, the owner and driver was the perfect combination of professional and fun. I hope to use his services again in the future.

I've been on the bus multiple times and took it down to Medford with my team. Fantastic time! Everyone loved the bus and made this trip so much better then last time! Thanks Potlandia for the amazing day/night out!

For $75 we pretty much got driven to different dispensaries like an Uber... But we were already doing this on our own before the tour. We thought the tour was going to take us to a growing facility or farm. Instead we went to 3 dispensaries, one food place and a brewery. Although the driver was super friendly and welcoming he didn't give us any information that we didn't already know. Didn't feel like we learned anything new. Nothing was really included besides a couple of blunts to share with the fellow riders. If you wanted food, bud, or brews you had to purchase them. Met some cool people throughout the tour but nothing special.

Nov 14, 2019

Hi Kayla I’m sorry to hear you didn’t have a very good experience when you came out last year. We are under new ownership now and I can assure you our tour is quite different than what it used to be. I hope you’ll give us another chance and if you do your tour is on me

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I tagged along with Peter on a work trip to Portland and while researching activities we came across a Portlandia Tour, we knew we had to book it.

Portlandia is a hilarious sketch comedy show on IFC. It focuses on the eccentricities of Portland although I think most of it can be applied to other cities too. It can be over the top ridiculous and it’s amazing. Anyway, so I was super excited to take a quirky Portland tour.

The dream of the 90’s is alive in Portland. Where young people go to retire. And where you can put a bird on it (anything really) and it becomes art.

If none of that made sense to you, then you haven’t watched Portlandia yet. If you are a little curious, I’d recommend watching this video .

Now on with the tour! The Portlandia tour covers Portland’s most popular neighborhoods and hot spots from the show. It was an excellent way to get a feel for the city’s layout and learn about the history of the neighborhoods.

Our tour guide (Ron Davies) was amazing and really passionate about Portland. Definitely, request him when booking the tour if you can.

Portlandia Tour Stops

The Land Gallery was featured in the “Put a Bird on it” episode. It’s a super cool store filled with handmade goods from local artists.

There wasn’t any Portlandia merchandise to buy but an employee did point out where the cute little bird from the show still sits in the store.

In Other Words is a real feminist bookstore in Portland where scenes in early seasons were filmed. It wasn’t open when we stopped by so we couldn’t go inside and check it out.

Sunlan Lighting was another stop on the tour. The store itself wasn’t featured on the show but the show’s crew did buy light bulbs there for the “Artisanal Light Bulb” episode.

Peter actually had a long conversation with the owner’s son about his collection of old skateboard decks up on the wall.

Portland Donut Tour Stops

The tour wasn’t just about Portlandia but also covered some other cool Portland tour stops.

Then our tour guide drove past the 2nd location which was closer to our hotel and less busy, making it a better stop for us later in the week. My favorite donuts were the Grape Ape and Voodoo Bubble donuts.

We actually ended up grabbing a donut Blue Star Donuts on our tour which isn’t necessarily as famous as Voodoo but is just as possible with the locals. It’s sort of the antithesis of Voodoo with simple flavors and a modern store front.

Peter liked Blue Star Donuts better, and while I did enjoy my donut a lot, I just prefer the unique fun flavors available at Voodoo. 

Other Cool Stops: Portland Tour

Hippo Hardware was a super unique 3 story salvage store that seemed to take up an entire city block. We spent time browsing and marveling over the ugly, weird, authentic and unique items it sold.

We also randomly stopped by the Embassy Suites Downtown Portland because of it’s historic significance. It’s over 100 years old, originally operated as The Multnomah Hotel. Everyone from celebrities to presidents stayed there when visiting Portland.

While it’s been remodeled and rebranded into an Embassy Suites, you can still see some of its old world charms in the lobby. I hope we can stay there on our next trip to Portland. The location in downtown Portland makes it convenient to fun stops like Powell’s Books and Voodoo Donuts.

Our tour ended up being private because we were the only people on it. This gave our tour guide more flexibility with stops. Based on our Portlandia tour experience, we booked a private tour of Muir Woods on our trip to San Francisco !

The Portlandia tour is no longer offered by check out these fun alternative tours: Portland City Tour or Portland Underground Donut Tour .

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Hi, I’m Karen!

I’m a mom to two boys, Arizona native, and travel lover. Desert Chica is my place to share a peek into our life and the easy and inexpensive costumes, crafts and desserts I like to make. “If I can do it, anyone can!” Learn more about me here

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Secrets of Portlandia

• Erik’s Cooking Show
• No Reservation Necessary
• Private Tours
• Tour Meeting Point
• Tour Schedule, Summer 2015

The Tour Is Now Seasonally Closed- From Friday October 16th, 2015 to Sunday, May 1st, 2016.

Posted by secretsofportlandia on May 1, 2012 in Uncategorized .

• This tour is about 2hours long. Think of the tour as stand-up comedy about Portland's history and culture. You'll laugh your butt off AND learn about Portland's fascinating evolution into the culture capital that it is today. Plus, you'll get great insider tips on restaurants, nightlife, and shopping. The Tour is FREE in the sense that there is no reservation necessary, no payment up front- if you liked the tour you can leave a tip in your tour guide's hat at the end! Feel free to email us at [email protected] with questions.

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Your Tour Guide, Erik Kennon

Follow Us On Twitter 4 Insider Tips On Portland Culture!

• I've heard great things about @Ramys_LambShack . Gonna go in and see if it lives up to the hype! What should I order? #pdx 1 year ago
• I'm excited to try all the new food carts in Portland! @PDXfoodcarts #pdx one of my tried and true favorites will always be @KOifusionpdx 1 year ago
• I start my COMEDIC FREE WALKING TOUR season May 1st! I offer a FREE TOUR of #portland every day at 11am! #pdx #oregon #or 1 year ago
• I'm excited for 2015 @CityRepair Village Building Convergence, always one of PDX's most refreshing, original events. https://t.co/Rcy1yh44pe 1 year ago
• Gotta love that Portland is so pro ride-your-bike-to-work that we even have a special cycling forecast! #pdx https://t.co/prxrkfuBJO 1 year ago

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WORLD’S TASTIEST TEAM BUILDER

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WHAT’S INCLUDED

STORYTELLING

Get insight into the history of the city’s food scene and recommendations for other great restaurants and eateries to visit in the future.

Portlandia Food Tours partners with local restaurants to showcase their offerings. By taking a tour, you’ll be supporting these small businesses.

HELPFUL GUIDE

Our tour is a convenient way to sample a variety of foods and drinks in a short amount of time. You won’t have to worry about finding your way around.

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Customize your team building with us to match your group’s needs, from relaxed neighborhood walks to lively challenges, all within your objectives and budget.

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