To Portland, Oregon City may be just a small suburb. (If you don’t even really know where it is, take 99 south past the Goodwill Bins and keep going.)
But historically, the city was a big deal for early white settlers: it was the main terminal of the Oregon Trail — and the first official city west of the Rockies. And even before them, the area was important too, as a traditional gathering place and fishing ground for Native peoples.
Amy Theberge, an Oregon City resident, offered her suggestions on what to do. (Theberge is also an events planner whose company Revel organizes many of Portland’s street fairs and who helped City Cast Portland create our first 503 Day event.)
🚣 See the Sights
For sightseeing, there are a couple places you won’t want to miss:
The waterfall sits right near Oregon City. It’s not as tall as, say, Oregon’s iconic Multnomah Falls, but it’s still the second-largest waterfall in the U.S. by water volume. It also attracted industry with the water powering wool and paper mills. Those mills are now closed, but there’s a stalled effort underway by Native tribes to clean up the area and make the river more accessible to visitors.
The city opened its first public elevator back in 1915 to link the two parts of the city — down by the river and up on the bluffs. The bluffs offer a scenic view of the falls and are a good spot for sunsets. And the elevator allows residents of the bluffs an easy way down to the shopping district.
The Guinness Book of World Records may give the distinction of the world’s steepest street to another locale. “But there are some Oregon City nerds who say that the elevator is actually the steepest street because, technically, it's a city-owned roadway,” says Theberge.
Willamette Falls are the second-largest falls in the U.S., though they are no where near the tallest. (Amy Theberge)
🛍️ Food, Drink, and Shopping
There are some unique shops and restaurants in Oregon City that are worth a visit:
It’s like a vintage shop but for toys from decades past. “If you were a kid from the '80s or '90s, you walk through and you're like, 'I had that thing; wait, was that mine?' — like a little vacuum that had the poppers inside of it,” says Theberge.
The shop has reasonable prices on antiques but also handmade goods from local artisans like woodworkers. It’s “super magical,” says Theberge.
Family-owned since 1936, the fish market has very fresh seafood to take home, or you can dine in from the small menu.
If you’re looking for fine dining, Nebbiolo serves Italian food, focused on seasonal cuisine. “It’s romantic, really twinkly,” Theberge says.
It’s a bookstore and a gift shop, with coffee as well. It’s inclusive with art, kids, and LGBTQ-friendly events. “I love to get a pot of tea and just hang out with a book there, and it's totally charming and amazing,” says Theberge.
The bar overlooks Willamette Falls, and dogs are welcome in the outdoor area. “It's sort of an Irish pub vibe and great fish and chips, amazing whiskey selection,” Theberge says.
A lot of the old original buildings still exist around Oregon City. The library is one of them. Check out the history of the city with reference books. And you can read them by the fireplace on cold, rainy days.
Oregon City’s speakeasy has a bar, a restaurant, and a coffee shop — plus a mysterious name.
The brewery hosts a food cart pod and of course has dozens of beers and ciders on tap. They’ve got live music multiple times a week, too. The outdoor space is particularly kid- and dog-friendly. Plus they’ve got a Ranch Pizza location. (It’s not the only Oregon City outpost of local Portland chains: Canard and McMenamins have locations in town too.)
