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What to Do When It Rains
Don't let the rain stop you from having fun in Portland.
Yes, it’s true — it does sometimes rain in Portland. Locals don’t let that stop them, and neither should you! As often as not, the rain is gentle and short-lived, and chances are that when you return from ducking into one of these destinations, it will have subsided.
Rainy Day Activities
These local attractions offer a respite from the rain, along with hours of entertainment.
Where to Go When It Rains
Museums and Art Galleries
From downtown hotels, take a short walk (or ride on the street car), and discover the traveling exhibitions and permanent collection at the Portland Art Museum, learn more about Oregon’s past and present at the Oregon Historical Society and take in art by living artists at JSMOA(Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art) on the campus of Portland State University, all located on the South Park Blocks.
Meanwhile, the plentiful art galleries in the central city offer great escapes from sudden cloudbursts. The Pearl District, which was traditionally the city’s arts district, has dozens of galleries to explore. Try the Elizabeth Leach Gallery, PDX Contemporary Art, and Blue Sky Gallery.
Central Library
Explore more than 17 miles of bookshelves in downtown Portland’s Central Library, housing a remarkable 875 tons of books. The Multnomah County Library system’s main branch, which opened in 1913, is housed in a three-story, Georgian-style building with stunning architectural details. You’ll also find the volunteer-run Friends Library Store with used books, stationery, and gifts, all of which help sustain the library’s community programming.
Powell’s City of Books
Rain or shine, spending countless hours inside Powell’s City of Books is easy. Covering an entire city block, Powell’s contains more than 1 million books in 3,500 different sections and in-store coffee shop to help fuel your browsing session.
Movie Theaters
A rainy day might be the perfect excuse to visit one of Portland’s historic and independent movie theaters, many of which serve locally brewed beer. Northwest’s Cinema 21 shows a mixture of independent, international, classic and mainstream film. In the West End of downtown, find Living Room Theaters, showing independent films in small theaters with recliners, gourmet food, and wine delivered right to your seat. The grand facade of the historic Hollywood Theater makes you feel like you are stepping back into the height of arthouse theater, though they fill their screens with new releases of mainstream and independent films, as well as many specialty screenings of local filmmakers and festivals.
Lan Su Chinese Garden
An authentically built Ming Dynasty-style garden right in the heart of the city, Lan Su Chinese Garden is serene and welcoming in any weather. Covered walkways and the beautiful teahouse offer sheltered views of the central lake.
Portland Japanese Garden
As the weather changes, so does the personality of the Portland Japanese Garden, where water droplets shimmer on sculpted shrubs and create rippled patterns on the koi pond. Find peace while listening to the rainfall, and stay dry by stepping into one of the many pagodas expertly placed on the grounds.
Get Cozy
When skies turn grey, locals indulge in these belly- and soul-warming activities.
What to Do When It Rains
Roller Skating
Historic Oaks Amusement Park, which has operated continuously since 1905, is a natural summertime destination with its carnival rides and picnic grounds. But there’s nostalgic fun to be had year-round at the park’s roller skating rink, where you can lace up your skates and roll around the large, meticulously maintained wooden floor beneath the mighty Wurlitzer pipe organ. Find more fun with kids on rainy days>>
Shopping
If you don’t mind a few raindrops, you can easily walk from store to store in the compact shopping districts of downtown, including the Pearl and Northwest Portland. Or discover the European-style gallery of shops, Union Way. But if you prefer to stay out of the elements, Portland has you covered with two major indoor shopping centers: downtown’s Pioneer Place and Lloyd Center, just across the river. Both malls are served by MAX light rail.
Portland Rain Gear
Upgrade your rain gear with these Portland-based makers and national stores.
Fall & Winter Events
Some of Portland's favorite events happen during our rainiest months.
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