4 Best Shopping in Portland, Oregon

The Alberta Arts District hosts an arts walk on the last Thursday of each month. This quirky procession along 15 blocks of one of the city's favorite thoroughfares for browsing art galleries, distinctive boutiques, and hip bars and restaurants features street performers and buskers, crafts makers, and food vendors. During the three summer events, from June through August, the street is closed to traffic from 6 to 9 pm, and many more arts and crafts vendors show their work.

Running on Saturday mornings and early afternoons year-round, this astoundingly large and diverse farmers' market carries not only Oregon's bounty of flowers and produce (look especially for berries in summer and stone fruits in fall) but also hazelnuts, cheese, delectable baked goods, wines and ciders, and other goodies. It's great for people-watching and souvenir shopping, and several stalls sell great food to eat on-site—be sure to come hungry. If you can't make the Saturday market, check the website for locations of smaller but still very popular versions of the market, held most days during the warmer months at various locations around town.

There's more than just run-of-the-mill board games at Cloud Cap. For children and grown-ups alike, the games here challenge the mind and provide hours of entertainment. There's a room with tables to play or try out a game, and game nights some evenings. The knowledgeable owners and staff may sit down and join in the fun and are always happy to answer questions and offer suggestions.

Billing itself as Portland's "most hands-on store," Thinker Toys offers puppets, games, educational toys, and a large wooden playhouse that kids can hang out in.