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Emilly Prado
Emilly Prado is a writer, award-winning journalist and consultant living in Portland. Read More
Guide to Gresham
This hidden gem east of Portland boasts abundant public art, nature, and international fare.
Emilly Prado
Emilly Prado is a writer, award-winning journalist and consultant living in Portland. Read More
On your way to Mount Hood or the Columbia River Gorge, stop in Gresham, a hip, family-friendly community east of Portland best known as a destination to find your next favorite eatery. Beyond being a great place to support plentiful small businesses, it’s an up-and-coming hub for arts and culture.
Where To Eat in Gresham
Central City Neighborhood
A Gresham staple, The Local Cow has been serving extravagant burgers, ice-cold draft beers and creative sides since 2012. Try the Burger of the Month, or stick with one of their best-known burgers, like the Pendleton, a unique twist on a Western BBQ burger with onion petals instead of rings, or the Rockwood, which features crispy fried banana peppers, zesty pepper jack, chipotle mayo and a healthy dollop of guacamole. Add a side of “cow fries” — fragrant garlicky, parmesan-laced shoestring potatoes topped with truffle oil — or their signature panko-fried zucchini chips. Wash it all down with a fresh fruit lemonade, or come for Tap Takeover (every other Wednesday), which hosts a featured brew with food pairings.
You can’t miss the vibrant burgundy, mirror-adorned building home to Nicholas, the newest iteration of the small, beloved local chain serving Lebanese and Mediterranean cuisine across the Portland metro region. This family-run restaurant is known for succulent kebab plates with sides of fluffy saffron rice, creamy hummus and a complimentary starter of fresh-baked pita with herby dipping oil. Thirsty? Try a cocktail made with arak, a traditional licorice-forward spirit, or a rich, aromatic carafe of Turkish coffee.
Rockwood Neighborhood
The Rockwood Market Hall
The Rockwood Market Hall is home to numerous small retailers, specialty grocers and eateries serving patrons global flavors. La Michoacana Dulce is a hip treat shop with an emphasis on sweets. Paletas (popsicles) are the stars, with dozens of classic flavors like water-based lime and milk-based rompope (a Mexican beverage akin to eggnog), as well as modern twists on the traditional treat with options like fruity pebbles and Fererro Rocher. For a savory fix, try the tostilocos, a Mexican street food consisting of your choice of chips piled high with toppings like cueritos (pickled pork skin), crunchy Japanese-style peanuts and sticky-sweet chamoy, eaten with a fork right out of the bag.
Check out the Rockwood Market Hall calendar for free community events like recurring flea markets and The People’s Market, a seasonal Sunday afternoon farmers’ market featuring Black, Indigenous and people of color growers and makers.
The Gresham Food Carts
Tucked between the Rockwood and North Central neighborhoods, the Gresham Food Carts are another excellent dining option, especially for groups (and lovers of food carts). This sprawling pod is home to over a dozen food and drink purveyors. Take a stroll around the covered seating area (which will keep you cool in summer and dry during the rainy season) and choose from celebrated local cuisine. Eat the rainbow with a salmon and tuna poke bowl at Mara Sushi, and try an assortment of flavorful sides with a mezza plate at Shawarma Chef. Beers Plus will keep you quenched with micheladas, margaritas and zero-proof beverages like bubble teas and berry lemonade
Gresham Eats
Explore more international flavors, sweets and treats at these family-owned spots.
Where To Drink in Gresham
MadCow Brewing began as a homebrew hobby in 2002 and has since blossomed into a nano brewery and tap room with crunchy, melty panini pairings. Try a flight — served in milk jug pints as a nod to brewmaster Jason’s upbringing on a dairy farm — with your pick from over a dozen beer styles. Trivia happens every Friday night!
For an upscale drinking experience, a stop at The Annex is a must. The moody, rustic decor — skulls, a sleek live edge bar and corrugated metal siding — is captivating and sets the stage for craft-made cocktails and charcuterie boards. Try the Gold Rush, a bright, well-balanced blend of Makers, muddled lemon and honey.
What To See in Gresham
A teddy bear on a picnic bench, a bronze Labrador guide dog, and a Portland Trail Blazers jersey-wearing man are just a few of the statues dotting Main Street in the heart of historic Downtown Gresham. These works are among nearly two dozen public art projects that add flourish to this quaint community, thanks to the nonprofit Gresham Outdoor Public Art. Learn more as you meander through town and plan your stops by perusing the brochure and map.
Located within Main City Park, a short walk from the public art and small businesses of Main Street, Tsuru Island (or the Gresham Japanese Garden) is a modest, idyllic Japanese garden maintained by dedicated volunteers since the 1970s. A beautiful wooden bridge leads visitors over a dry streambed into the 3/4-acre (0.3 ha) haven that weaves through acer maples, indigo irises, Chief Joseph pines and a raked sand Zen garden. This living memorial is dedicated to Nisei (second-generation Japanese Americans) and is free to visitors daily from sunrise to sunset. Check out the event calendar for performances and workshops, including monthly bonsai classes. Don’t forget to stop by the nearby Ebetsu Plaza, where thousands of engraved pavers lead toward a dozen cherry blossom trees, sculptures, and a vibrant pollinator garden.
Credit: Travel Oregon
Hike over 12 miles (19 km) of trails for the experienced and novice alike at Oxbow Regional Park, a popular refuge for wildlife and locals alike. The expansive 1,000-acre (405 ha) area hugs the jewel-toned Sandy River and is a popular spot for swimming, kayaking, boating and fly fishing. If a day-long visit isn’t enough, you can set up camp overnight and share the forested land with deer, beavers, birds and more. Expert tip: Bring your binoculars for optimal animal watching!
Step into the past at the Zimmerman Heritage Farm. This 1874 farmhouse was home to the Zimmerman family and their dairy farm for over a century. The historic house museum occupies a sliver of a once 600-plus acre (243 ha) expanse (now at 5.98 acres [2.4 ha] today) but is robust in preserved artifacts spanning multiple generations. Once a month, visitors can tour the inside, which remains filled with antique furniture, clothing and accessories, books, sewing machines, and even dolls. Outside, the grounds offer a well-maintained, kaleidoscopic garden, a grape arbor reconstructed in 2000 (the previous one was the site of three family weddings) and the opportunity to admire the details of this folk Victorian, including gingerbread frieze boards, elegant turned columns around the porch and intricate details along each gable.
Where to Play in Gresham
For film lovers, Mt. Hood Theatre is a one-auditorium movie house built in 1950 with a large screen and an even larger capacity (650 seats!). The sound system and updated AC keep moviegoers immersed and cool. Affordable, tasty concessions are a highlight of this gem and are so popular the theater offers a drive-up window to dish out fresh, fancy popcorn, juicy hot dogs and mounds of Dole Whip. If you prefer to pair your movie with a nickel arcade or laser tag, look no further than Gresham Cinema & Electric Castles Wunderland, which offers both — as well as go-karts and VR adventures! Popular for groups and birthday parties, hours of entertainment and activities are available to keep patrons busy, alongside concessions.
Put your smarts to the test at Cine Escapes. This family-owned escape room places patrons inside the action through mesmerizing decor and elaborate puzzles. The secret sauce is the addition of a cast of live actors who add another layer of realness and thrill.
Mt. Hood Lanes is a charming, no-frills bowling alley with friendly staff where fun of knocking down pins is the star. Fuel up on crispy jalapeño poppers, mounds of nachos, or burgers at the Lava Lounge, which also offers a full bar, karaoke nights and six big-screen TVs. For those who prefer their bowling experiences peppered with blacklights, fog machines and loud, feel-good tunes, cosmic bowling on weekend nights is not to be missed.
Where to Shop in Gresham
Search the shelves of Foxtrot Vintage for your next treasured tchotchke, quirky home decor statement piece or obscure vinyl score. From tiny terrariums to deadstock jewelry to contemporary Croc charms, each of the 14 individual vendors brings their style and flair to curating goods. The result is a delicious diversity of inventory that includes retro toys, paintings, plants and kitchen goodies, including Fiestaware, vintage thermoses and glowing uranium glass.
Credit: Emily Prado
Down Main Street and next to The Local Cow, The Hoppy Brewer is a welcoming hub for homebrewing supplies that doubles as a pub with 28 rotating taps. Whether you’re an ale enthusiast, cider connoisseur or newbie not yet knowledgeable on fermentation, this shop has it all: kegging equipment, quality ingredients and even brews-in-a-box kits. The heated, covered outdoor beer garden is the perfect place to enjoy another brewmaster’s hard work, a burger from next door, and the occasional live music set.
Gresham and the land surrounding Mount Hood offer some of the country’s most fertile farming grounds. The Gresham Farmers’ Market, launched in 1986, ensures residents and visitors can revel in bountiful local produce and develop meaningful relationships with vendors for years to come. Held each month from May through October, it’s the spot to stock up on fresh veggies, local honey, small-batch ciders, shaved ice, handmade goods for people and pets alike, and so much more.
Explore Gresham
Find Gresham eateries, attractions, stores and more.
How to Get There
With about a 20-minute drive east from downtown Portland, Gresham is easily accessed by Interstate 84 or Hwy. 26. You can also get to Gresham by several buses or the MAX light rail.
For outdoor enthusiasts, Gresham makes a great cycling destination. From downtown Portland, cyclists can cross the Willamette River via the Steel or Hawthorne bridges to access the Springwater Corridor. This paved, multi-use path is open to bicycles, wheelchairs, strollers and pedestrians. As you head out of town, you’ll pass Oaks Bottom Wildlife Refuge, Beggars-Tick Wildlife Refuge and Powell Butte Nature Park. All of these parks are worth a stop on your way to or from Gresham’s Main City Park.
Credit: Andrea Johnson Photography
Beginner cyclists may not want to commit to pedaling over 30 miles (48 km) round-trip from downtown Portland to Gresham. To reduce your time in the saddle, bring your bike on the MAX light rail Blue Line. It runs straight from downtown’s Pioneer Courthouse Square to the Gresham Transit Center and taking your bike on the train is a cinch
The Gresham Area Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Center offers thoughtfully curated information and itineraries detailing the region’s best rides, complete with spots to eat, explore and stay. Options include a family-friendly spin past lakes and wetlands and an 84-mile (135 km) Columbia River Gorge tour. Find brochures at Portland’s River City Bicycles and Gresham Bicycle Center.
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