Let's face it: we live in a great town, and we have a lot to be thankful for here in Portland. Compiled below you'll find resources on the best places to eat your Thanksgiving meal out, info on the annual Macy's Thanksgiving Parade, Black Friday activities worth noting, a fun way to burn some calories via the Turkey Trot before gorging yourself at the table and the perfect way to celebrate the harvest and its bounty -- wine tasting in Portland and the Willamette Valley.
Portland's Best Thanksgiving Restaurants
Check out the best place to eat out on Thanksgiving. There are also some great options for to-go dinner orders, as well as gourmet desserts to bring to your own meal. Whether you're looking for traditional turkey with all the fixings, a buffet to make your family's bellies burst, a more upscale experience or even vegan or gluten-free holiday meals, there are plenty of fabulous options.
- Northwest and Southwest Portland's Best Thanksgiving Restaurants
- Northeast and Southeast Portland's Best Thanksgiving Restaurants
The Macy's Thanksgiving Parade
- The annual Macy's Parade returns on Friday, November 23. The parade leaves from the corner of NW Park Ave and NW Davis Street at 9 a.m. and lasts for an hour. See the Macy's Portland website for more info.
- Photo Gallery: Portland Macy's Thanksgiving Parade
Black Friday Activities
Kick off the holiday shopping season with a Portland-flavored twist.
Turkey Trot
The Oregon Road Runners Club (ORRC) will once again host its annual Thanksgiving Day Turkey Trot, this year officially dubbed the West Coast Bank/ORRC Turkey Trot at the Zoo. Participants can run or walk the four-mile course, while kids can take part in the half-mile Tot Trot.
Turkey Trot Schedule:
- 8:00 am First Wave (4 mi.) Run
- 8:15 am Second Wave (4 mi.) Walk
- 8:30 am Third Wave (4 mi.) All
- 9:45 am Tot Trot (1/2 mi.)
More info: orrc.net
Note: for you suburbanites, there's also a Turkey Trot trail run in nearby West Linn.
Wine Country Thanksgiving
Oregon is rightfully famous for its fantastic wines, and many of the best vineyards are within a short drive of Portland. Over 150 of them will open up for the Willamette Valley Wine Country Thanksgiving. What better way to celebrate the harvest's bounty, give thanks for the amazing resources we have here and tour some beautiful countrysideover the holiday weekend?
