Powell's City of Books

Powell's City of Books is the world's largest independent bookstore, occupying an entire city block in Portland's Pearl District with over a million new, used, and rare books organized across four floors and nine color-coded rooms. It is Portland's most visited tourist attraction and a genuine cultural institution.

The scale is what distinguishes Powell's from every other bookstore. Walking through the color-coded rooms (Rose, Blue, Gold, Green, etc.) with their floor-to-ceiling shelves creates a sense of exploration. The store is large enough that you need a map (free at the info desk) to navigate, and kids love the adventure of finding their way through the labyrinth.

The children's section, located in the Rose Room on the ground floor, is one of the best children's book departments in the country. The selection spans picture books for toddlers through YA novels for teens, with both new and used books mixed on the shelves. Used books are marked with red dot stickers and typically cost 50% less than new.

The used children's book selection is particularly strong, with quality picture books available for $3-5.

For families, Powell's excels as a rainy day destination (and Portland has many rainy days). The store is large enough to occupy 1-3 hours of browsing, and the cafe provides coffee and pastries when energy flags. Author events and story times occur regularly -- check the events calendar for visiting children's authors and illustrators.

The rare book room on the top floor holds first editions, signed copies, and antiquarian volumes that book-loving parents will appreciate. The small press and zine section showcases Portland's vibrant independent publishing culture. The store's buy-back program means families can bring bags of books to sell or trade for store credit, making it possible to leave with more books than you brought.

Powell's location in the Pearl District places it near excellent restaurants, food carts, and Salt & Straw ice cream. The streetcar stops nearby, connecting to other Portland neighborhoods.