PORTLAND » GSB GUEST POST
Words and Photos by Lisa Green
»GO»
Portland, Oregon is a city that truly seems to have it all — An eccentric downtown, funky neighborhoods, green and lush surrounding forests, mountains, and rivers. Inside these pockets there are famous food carts, local breweries and wineries. This is a town people go to visit and end up wishing they could move to!
Portland goes on to impress with the snowcapped peak of Mt. Hood gleaming in the backdrop only some 50 miles east of the city. Prior to my trip I had binged watched Portlandia which added to my eagerness to experience the city where, as the show puts it, “young people go to retire.”
I was in Portland for 1 week, the last week in May. It was a beautiful time of year to go. I didn't experience the stereotypical northwestern rain and gloomy skies. The temperature was in the 60s-70s, the sky was overcast or sunny, the flowers were in bloom...it was perfect!
During my trip I stayed with my sister and her fiancé in their house which is in the Laurelhurst Neighborhood, a beautiful and well-maintained area where neighbors compete for best lawn and gardens. This neighborhood is located in Northeast Portland...only 3 miles from downtown.
»SEE»
» Portland + Surroundings | The Skinny »
---DOWNTOWN---
Walking around downtown Portland is an adventure in itself. The "weirdness" in Portland works in it's favor and no one even seems to notice or think anything of it. While I was downtown I grabbed a cold brewed coffee from Portland’s Stumphouse Coffee and sat on a bench at Waterfront Park. The park faces the Willamette River and it is relaxing to watch boats pass by.
Visiting Powell’s Books store is a must-do when you are downtown. Powell’s claims to be the largest independent new and used book store in the world. The store is so huge, it is easy to not only get lost in the pages of a book, but also in the store!
When in Portland, treat yourself to a famous Voodoo Donut. Voodoo is known for their unusual donuts, funky decor, and company logo that features illustrations of voodoo priests. I have tried the Voodoo doll donut (human shaped figure with raspberry jelly, chocolate icing, and a pretzel stake, yikes!) and the Bacon Maple bar donut (real bacon strips on top). Both were delicious!
Food Carts are a serious business in the city. I made my way to the Alder Street Food Cart Pod which is the largest collection of Food Carts downtown. I walked around the entire Food Cart Pod two times before deciding to go with the cart that had the longest line: The Whole Bowl. The company's motto is: “It’s like eating a hug.”
Lan Su Chinese Garden was worth the time and money. When inside the beautiful gardens and tea room you feel like you traveled to China.
Besides the downtown scene there are tons of funky neighborhoods to walk around for shopping, eating, and drinking. I enjoyed exploring neighborhoods of Belmont, Hawthorne Street, Division Street, and Mississippi Ave. I highly recommend a stop at Salt & Straw on Division Street for their delicious homemade ice cream. We shared a “ice cream flight” of Sourdough with Strawberries & Chocolate, Petunia’s Coconut Mint Chip Whoopie Pie, Cinnamon Snickerdoodle, and Honey Lavender.
---WASHINGTON PARK---
Washington Park is an urban public park located in the heart of Portland. It's an easy drive from downtown and it is also a stop on the MAX (train line).
Oregon Zoo--- The Oregon Zoo is impressive. I anticipated spending an hour or two there, but I ended up spending half the day! There are many animals to see and the exhibits are well done.
Portland Japanese Garden---This is the perfect place to get your zen on. You will be inspired by the garden’s beauty and tranquility.
Hoyt Arboretum---The Hoyt Arboretum is free to the public. Visitors have access to 12 miles of trails that pass by over 2,000 species of plants and tree. I enjoyed walking on the trails were you would pass under giant redwood trees and colorful bursts of wildflowers.
International Test Rose Garden— This was my favorite place to go in Portland. This garden has been around since 1919 when it served as a testing ground for new rose varieties. The city of Portland gives out medals for best new variety. The roses smell incredible.
---COLUMBIA RIVER GORGE---
The Columbia River Gorge is just a short drive from Portland. It spans from Northern Oregon to Southern Washington and has been named a National Scenic Area. The Columbia River Gorge area offers tons of fun activities from hikes, to wineries, to breweries, and kite surfing.
Multnomah Falls--located just 30 minutes outside of Portland. Multnomah falls is a 611 foot tall roaring waterfall that is accessible to everyone by an easy 5 minute walking trail to the overlook bridge.
Dog Mountain Trail---This steep 6 mile hike is totally worth it! Hikers are rewarded by stunning views of springtime flowers, Mt. Hood, and the Columbia River.
Hood River, OR-- Pack a picnic and head to the Waterfront Park in Hood River. There you can find entertainment by watching the fearless kite surf in the Columbia River. Hood River also offers wineries and breweries.
We enjoyed sitting on the patio at Marchesi Winery and enjoying a glass while we looked out into the vineyard. We ate dinner at Full Sail Brewery. The beers are delicious but the best part is the fantastic views of Mt. Hood and the Columbia River.
---WILLAMETTE VALLEY---
The Willamette Valley is just 45 minutes from Portland. The Willamette River flows the entire length of this 150 mile valley which is surrounded by mountains on three sides- the Oregon Coast Range to the West, the Cascade Range to the east, and the Calapooya Mountains to the south. The valley is home to more than 700 vineyards that are getting a reputation for their pinot noirs, pinot gris, and rieslings.
We enjoyed some “wiking” (wine + hiking) by walking on a trail and then tasting at Purple Hands Winery in Dundee. After that, we headed to a food and wine pairing event at ArborBrook Vineyard. (The Pinot Noir with a pulled pork slider is a must!) We wrapped up the night in downtown Newberg at Artisanal Cellars which features local wine. (Take Note: there is NOT an Uber or Lift option in Dundee or Newburg and the taxis are few are far between!)
»BE»
I greatly enjoyed my Portland visit! Besides getting to catch up with my older sister, the best part was getting to unwind and recharge after a busy school year. Each day of the trip I felt relaxed and excited for new adventures. I enjoyed simple things like walking around the city, reading in a local coffeeshop, or hiking on a trail. I think the city of Portland is a place that has something for everyone. I wish I could be that “twenty something” that goes there to retire!
» Portland + Surroundings | The Skinny »
Visiting Powell’s Books store is a must-do when you are downtown. Powell’s claims to be the largest independent new and used book store in the world. The store is so huge, it is easy to not only get lost in the pages of a book, but also in the store!
When in Portland, treat yourself to a famous Voodoo Donut. Voodoo is known for their unusual donuts, funky decor, and company logo that features illustrations of voodoo priests. I have tried the Voodoo doll donut (human shaped figure with raspberry jelly, chocolate icing, and a pretzel stake, yikes!) and the Bacon Maple bar donut (real bacon strips on top). Both were delicious!
Lan Su Chinese Garden was worth the time and money. When inside the beautiful gardens and tea room you feel like you traveled to China.
Besides the downtown scene there are tons of funky neighborhoods to walk around for shopping, eating, and drinking. I enjoyed exploring neighborhoods of Belmont, Hawthorne Street, Division Street, and Mississippi Ave. I highly recommend a stop at Salt & Straw on Division Street for their delicious homemade ice cream. We shared a “ice cream flight” of Sourdough with Strawberries & Chocolate, Petunia’s Coconut Mint Chip Whoopie Pie, Cinnamon Snickerdoodle, and Honey Lavender.
Washington Park is an urban public park located in the heart of Portland. It's an easy drive from downtown and it is also a stop on the MAX (train line).
Oregon Zoo--- The Oregon Zoo is impressive. I anticipated spending an hour or two there, but I ended up spending half the day! There are many animals to see and the exhibits are well done.
Portland Japanese Garden---This is the perfect place to get your zen on. You will be inspired by the garden’s beauty and tranquility.
Hoyt Arboretum---The Hoyt Arboretum is free to the public. Visitors have access to 12 miles of trails that pass by over 2,000 species of plants and tree. I enjoyed walking on the trails were you would pass under giant redwood trees and colorful bursts of wildflowers.
International Test Rose Garden— This was my favorite place to go in Portland. This garden has been around since 1919 when it served as a testing ground for new rose varieties. The city of Portland gives out medals for best new variety. The roses smell incredible.
---COLUMBIA RIVER GORGE---
Hood River, OR-- Pack a picnic and head to the Waterfront Park in Hood River. There you can find entertainment by watching the fearless kite surf in the Columbia River. Hood River also offers wineries and breweries.
We enjoyed sitting on the patio at Marchesi Winery and enjoying a glass while we looked out into the vineyard. We ate dinner at Full Sail Brewery. The beers are delicious but the best part is the fantastic views of Mt. Hood and the Columbia River.
---WILLAMETTE VALLEY---
The Willamette Valley is just 45 minutes from Portland. The Willamette River flows the entire length of this 150 mile valley which is surrounded by mountains on three sides- the Oregon Coast Range to the West, the Cascade Range to the east, and the Calapooya Mountains to the south. The valley is home to more than 700 vineyards that are getting a reputation for their pinot noirs, pinot gris, and rieslings.
We enjoyed some “wiking” (wine + hiking) by walking on a trail and then tasting at Purple Hands Winery in Dundee. After that, we headed to a food and wine pairing event at ArborBrook Vineyard. (The Pinot Noir with a pulled pork slider is a must!) We wrapped up the night in downtown Newberg at Artisanal Cellars which features local wine. (Take Note: there is NOT an Uber or Lift option in Dundee or Newburg and the taxis are few are far between!)
I greatly enjoyed my Portland visit! Besides getting to catch up with my older sister, the best part was getting to unwind and recharge after a busy school year. Each day of the trip I felt relaxed and excited for new adventures. I enjoyed simple things like walking around the city, reading in a local coffeeshop, or hiking on a trail. I think the city of Portland is a place that has something for everyone. I wish I could be that “twenty something” that goes there to retire!
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