srettig24 Even beautiful in the drizzle Portland is everything you expected a city of the Pacific Northwest to be. I would recommend a two and a half day stay here in Portland to explore much of what the city has to offer. I had watched Netflix’s Street Food USA and Portland is featured so I knew there had to be a great food scene- but I was not fully prepared. I found the food culture in Portland special especially in regards to the cities size, I’ll explain all my thoughts in detail below!
Walks around the city helped me soak it all in, literally. I was surprised how accessible the city was with busses and trains around the downtown and beyond. The riverfront seemed like Portland top place for a jog and running groups. If you head up the hill there are plenty of trails some of which I explored! With a considerable amount of stores owned by locals creates more personalized and engaging experience, you do not feel like you are shopping at your local mall!
Food Carts
I had never seen so many food trucks or stands before in the US! Around the city there are ‘pods’ or groups of carts as you can see in these pictures with seating in the middle. There are also stand alone carts so you can always spot a place to grab a bite from any corner in the downtown area. No excuse to miss lunch in this city, you have plenty close quick and delicious options. It’s also not just me, this really is a foodie paradise!
-This seems like the PERFECT solution for friends and families, food allergies? got a GF and a Vegan in the mix? Everyone can get what they want since there are so many options and specialties, but sit together and connect!
For your Sweet Tooth
Voodoo Donuts sells well donuts that are famous, you tubers and locals alike flood and line up to get their donuts! I saw plenty of people walking around downtown with their signature pink boxes!
Salt and Straw with bizarre flavors you will be amazed at the strange and delicious combinations of their ice cream. There are a few tame flavors like sea salt and caramel, or Honey Lavender. Others like Pear and Blue Cheese, olive oil, cornflake cookies with Marion berry jam is exciting and exploratory! Salt and Straw allows you to taste as many flavors as you want before ordering so you can get something you will love! Highly recommend, how many times do you get to try Willy Wonka style sweets?
You can’t go to Portland without a trip to Powells
Powells. I can’t. I just can’t! This bookstore is THE ideal place to spend a rainy day, or any day its just that good. What sets Powells apart from a run of the mill book store:
-It’s HUGE many rooms with selections and subsections of anything you can imagine
-It’s extensive, meaning there is not just a few books in one subject matter there is sometimes a whole room!
-Often there is one copy of a book, with the shelves filled with variety not volume
– They sell used copies which are often very affordable, saw many books at the $6-10 dollar point making many books buyable for the average customer
-Well organized and tons of great recommendations
I found it was worth a second visit! So much to explore, and you can always sit and sample a book.
Portland Markets
The Saturday Market
Set along the waterfront this market is extremely charming that is Saturday Morning only. All the goods at the Saturday Market are handcrafted by local artisan. The market is great for tourist to buy unique and high quality goods, for keepsakes or gifts. Stalls included paintings of local landscapes, prints, wood crafts, pottery, stones and rocks, leather works and more! There were several food carts to buy a bite if you got hungry as you shopped! A walk along the river and going to the market seems like a perfect date or day out exploring the city. I unfortunately was there fairly early and it was just starting to get busy when I left!
University Market
I arrived at University Market in full swing the side-walks were crowded with students and locals (despite the rain because duh Portland) and the smells were heavenly. Several coffee stalls to help caffeine you up for your morning grocery shopping. From fresh breads and pastries, meats and fish, milled flours and grains, mushrooms and veggies and fruits, to jams jellys and spices, this market has everything to fill your kitchen. Let me tell you- people were not messing around, they have enormous bags, and two wheeled grocery carts I’ve only seen Europeans use as they navigated the market like pros. I highly recommend for great eats and plenty of hands on products from Oregon to take home!
China Town
I didn’t spend too much time in this area but it was beautiful and had tons of street art which I love. While the area was did give you a vibe with lantern street lights, but with most Asian Americans leaving the area in the 70s it lacked an authentic feel in honesty, lacking shops and restaurants you would normally expect.
Red Woods
I got the chance to explore a large portion of Hoyt Arboretum which is just outside Portland. The Redwood section left me with a sense of reverence. The conservation efforts at Hoyt Arboretum was impressive, and I was able to see hundreds of different species of trees from all over the world in about a 2 hour hike. The trails are well maintained and zig zig- I highly advise picking up a map at the visitor center or walk aimless. Amazing place to trail run or take a stroll with friends. The Japanese Gardens which is in the area is also highly recommended by guides and locals alike!
Hipster Paradise
I knew that there were tons of hipsters hiding up here in the pines and the downpours. What I was not expecting was all the amazing second-hand clothing stores! Silly me, obviously they have plenty of vintage and earth conscious folks to have a really great second-hand scene. They had clothes for every style but I had never seen the quality and quantity of lightly used activewear clothes! Although, with Portland being the Birthplace of Nike, and a young outdoor vibe of the city it’s hardly a shock.
If you are a WineO then Oregon is for You!
If you have read any of my other posts you know: that I enjoy a nice wine tasting but am still pretty clueless! I was embarrassed that I did not know that Oregon is known for its Pinot Noir! I learned tons from this Oregon wine 101 which if you want to do a wine tour is perfect. Sadly, I was not able to sneak a wine tasting into my trip but there are plenty of places to do one in Portland.
Safety
I decided it was worth my time to address a common assumption about Portland. I did see a number of unhoused people, who seemed in dire need of mental health services, although the number was much lower than what the media probably wants you to assume. While, I heard from other tourists that it put them on edge none said they felt unsafe although none in which I spoke to were out much at night. I do recommend getting a ride back to your dwelling at night! Stores in the downtown area have security who open the doors of businesses and are meant to increase safety. I personally felt comfortable walking around the downtown area.
M and S sooooo Happy to see you during such Milestones 💛 L congrats and good luck on your first female solo backpack trip so inspired!
