Portland, Oregon: A mini guide
After having this blog be dormant for a good chunk of time, I was humbled over the amount of support I received in rekindling the blog again. I wanted to start off with a very practical post: a mini guide to Portland, Oregon.
The Aussie and I spent the first 10 days of December in the Pacific Northwest. I will provide some highlights here, but for specific places, click on my Google Maps list:
I have always been such a sackrider for Google Maps, as I find it invaluable for planning shit out in preparation for a trip to someplace new. I also find Google Maps to be the most efficient and practical way to share recommendations, so as I move forward with this blog, I’ll make sure to share my Maps for any place I travel to, as well as eventually build a Map for San Diego to share with you all.
Where We Stayed:
Knowing that we’ll be in Portland for 10 days, we didn’t want to stay at a hotel. I wanted us to have the luxury of being able to stay in if we wanted to, and have a homecooked meal whenever we wanted. We looked to Stay Alfred for accomodations, and we ended up staying at an apartment in downtown Portland, which was perfect.
If you’re in town for a shorter amount of time, I highly recommend The Hoxton - a light breakfast is included in the price, which is a godsend to have the ability to wake up and have your first meal waiting for you without you having to decide on where to go for breakfast.
Areas:
A major mistake that most folks make when visiting Portland is not venturing out of downtown Portland. DON’T DO THAT! Portland is one of those cities that’s blessed with amazing landscapes. Multnomah Falls is just 40 minutes away from downtown, and Lake Oswego is merely 20 minutes away. We rented a car with the intention of traveling out to Cannon Beach, Eugene, and Bend. Oh, and not to mention the fact that the state of Washington is only 30 minutes north of Portland.
Where We Ate:
The bar is set HIGH when it comes to food in Portland. There are so many places & cuisines to choose from - you can go anywhere and you will be fine. Refer to the Google Maps for recommendations, but places that really stood out for me were Shalom Y’all, Tilt, Kachka, Expatriate, and Olympia Provisions.
Coffee:
Portland WINS when it comes to coffee. Highly recomnend Heart Coffee and Half Pint Cafe.