Portland, Oregon

Portland, Oregon’s largest city, sits on the Columbia and Willamette rivers, in the shadow of snow-capped Mount Hood. Known for its hipster-ness, parks, bridges, bicycle paths, eco-friendliness, microbreweries, coffeehouses, Nike,  and flagships of a few brand favorites like Stumptown Coffee, Voodoo Doughnut, and the Ace Hotel. Portland, Oregon, makes for the perfect getaway!

While the Southeast area is popular for its indie shops and Craftsman bungalows, it’s also home to Division Street, the city’s newly minted restaurant row. The Pearl District remains its most upscale area, with the shopping and luxury lofts to match, while downtown’s creative hub in the West End caters to hipsters at packed cafés and lounges. Visit in the spring to see rhododendrons, azaleas, cherry trees, and roses come into full bloom or visit in summer to experience long, warm days with plenty of outdoor festivals to keep you busy (there’s the Portland Rose Festival, Oregon Brewers Festival, MusicfestNW, Time-Based Art Festival, and the Pedalpalooza bike festival, to name but a few).

Stay

The Ace Hotel here is the original, and quintessential Portland. Also wonderful are the Heathman Hotel, Hotel DeLuxe, Hotel Eastlund, Hotel Lucia, Hotel Monaco Portland, Kimpton Riverplace, Hotel Vintage, Jupitar Hotel, The Nines

Eat

So many delicious choices! Try Ava Gene’s, Bollywood Theater, Castagna, Taqueria Nueve, Tasty n Alder,  Apizza Scholls, Le Pigeon, Little Bird, Pok Pok, Bamboo Sushi, Tobor Tavern, Clyde Common, Lovely Fifty-Fifty, Beast, ¿Por Qué No?

See

One of my favorite stores Wild Fang is based here, with two locations, so be sure to stop in! Hike The Gorge, Mount Hood, Mt. Tabor Park, 4T Trail. Visit a brewery or two, see a movie at the fantastic Living Room Theater, check out the Art Museum.

*Day trip: Visit beautiful Cannon Beach and relive your “Goonies” movie memories