Looking for great food, an outdoor adventure, amazing beer on tap and weird people? Go to Portland, Oregon where weird is normal, green is their favorite color and beer is the preferred drink.
My husband and I planned a short visit to Portland to visit my sister who had moved there months before. We were excited to see the “cute” city, tree covered mountains and beautiful waterfalls; oh, and of course my sister and her husband.
When we boarded the plan, the man sitting next to us introduced himself and started asking questions. We provided vague responses before he gave up and started talking about him. We quickly discovered that he lived in Portland for some time before landing a job in San Diego. He was a funny looking man with round glasses and frizzy hair. “Do you know what Portland’s motto is?” he asked. My husband and I shook our heads. “Keep Portland Weird!” he said smiling in assurance. My husband looked at me and said, “Makes sense”. As we took off, the flight attendant came over the loud speaker and said, “Oh, shoot, I’ll fix that later.” Wonderful words to hear during take-off. At that moment I wished I had gulped down a gallon of wine before boarding.
As we expected, we landed in rain, which was a sight to see in itself coming from San Diego where the drought has kept us from watering our lawns and washing our cars. We snapped a selfie together in the baggage claim. The first one wasn’t to my standards so we tried for another. A large group pointed at us and said “selfie” as they ran behind us in effort to create an epic photo bomb. They didn’t make the cut.
We met my sister outside. I grabbed her shoulders and gave her a tight hug; something I don’t give freely; I’m not the lovey-dovey type. We exchanged the “oh, you look so goods” and piled into their car to make our way to their loft in the city.
Downtown Portland has much character. From the river levies to the old brick buildings, it was obvious that creativity lurked around every corner. Many of the locals traveled by bike and very few cars filled the streets. As avid road cyclists, my husband and I smiled in favor of this change.
When we entered the loft, I walked to the large windows in the living room area that overlooked the city. It was a beautiful site; trees atop mountains behind large brick buildings. I can see bikers dominating the roads and Portlanders walking along the streets in the light rain without umbrellas in hand.
Craft Beer at Bailey’s Tap Room
Since Portland is known as the beer capital of the world, we freshened up and walked to a bar called, Bailey’s Taproom. The atmosphere was fun. They offer a large range of games for visitors to enjoy while drinking some wine or beer on tap. The rustic décor made me feel cozy and creative. I could have opened up my laptop and written the great American novel after a glass of wine in that place. We stayed until they closed shop. I think we were the last ones there. Who knows, by that time, my sister and I were tipsy, laughing over memories and crying over missed opportunities.
Late Dinner at Santeria’s
We were hungry so we walked across the street to a small Mexican restaurant called Santeria, which is filled with little sculls and shared a bathroom with the strip club next door. My sister and I got a nice view of a young lady doing the splits on the pole before someone told us where the ladies room was. The Mexican food was amazing. It was the first time I enjoyed pork in over 10 years. Regardless of the bathroom situation, I highly recommend Santeria as a late dinner option to soak up Oregon’s tasty beers.
Classic Southern Comfort Food in the Heart of Downtown Portland
The following day, we enjoyed brunch at The Parish; known for their oysters. We chose to fill up on their yummy southern dishes. Their jambalaya is delicious! While finishing up our meals one of Portland’s finest decided to bless us with his presence when he stopped, placed his face close to a window, stared at us for a moment, smiled and took a large bite of air before walking away. My husband couldn’t stop laughing.
Scenic Hiking at the Columbia River Gorge
After brunch we drove out to the Columbia River Gorge. We hiked about a mile and a half to Triple Falls, which was by far the most fun and scenic hike we have experienced. On the way, we passed many breathtaking waterfalls and small streams. Don’t be afraid to try the water from the streams. It’s refreshing and tastes very good. After the hike we grabbed a cup of coffee at Multnomah Falls along with a pastry and fudge (don’t judge our sugar intake, we were on vacation). I suggest that you spend some time at the base of Multnomah Falls. Just relax, take in the sight and allow the mist from the falls to cool you. At the base, you will also find a gift shop, public restroom and restaurant.
TILT: Handcrafted Food and Beer for the American Workforce
That night we went to TILT; best sandwiches we have every tried. I suggest you try the Carbonara Ham Sammy. My sister and her husband laughed when I took my first bite out of it. It was a taste of heaven. If you enjoy beer, they have a large selection on tap; most of which are from local breweries. I found that many of the restaurants only offer local beer in effort to help out their fellow small businesses. It’s admirable and I wish more cities followed this example of community strength. The décor mimics the hardworking fix-it garages we see throughout the US. I highly recommend that you stop there for a meal.
Mouth-Watering Biscuits at Pine State Biscuits
If you’re looking for a delicious breakfast joint with some character, go to Pine State Biscuits. We ordered a large variety of foods from the menu to taste and loved it all. They have dining available inside and outside, but be prepared to wait in a long line to order and fight for a seat. It’s worth it!
Artistically Outrageous Doughnuts
You can’t go to Portland without stopping at VooDoo Doughnuts where they add a little flair to everything edible. Like Pine State Biscuits, be prepared to stand in line for some time. Don’t worry; the shop is located on a corner that is an excellent place to people watch.
Buy Local
Since we are in the beginning stages of starting our own business, I was excited to visit the Saturday Market, located a block from VooDoo Doughnuts in the Old Town/Chinatown neighborhood. The market showcases many local Pacific Northwest talent, food, breweries, craftsmen and other small businesses. Rain or shine, they are out there sharing their goods from March through Christmas Eve. It’s obvious that the Saturday Market is a hit. Even in rain, the crowd continued to shop and enjoy the food.
See Ya Later Sis
Sadly, we had to leave and go back to sunny San Diego and get back to our diet. I know most of our stops were for food, and believe me, we were bogged down by the time we reached the airport, but the foot was so good. I gave my sister about five hugs before I let her get back in the car. Yes, I was crying and so was she. My husband did his best to comfort me and reminded me that we will visit often. I made him promise that we can visit at least twice each year. Before boarding, we visited a small shop in the airport called Made in Oregon. We stocked up on little gadgets that reminded us of our trip. So, if you don’t get the chance to shop around for touristy items, don’t worry. The Made in Oregon shop at the airport will fill your time while you’re waiting to board.
Our time in Portland was too short, but I have to say, it didn’t take long for us to fall in love with the city and the beautiful scenery. My husband and I are looking forward to going back. Maybe we will make it to the Japanese Gardens next time. We were too busy eating and taking pictures of waterfalls.
Glenn Troiano says
October 22, 2014 at 7:35 pmVery impressive Megan! I like your writing and pictures very much.
Skies the limit
Megan says
October 23, 2014 at 1:48 amThank you! There is more to come. I make an effort to post weekly. Many of the photos I share are from http://www.adamdax.photography. If you like what you have seen here, I’m sure you will enjoy his gallery. Your kind comment made my day. Hope all is well.