Whenever we travel to a new place, I spend so much time scouring the internet and sites like Trip Advisor and Yelp to try to plan out our days. Unfortunately for me, I can do all the planning in the world and still completely strike out. Luckily, we spent our days with two of our best friends who doubled as tour guides, Jim and Allie.
Here is Portland in 500 words:
NW 23rd Street
We took the Trimet into Providence Park. Walked a couple of blocks and ended up on NW 21st, which is basically the equivalent of Newbury St. in Boston. There is a good proportion of shopping to bars, which was great for me and Jeremy because, when he got sick of shopping, we would pop into a bar and try one of the microbrews on tap (Oregon is all about the microbrew).
Some highlights:
- Platform. Cute, unique and affordable little place (equipped with sofas for Jeremy). I got a necklace that has been dubbed my "Portland necklace" for $20.00.
- McMenamins Rams Head. Jeremy and I shared a flight. Jeremy described the decor as "country meets Alice in Wonderland" and I couldn't agree more.
- Goorin Bros. Hat Shop. Such a cool store with an even cooler staff. Jeremy and I both bought a hat and got a free shot of delicious rum! How's that for a marketing mix?
- Salt & Straw. Ice cream shop with unusual, but fresh and delicious flavors.
- Huckleberry Pub. We shared a flight of their beers on tap and ordered a burger and their mac and cheese. Amazing.
Forest Park
From NW 23rd you can walk through Forest Park (wear your walking shoes) to the Royal Rosarian Garden. If you love roses like me, you'll have a field day here.
Portland Japanese Garden
Keep walking and soon you'll be at the Portland Japanese Garden. There is a $10 admission fee here, but it is well worth it. When we saw "garden," we thought blossoms and color. How naive of us. This garden is all about experiencing a sense of peace and tranquility on another level.
Hood River Valley
If you're in the area and the weather permits, do not skip this. We spent an entire day vineyard-hopping and each view was better than the last. We hit Marchesi Vineyards, Wy'East Vineyards, and The Gorge White House (we saved the best for last). Gorge White House knows exactly what they're doing: they have wine and hard cider tastings, a food cart, flower and berry picking, and sacred views of Mt. Hood and St. Helen's all in one place. We were there in the late afternoon and had the privilege of watching the sun set. Good food, good drink, good company - I'm not sure it gets much better. Oh, wait a minute - it's dog friendly! Here's Grover (a.k.a. Grovie, a.k.a. G baby):
We topped off the day in Downtown Hood River, with a visit to Double Mountain. We were informed beforehand that we would be having the best pizza we'll ever have in our lives, and they weren't lying. We enjoyed their seasonal specialty pizza - the Heirloom tomato pizza - and the salami pie. They also brew their own beer - try the Kolsch!
Night Life
- Stormbreaker. Yet another microbrewery with good food and a cool ambiance. You eat at picnic tables here; sometimes with complete strangers and it's all good!
- Prost! Cool pub. That's all you need to know!
I can't end this post without mentioning how stupidly happy we all were this weekend. I don't think I ever stopped smiling, even when I was nursing a hangover (thanks to a great night at Prost! and drinking beer out of a boot). Special thanks to Jim, Allie, and Grovie for their hospitality - can't wait to visit again soon!
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