TOP THINGS TO SEE AND DO IN PORTLANDPortland Oregon is one of America's most unique and liberal cities, famous for its outdoor adventures, micro-brewed beer, diverse climate, and exquisite food. My first trip here was short, but nonetheless sweet. Thanks to my long time friend Matt, I was graciously given the opportunity to marvel in this remarkable city for a few days. Although we seemed to accomplish a lot in the short amount of time allotted, I absolutely look forward to visiting again at some point. Portland has definitely joined the very tiny list of cities I would actually consider living. What I really loved most about Portland is the high quality of life. It's compact and easy to get around, there is good public transportation available, the locals are friendly, there's a wide variety of food, and most importantly, there's great beer. I think Portland has a lot to offer travelers. If you do happen to stumble upon this impressive city one day (and you absolutely should), here's a list of my top things to do: Multnomah fallsLocated along the historic Colombia River Highway, Multnomah Falls is one of Portland's 'must sees' while visiting. This iconic waterfall is absolutely breathtaking and totally worth trekking along the icy trail and cold weather to get to. I visited on a Friday afternoon and to my surprise the parking lot for the waterfall was fairly empty. Once parked, the trail to the lower part of the waterfall is only about a 5 minute walk, if that. Due to the previous snow storm that hit a week prior, the pathway was a little more slippery than normal. Make sure you wear good, sturdy shoes, (unlike me) if you plan to visit during the winter months. Unfortunately, most of the trail to the top of the falls was blocked off, but the views from the bottom alone was definitely worth the visit. $$ Average Cost: Free Portland city grill restaurant One word - VIEWS!! This restaurant is an absolute gem located in the heart of downtown Portland. Soaring up to the 30th floor and making it just in time for happy hour was only the beginning to this spectacular dining experience. This restaurant offers two seating options: dinner and happy hour. Happy hour includes a prix-fix menu that offers both drinks and food. Although you can't beat the prices for happy hour, if you are looking for a wider variety of food selections and aren't concerned with costs, I would recommend going for the dinner menu. We kept it simple and decided to split a random variety from the happy hour menu which included: ranch waffle fries, salmon cakes, mac and cheese, and Caesar salad. The portions were very generous and able to be split between two people. They had an amazing pianist who entertained guests throughout the evening. We were lucky enough to be seated directly in front of him, surrounded not only by the beautiful sounds but also by the spectacular ambiance. $$ Average Cost: Happy Hour - $6.00-$10.00 per plate Dinner Menu - $20.00-$60.00 per plate Cocktail Menu - $5.00-$10.00 per drink Voodoo doughnutI honestly don't know anyone who lives in Portland that actually eats at Voodoo Doughnuts, but I must say, this place was hands down the highlight of my trip! I can't say enough about these scrumptious, divine, perfect balls of dough. This doughnut shop is located in a funky part of downtown where you share the outside seating area with street people and tourists from all over. There is usually always a line, but don't be discouraged, because the average wait time is only about 20 minutes or so. I visited on a busy Sunday afternoon and was pleasantly surprised at how fast the line moved. This location only accepts cash, so make sure you bring a fair amount with you because you will not be able to walk away with just one. The options are creative and fun and they even have a selection for Vegans. (YAY!) The best part of all is that they are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, so you can have the option of stopping by for a treat any time your heart desires! $$ Average Cost: $1.00-$4.00 per donut $12.00 for classic dozen $16.75 for pre-picked dozen $20.00 for vegan dozen $20.00 -$30.00 for your choice dozen Portland Japanese GardenThis traditional Japanese garden not only showcases 5 styles of gardens in a serene 5.5 acre space, but also some incredible views of the city including Mt. Hood! It's small, but definitely great place to visit and enjoy the peaceful sounds and atmospheric sights of nature, If visiting during the winter months, (which I did and yes it was freezing) don't expect to see too much flora, but the Japanese style houses and zen garden is well worth the trip. After parking, you will continue onto a steep path that takes about 10 minutes to walk up to the front entrance. Unfortunately, most of the facility is under construction which can take away from the beauty of it all, however, I would still recommend visiting. For the most part the self tour takes less than an hour (even with capturing all the photos you will take) but there are many places to sit and relax when you are finished while still enjoying the scenery. $$ Average Cost: $9.50 for adults $7.75 for College students (with ID) Gorge at the food trucksPortland is famous for its gourmet food trucks that mark all corners of the city. Around Alder St., you’ll find the main bulk of them, with trucks serving every type of food you can imagine. From Egyptian, to Mexican, to Persian, to Thai, to Hawaiian. I mean, you name it, they have it! This diverse selection of foods will have your taste buds fleeing all over the country in the matter of minutes. The portions are big, the food is delicious, and the prices reasonable. If you’re not eating here, you’re missing out on a huge part of Portland culture. You can even take tours of all the food trucks. $$ Average Cost: Price varies from item to item Anywhere from $3.00 to $20.00 Downtown portlandThe heart of the city is centered around Pioneer Square and is a great place to explore local shops (YES, SHOPPING!) hang out in the square, and just wander around. There’s nothing really special about this area, but it's fun to explore or sit in the square and people-watch on a nice day. And did I mention, there's LOTS of shopping?!?! I was literally in heaven. $$ Average Cost: Varies from store to store Anywhere from Forever 21 to Tiffany & Co. Here's a list of some fun places to visit at night:
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AuthorWest Coast blogger with a love for traveling and adventure seeking. Archives
July 2018
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