The Best of Portland
I love a quick trip. Exploring a new city with a filled itinerary. The type of trip where at the end of the day your feet hurt after hours of adventuring. My trip to Portland was no exception. We packed as much as we could into three days. Here’s our list of places:
Stop 1: PDX Sliders. The juiciest, more mouth watering little burgers in town. They have sliders or regular sized burgers. If you’re looking to get a mix of a different types of burgers, go with the sliders.
Stop 2: Pip’s Original. I had these tiny donuts for the first time two years ago and was ecstatic to go back. While you can’t go wrong with any of their flavors, the maple bacon donut is by far my most favorite. And you can’t go to Pip’s without ordering the Smokey Robinson Chai.
Stop 3: Japanese Garden. A beautiful sight to see. I could be there for hours. If you’re interested in visiting the tea house cafe, be sure to make reservations ahead of time. I was bummed we didn’t get a chance to try it out.
Stop 4: 1927 S’mores Company. They torch the marshmallow in front of you. I ordered the vegan s’more and it melted in my mouth. Their whiskey marshmallows are absolutely delicious. This is a place you won’t regret.
Stop 5: Multnomah Falls. A must see. Would I go back in the winter? Probably not. Although it was absolutely beautiful I would have loved to hike all the way to the top but we didn’t have the necessary gear to make the trek during the winter.
Stop 6: Cartopia. Portland is known for their food trucks and the Cartopia location did not disappoint! The thai food truck is a must. Their vegan pad see ew and egg rolls were delicious.
Stop 7: Either / Or Coffee. Although I was iffy about ordering the tumeric thai, I’m glad I did and I would recommend it if you visit this coffee shop. The vibes were the best. Amazing staff.
Stop 8: Pittock Mansion. Even if you decide not to purchase tickets to go into the Mansion, you can still walk around the outside of it and take in the views.
Stop 9: Portland Mercado. There’s quite a few options of different types of food across Latin America. I will think about the bean empanadas from the La Carreta Pura Vida food truck. They were cooked to perfection. Super crispy on the outside.
Stop 10: Hawthorne Asylum Food Trucks. I went with a sushi-rito, fried avocados slices, and a boba.
Stop 11: Ken’s Artisan Bakery. Freshly baked bread and pastries? It’s a stop you don’t want to miss. I like to try new things and their Goat Cheese and Leek pastry left me wanting more.
Stop 12: Chinese Garden. Absolutely beautiful. So much detail in all the building. Stop by the tea house and order their dumplings!
Stop 13: Stretch the Noodle. Fresh handmade noodles. Their menu changes every so often. A bit on the heavier side so if you have a sensitive stomach be aware to have that Gas-X and Tums on deck.
Stop 14: Dutch Bros. I will say. I’m not a huge fan of Dutch Bros because their coffees are just a tad bit too sweet for me but I think everyone should try it at least once in their lives.
Stop 15: Tea Chai Te. I’ve been drinking more tea lately and this place had so many options. I ended up going with a hot peppermint yerba mate tea.
Portland has a lot more to offer and I can’t wait to go back.
P.S. Take public transportation. A pass will cost you $5 (as of February 2022).
