3 Day Trip to Portland Oregon
Portland, Oregon, also known as the "City of Roses," is a place that has both nature and city within a few blocks of each other, aka my perfect place. There’s an experience for everyone; waterfalls, rose gardens, forests, mountains as well as nightlife and delicious food. My husband and I always ask each other when we visit new places if we could see ourselves moving here and this is one place we both agreed we could picture ourselves moving to. Here is what we did on our 3 day trip to Portland, hopefully it gives you some ideas and tips for when you visit!
Day 1: We of course started our day with some coffee from Case Study Coffee. Once we had caffeine in our system we took the MAX line to the Hoyt Arboretum. That’s where we did some hiking and made our way to the Redwood Deck. It was beautiful. There were sequoia trees everywhere. You didn’t feel like you were in a city you felt like you were in a magic forest somewhere.
Then we made our way over to the Rose Test Garden it was beautiful. We went in June so all the roses were in bloom. It was so cute, there was a group of elderly people that all had their canvas’ out and were painting the flowers. It was just so peaceful and relaxing there.
After that, we made our way down for lunch at the Pizza Thief. The pizza there is delicious! After, we walked around the neighborhood, and did some window shopping. It’s located in the Northwest part of Portland and there’s so many little boutique shops, we found some really cute souvenirs for our family here.
We came for our 5th Wedding Anniversary so that night we wanted to go to a fancy dinner with a view, so what better place to go to than Portland City Grill. The views of the city are unmatched here and the food was delicious. You will definitely spend $$$ here, but for a special occasion I recommend it.
That night we went to an arcade bar called Ground Kontrol then we went to a mini golf bar called Birdie Time Pub where I made a hole in one on our first round (there’s video proof).
Day 2: We knew we wanted to explore the Columbia River Gorge, but we didn’t want to have to rent a car, so we booked a trip through Viator where we did the Half-Day Columbia River Gorge and Waterfall Hiking Tour. The tour was great because they drive you and they know where all the spots are to stop. The tour guide also had a lot of local places she recommended as well.
The hike was beautiful, the breathtaking views of cascading waterfalls and towering cliffs provided a humbling experience amidst the raw beauty of Mother Nature.
For dinner we went to Danwei Canting, which is amazing Chinese food! Our favorites were The General’s Chicken and the Crispy Corn. Then we headed over to the local food carts and got churro ice cream, it was delicious.
Day 3: Our last full day was a Saturday, so of course we made our way to the famous Farmers Market. There were all sorts of food vendors and local farmers. We ordered some tamales and they were to die for!
Then we went over to the iconic Powell’s City of Books, a book lover's paradise that spans an entire city block. It was overwhelming how many books there were. After that, we headed to Portland’s Saturday Market where there were vendors selling all sorts of jewelry, clothing, artwork. People are so creative!
My husband went back to the hotel and took a nap while I explored a little more. I went to Coava Coffee and read a book I got at Powell’s. Then I explored the Southeast side of Portland and went into a few vintage shops. I took the bus there though, and on my way there I got on the wrong bus, so once I got off I had to walk through this neighborhood to get to the shops and it was like a little hidden adventure. The houses were all so cute and unique, it just looked so peaceful.
That night I got us tickets to the Timbers Soccer Game and what an experience that was. I’ve never been to a soccer game before, but those fans know how to cheer on their team. They even had a guy that would come up with a chainsaw and cut a piece off of a tree trunk every time they made a goal, it was awesome.
Our trip to Portland, Oregon, was an unforgettable adventure that surpassed all expectations. Whether you're an outdoor enthusiast, an art aficionado, a foodie, or simply someone seeking a diverse and enriching experience, Portland has something to offer for everyone. So, pack your bags and get ready to explore the charms of the City of Roses – a destination that will undoubtedly captivate your soul and leave you with cherished memories for a lifetime.
