Three Days in Portland
Whew! I survived July! As you know, July was a packed month, and I'm just now getting around to tell you all about my mini adventures. First up is my quick three days in Portland: I ate and drank my way through downtown, Clinton/Division, and Alberta St, and went on a beautiful hike. If I were to write about each thing I did, my fingers would be raw, so I'll just stick to the highlights:
- Catching up with friends: Now this is obviously not Portland specific, but I was able to meet up with a few friends while visiting and it definitely made my trip special; some I hadn't seen for a long time and some I see all the time, but sharing experiences or being introduced to new ones is almost always better with friends!
- The International Rose Test Garden: Located in the beautiful Washington Park, a lovely green oasis in downtown Portland, The Rose Test Garden is a huge public and free garden that tests and grows hundreds of varietals of roses! I am not a huge rose person but it was highly recommended by TripAdvisor and every other website I googled. When Mel and I arrived we were both pretty shocked at how big it was, the amount of roses, how well kept it was, and how much we enjoyed looking at these flowers that are not necessarily our favorite. The colors, the smells, and the company were all pretty perfect. I definitely recommend a visit; I am not a rose person and I enjoyed myself...and did I mention it was FREE?
- Holocaust Memorial: Next we took a SHORT 5 minute walk to the Holocaust Memorial. I always find myself so humbled by these memorials. This memorial was centered around quotes from survivors of one of the darkest times in our World's history. Reading each and every one of them made me feel sad, sick, and grateful for the life I have. All of our "problems" for the most part pale in comparison to the horror these humans endured. "All of us children were crying for our parents. A guard came over to us and yelled, 'Stop all your whining! See that chimney, see that smoke, smell that stench in the air? That is your parents.'"
- Clinton/Division Streets: A nice quiet street with tons of restaurants, bars and breweries. This was an easy place to stroll and eat, and stroll, and drink, and....well you get the point! With all of the food and drinks, it was nice that there wasn't a sense of congestion or rush. We stayed and chatted at a wine bar for what felt like a couple hours, and no one was rushing us out. I definitely recommend this area if you want to explore the culinary scene as well as the unique breweries and bars.
- Salt & Straw: This was recommended to me by Carolyn, and I am so happy I stumbled upon it WITHOUT a line! Apparently a line free S&S is essentially unheard of. Luck was on my side, and I'm so grateful. They have traditional and unique ice cream flavors that are amazing! My choice: a split scoop of lavender and olive oil. Yes olive oil. Don't ask questions, just go to one of their west coast locations...
- Cruze Room: This place was pretty amazing. Located on Alberta St., this taco shop is anything but traditional. They essentially put a meal on a corn tortilla; fish and chips, vegan mac and cheese, and so many amazing flavor combos. So what did we do? We ordered one of each. Yes, 15 tacos to share, which was more than enough, but so worth it! They also infuse house made liquors and have a fun cocktail list too.
- Last but not least, we went on a beautiful hike. This was probably my favorite part of our whole trip. Eating and drinking anywhere you go is essentially, well, eating and drinking! Getting out of the city (about 20 min) and being active in the lush greenery was refreshing. The hike was easy (thanks Kim!), pretty, and the perfect way to see all Portland has to offer. I am always wanting to hike, and for whatever reason, find bad excuses not to. It felt really great to get moving, catch up with our friend, and appreciate the simplistic beauty of nature.
Overall, Portland has everything you expect from a big city without having lost the chill, laid back, west coast vibe. There is so much more to do, and I barely scratched the surface. If you are looking for a quick weekend trip that won't stress you out and overwhelm you, Portland is the perfect place.
