In May 2018, I went to Portland with a friend to explore for a potential move and to catch up with another friend who was working out there for a few weeks. We were in Portland for 2 days and rented an Airbnb for $115 total. Round trip tickets from Austin were $82 each.
On our first morning, we had breakfast at Sanborn's. It came highly recommended by our Airbnb host and was walkable distance from the house. We shared a German Pancake filled with cream cheese and topped with apples, pecans and walnuts, as well as 2 poached eggs with corn beef hash. I love my breakfasts big and this was the perfect start to a busy day.
After breakfast, we walked downtown through some neighborhoods, over the Hawthorne Bridge and to the downtown area.
We met up with a guide for a $50 (total), 3 hour Aerial Tram and Rooftop Tour. Summary of the experience reads "We'll meet at a convenient location downtown and then head to Portland's Aerial Tram to capture some stunning photos of the city's skyline. After a short excursion in the clouds, we'll visit a rooftop in the Pearl District. There you can enjoy views of the unique architectural styles present in Portland, from a gold level sustainable rooftop, tastefully restored from an 1895 warehouse. The 3rd and final viewpoint takes place at a hotel in Chinatown, where you can order tea, coffee, beer or mimosa on the a captivating roof a 1881 former sailors boarding house."
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| View from the tram |
The hotel on the tour was The Society Hotel. It had a wall where people could write recommendations on things to do on a perfect day in Portland and these 2 were my favorites.
We walked through the neighborhood, Chinatown, afterwards and stopped for some ice cream at Salt & Straw. 10/10 recommend.
From there, we met with friends at Powell's City of Books. Powell’s is the world’s largest independent bookstore in the world and they have vast collections of new, used and rare books in person and online.
In the rephrased words of my beloved Atticus, I aspire to be an old lady, with an old partner, in an old country, laughing at jokes from a wild youth.
In the evening, we walked through Old Town, past the Oregon sign to Gov Tom McCall Waterfront Park where we spent a few hours.
The next day, we went to the Portland Art Museum. Their Museum was so diverse and inspiring. Not only did they have first-hand refugee narratives, they had Native Art, Stop Animation pieces and videos explaining how they are made, varieties of Asian Art, European Art, American Art and that rubbish we call Contemporary Art.
We then went to Portland City Grill for the most delicious lunch and spectacular views of the city.
From there, we walked around Belmont Street a bit then went to the Hawthorne. Hawthorne District is an old neighborhood with vintage stores, funky boutiques, inclusive signs, bookstores, and cafes. We walked around eating, drinking and sightseeing to our hearts’ desires. I lost photos of street views but these precious 3 remained.
We had dinner at Black Rabbit Restaurant and Bar then flew out at 11:42pm.
One of my favorite things about Portland is the appreciation for diversity and making sure that everyone feels safe in the city. I highly recommend visiting and it is definitely on my list of potential places to move to if I decide to stay in the US when I leave Austin.
