View of Portland from Pittock Mansion as taken from my iPhone
Portland is an amazing fusion of city and nature. There are a lot of natural wonders within a 2 hour drive of Portland and within the city itself. Stunning gorges are only 45 minutes east of Portland. The breathtaking geography of the Oregon Coast is two hours west of the city. Oregon also has a number of incredible state parks, headlined by Silver Falls State Park. From the city, you get views of massive mountains in the distance, Mt. Hood to the East and Mt. Saint Helens to the North in the neighboring state of Washington. The city also has a lot of great parks. Some of them have the best views of the city. Portland is also a great foodie town. It launched the food truck revolution. I agree with the notion that it has the best food trucks in the country. Definitely check the hours of the trucks before going because some of them are not open during the early part of the week and they may also have winter hours if you visit the city at that time of year. In general, Portland has the best combination of price reasonableness and taste of food in all the places I have visited. I only visited Portland for a day during my end of the summer trip when I drove down from Seattle. Almost immediately, I realized that I needed to spend much more time in it. As a result, I took another 5 day trip back to Portland in November. Nevertheless, there are still many hikes I would like to do in the future. For example, I did not get the opportunity to hike any of the trails by Mt. Hood so it is definitely on my list of thing I still need to do. However, you could live years in Oregon and not hike all the amazing trails in the state. Many of the hiking trails require a Northwest Pass. You can buy a day pass on the internet and print at home. I definitely recommend checking USDA Forest Service website (http://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/r6/passes-permits/recreation/?cid=fsbdev2_027010) to ensure you have the appropriate pass/ permit for each location. With top notch places to hike and spots to eat, Portland is an ideal vacation spot for me. I highly recommend it to anyone.
Columbia Gorge Scenic Area
This area is a close 30 minute drive from Portland without traffic. It is a very large area with extraordinary beauty. You can definitely spend a few days hiking all the different trails here. In particular, it is known for the amazing falls. Below are the two falls I visited.
Multnomah Falls
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These falls are one of the most popular attractions by Portland. From the bottom, you get a spectacular view of the falls and the bridge that connects you to the trail which takes you to the top (as seen in the picture on the left). Naturally, I wanted to hike up to the top. The trail is well paved and comprised of many switchbacks. It is moderate difficulty. Unfortunately, the payoff at the top is not worth the hike. The lookout is too far behind the falls. You do not see the drop of the falls and have a cutoff view of the bottom (picture on the right). I was definitely not risking my life to venture toward the rocks that are to the left of the drop of the falls for a better view. As such, I would recommend just walking up to the bridge near the bottom of the falls to admire the view and take pictures then hike on another trail. There is also a store at the bottom of the falls that sells plenty of snacks. Although I stayed strong and did not buy anything, I was definitely eyeing the soft serve ice cream everyone else was eating.
Horsetail Falls
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I stumbled upon Horsetail falls by accident. When the parking lot for Multnomah Falls was full, I kept on driving looking for a spot to take a U-turn. Eventually, I found the parking lot for Horsetail falls (picture on right is of the falls across from the parking lot) and decided to check it out to allow time for the visitors at Multnomah Falls to start clearing out. The hike is easy because the path is clear and there is not a lot of elevation change. The views are great. You will walk behind one of the falls (picture second from the left) and have an incredible view of the Columbia Gorge from the path (picture second from the right). I only had enough time to hike to the sign that points you to the higher falls (picture at the right). I definitely would have continued onwards if I started my hike at the beginning of the day rather than at the end of it. Nevertheless, my hike took a little over an hour and the views were worth every second.
Oregon Coast
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I took a road trip with my friends from Los Angeles to San Francisco two years ago. We took the longer route of the Pacific Coast Highway and it was worth the extra time because we saw breathtaking views of mountains and cliffs next to the Pacific Ocean. The Oregon coast is equally incredible.
Oswald West State Park (Oregon Coast Hwy, Arch Cape, OR 97102)
Ecola State Park is the better known park on the northern part of the coast. However, a friend recommended that I go to the Manzanita area instead because there is better geography to see. I took his advice and glad I did. Coming from the north, the parking lots are on the side of the highway. A smaller lot is on the right while the primary lot is on the left. The Cape Falcon trail starts near the smaller parking lot. As an added bonus, there is no fee to park. It is approximately an hour hike to and from the cape. The hike is not strenuous since the elevation changes are minimal. The trail is also pretty well maintained. I experienced some mud but you could run on it if you feel inclined since I saw someone do it without much trouble. The trees and foliage on the path are very beautiful. In my travels, Cape Falcon delivers the best view of the coast. The sight of Neahkahnie Mountain and cliffs next to the Pacific Ocean (first picture on the left) is spectacular.
I also hiked up Neahkahnie Mountain. I drove down the highway in an attempt to find the trailhead. I missed the sign for the north trailhead. As a result, I parked at the south trailhead which appears on the left shortly after you exit the state park. The hike to the summit is definitely a good exercise with a decent level of elevation gain. However, the views are obstructed by the tall trees (the second picture to the right). On the mountain, the best views of the coast occur during the hike up since there is no clearing that provides a payoff at the top. Near the top, the path splits into three directions. The path on the left takes you to a phone tower that has a decent view but it is nothing special. The path straight ahead took me in a circle back to the same intersection. The path to the right is another way that takes you back to the bottom. It is a wide path and easy to hike down. Unfortunately, I could not find where the trails on the south side of the mountain connect to the trails on the north side. As such, I did not get an opportunity to explore those trails which may be better. The view of Neahkahnie Mountain from Cape Falcon is much better than actually being on the trails on the south side of the mountain. If you want to try the trails on the north side, make sure to look for signs for the “Oregon Coast Trail” on the drive down from Cape Falcon. It is not called Neahkahnie Mountain so I missed it on the drive down. There are also a number of lookout points on the drive so that you can enjoy awesome views of the coast.
Haystack Rock
Haystack Rock is an iconic feature of the Oregon Coast (Second picture on the right). It is a large rock formation right off of Cannon Beach. You are allowed to walk up to the rocks and walk on marked parts of them. I recommend parking at the Tolovana Beach State Recreation Site (W Warren Way, Tolovana Park, OR 97145). The parking lot is free. The walk up the beach is very pleasant from there. You can also see Ecola State Park in the distance, which is north of the beach. If you walk to the end of the beach, there are shops and restaurants as you exit on the right. It only takes an hour for a roundtrip walk from Tolovana Park to the top of Cannon Beach. It is well worth the time.
Mo’s Restaurant (195 W Warren Way, Tolovana Park, OR 97145)
After a day of exploring Manzanita and Cannon Beach, I stopped by Mo’s Restaurant to eat. It is known for its clam chowder so I definitely wanted to try it. Unfortunately, I actually cringed when I saw the sloppy bowl of chowder. It also had a big blob of butter on the top of it. The chowder is edible but I ate around the butter. I would not order it again. On the other hand, the fish tacos redeemed this restaurant (Picture on the right). They are very good and worth stopping for after a day of hiking.
Silver Falls State Park (20024 Silver Falls Highway Southeast, Sublimity, OR 97385)
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Silver Falls State Park is supposedly the crown jewel of the Oregon state parks system. There is definitely no argument from me. It is one of the most amazing showcases of nature I have ever seen. The park is known for its ten waterfalls. While not every fall is equally spectacular, it is truly extraordinary that ten falls could form in a way that you can hike around in a circular pattern to see them all. I have never seen anything like it. Moreover, you are able to walk behind a couple of the larger falls (e.g. North Falls and South Falls) as the trails run behind them. The Ten Falls Trail is a little less than 9 miles and can be done between 3-4 hours. The elevation gain is not difficult and there are staircases in areas where there would be a steep climb. The Ten Falls Trail is a combination of the Canyon Trail and Rim Trail. I started at the north parking lot. From the top right picture, it is all ten falls in a counterclockwise direction that starts with the Upper North Falls and ends with the Winter Falls. The main parking lot is at the south falls, which also has the restrooms. However, it does not matter where you start since it the paths connect in a circle. If you are a tourist without a pass for the park, there are envelopes at the parking lot where you can deposit the $5 fee and write down the information about your car. The ideal time to do this hike is the summer. I hiked at this park during winter. The snow on the foliage provided an amazing background as I explored the park. Unfortunately, it was below freezing in the preceding days and certain parts of the paths had a lot of ice. While I did not feel I was in a very dangerous situation, I slipped and wiped out once. There are parts of the trail you definitely do not want to slip off. Consequently, I definitely recommend visiting this park in the summer or when you know that it has been above freezing in recent days. It will be a much more enjoyable experience if you dedicate all of your focus on the views instead of worrying about slipping on ice.
Great Views/ Parks in City
Pittock Mansion(3229 NW Pittock Dr, Portland, OR 97210)
Without a doubt, the Pittock Mansion grounds have the most spectacular view of Portland that includes Mt. Hood in the background (Cover Photo). Moreover, you can walk around the grounds for free. The only admission fee is for a tour of the inside of the mansion. While you can certainly drive up to the parking lot of the mansion, there is also a beautiful hike from the city that takes you to the top of the grounds in an hour. I started my hike at the entrance of Lower Macleay Park. I walked on the Lower Macleay trail to the Wildwood Trail. As you walk, you will see a Stone House on the right. You need to continue straight and follow the switchbacks to the Upper Macleay Trailhead then follow the signs pointing you to the mansion. It is my favorite hike within the city. However, I wish I did it in warmer weather. As the temperature during the week was below freezing, there were entire parts of the trail that were covered with ice. I was also wearing old running shoes that did not have much grip left. Consequently, I slipped and wiped out three times. During one of those times, the path was downhill so I sat down and slid down because I knew I would wipe out if I tried to walk anyway. On another segment on the hike up, I was struggling and grabbing on to branches to pull myself up. A girl walked by and asked if I was “ok” then immediately wiped out and fell on her rear end. Her companion laughed hysterically at her. He explained that he is “not a bad person” and he only laughed because he had already fallen 5 times and it was only her first time falling. As I made my way up to the mansion, I realized I had already tried my luck a lot. As a result, I decided to take a cab back to the bottom where I parked. The $10 fee was well worth avoiding a potential broken arm if I fell hard. There is also a limited amount of parking at the entrance of Lower Macleay Park. There is street parking nearby but it is a 2 hour limit. Without losing some time to navigate the ice, I definitely could have made the round trip and enjoyed the view in less than 2 hours. Of course, park at the top of Pittock Mansion and do the hike in reverse if you want to take your time to enjoy and cannot get a parking spot at the entrance of Lower Macleay Park.
James Woodhill Park at Rocky Butte
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James Woodhill Park has the best views of Mt. Hood and Mt. Saint Helens in Portland (Pictures above). Drive to the top of Rocky Butte. There is plenty of parking up there. The park resembles a fort. There is a telephone station in a small clearing at the top. There is a soft reddish surface that resembles a track. However, the park is for the views rather than exercise. I had the privilege of enjoying the view at sunset. I definitely recommend stopping by at this time of day. The mountains appear serene at sunset.
Mt. Tabor Park (SE Yamhill St. and SE 69th Ave)
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Mt. Tabor is a dormant volcano. It is now a park and also has the reservoirs that provide the water to the city. I parked at one of the entrances at SE Yamhill St. and SE 69th Avenue. However, there is plenty of parking inside the park. There are various levels of the park at different elevations. I started at the top section (2 pictures on the left). There is a clearing with a lot of trees where you can relax. There is also a good view of the city but it is slightly obstructed by the trees. The best view of the city in the park is at the City of Portland Reservoir 5 (2 pictures on the right). Mt. Tabor Park is also a great place to exercise. There are paths to take laps at every level of the park (e.g. the reservoirs). You can also run up and down the steep staircases that connect levels.
Forest Park
This park is on the northwest side of the city. It is approximately a 10-15 minute drive from the downtown area. As the name implies, it is a park that is also a forest. There are a lot of paths within the park that I did not have enough time to explore. Nevertheless, I spent two hours here to get in a great run. The dirt paths are flat and clear. The forest is very beautiful with plenty of trees. I highly recommend this park if you are looking for a good spot for a run in Portland. Of course, you can also spend a few hours walking. The entrances to this park are within residential areas that are right next to it. I entered at 4014 NW Thurman St. While there are a few parking spots next to this entrance, you may have to find street parking in front of nearby houses.
Laurelhurst Park (1120 SW 5th Ave #1302, Portland, OR 97204)
Laurelhurst Park is a medium sized park in Portland on the East side of the city. It is within a beautiful residential area. There is a lake within the park and plenty of trees. If I lived in the area, I would definitely run laps in the park all the time. If you are staying close to it, I recommend it if you are looking for a place to run. It is a decent place to stop by if you are on vacation but there are more scenic locations in the city so I would not make a big effort to stop by Laurelhurst Park.
Alphabet District
The creator of the Simpsons hails from Portland. Many of the names of the characters are derived from street names in the Alphabet District (e.g. NW Flanders St). I stopped by this area to walk around and see the street names. I got a kick out of seeing the source of the characters’ names. There are also plenty of shops and restaurants in the Alphabet District. Unfortunately, I did not have the time to try any. It is definitely an interesting area to stop by if you are in Portland and have time to explore it.
Food Carts/ Trucks
SW 5th and Stark
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Small Pharoah(463-499 SW Stark St)
I arrived in downtown Portland at night on Labor Day. Luckily, there were a few food carts located at the end of the block of my hotel that were open. Small Pharoah is an Egyptian cart that is similar to the Halal carts in New York City. I have tried my share of Halal food in New York but none of them compare to how good the lamb over rice at Small Pharoah is. The lamb comes in big chunks and is very tender and full of taste. The rice is also excellent. Although I was just hungry and wanted anything to eat, the food at Small Pharoah went way above my expectations and blew me away. An added bonus of this food cart is it is open 24 hours. I highly recommend this cart to anyone that enjoys lamb over rice. In my opinion, this cart is a must try.
Brunch Box (320 SW 5th Ave)
If you want a healthy choice for breakfast, the Brunch Box is not for you. If you are looking for a great breakfast sandwich, I recommend this cart. I ordered a fried egg sandwich and cheese with French toast bread. It was very greasy but tasted amazing, which is often a brutal inverse relationship we must endure.
Cartopia (SE 12th and Hawthorne)
Potato Champion
Cartopia is one of the popular pods in Portland. My friend recommended Pyro Pizza. However, my transplanted East Coast friends have not had kind words about the pizza on the West Coast. Rather than be a pizza snob, my general rule is not to eat pizza on the West Coast so I do not unfairly judge it. As I walked around Cartopia, I realized there was one cart I definitely wanted to try: Potato Champion. During my last trip to Canada, my mom’s friend introduced us to Poutine. For anyone unfamiliar with it, it is a popular dish in Canada that includes french fries, cheese, and gravy. It sounds like a simple idea but it is an amazing combination. Potato Champion has a solid version of Poutine. It is definitely worth a try if you have never tried the dish before or have not had it in a long time. Nevertheless, it is more of a snack than a meal.
SE 32nd/ SE 33rd and Hawthorne
Carte Blanche (SE 32nd and Hawthorne Blvd)
Carte Blanche (top two pictures) is my favorite food truck in Portland. It is right on Hawthorne Boulevard and I had an easy time finding parking on a nearby side street. I ordered the fish bowl and it is incredible. The fried tilapia is fresh and did not feel too greasy. The seasoning is perfect. It has enough kick for great flavor but not too spicy. It is the ideal balance for me. The potatoes and kale inside the dish are very crisp. The avocado and broccoli are great complements and also seasoned flawlessly. The cold slaw is good too. Everything in the fish bowl is amazing. Moreover, there is a heavenly scent when you open the box of food. In my opinion, this food truck is a must try if you visit Portland.
UmaiPDX (SE 33rd Ave, Portland, OR 97214)
Food trucks can be anywhere in Portland, even a dark alley. Umai is literally in an alley right off of Hawthorne. I tried to eat at this cart on Saturday around 6 PM. However, it was sold out. Was I upset? Absolutely not. It is a sign that it is excellent food. I went to and was dazzled by Carte Blanche nearby then came back to Umai during the afternoon on Sunday. Upon my return, I ordered the Umai Ramen with Miso Soup (Bottom two pictures). I enjoyed all the ingredients: handmade Ramen noodles, shitake mushrooms, pork shoulder, marinated egg, vegetables, and scallions. It is the first time I have seen a Ramen dish with pork shoulder. This meat is always a plus because it is tender and full of flavor. Nevertheless, none of the ingredients blew me away (e.g. the pork shoulder is very good but I cannot say it is the best I have had). The miso soup is also very good. On the other hand, it is difficult to be blown away by miso soup. My views on Ramen are that I enjoy Ramen when I eat it but do not crave it and never overwhelmed by it. Consistent with these views, the ingredients of the Umai Ramen work well in concert but do not give me the awe factor. I recommend it if you want to try a Ramen cart because it is one of the better Ramen dishes I have tried. However, there is not an unforgettable taste or element that differentiates it as the best Ramen in Portland.
Tidbit Food, Farm and Garden (SE Division St & SE 28th Pl Portland, OR 97202)
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Hapa PDX
Hapa is a food truck within the Tidbit Food, Farm, and Garden pod. I ordered the Tonkotsu Ramen (Picture on the left). It is comprised of handmade Ramen noodles, spinach, marinated egg, and chashu pork. I added shitake mushrooms, which is a little extra money. All the ingredients are solid and work well together. The pork based broth is amazing. It differentiates Hapa for me and is the reason I rank it as the best Ramen I tried in Portland. In comparison with the other Ramen food truck I tried, Umai, I also preferred Hapa’s noodles because they are slightly thicker. On the other hand, I like the pork at Umai a little bit more because pork shoulder is better quality meat. Nevertheless, the noodles and broth are the most critical elements of Ramen so Hapa is my favorite Ramen in Portland. Moreover, I asked the server at Hapa for recommendations in the pod and she gave me sound picks of NAMU and Azul Tequila Mexican Taqueria.
NAMU
NAMU is a fusion of Hawaiian and Korean food. The pork platter (middle picture) at NAMU is one of the best pork dishes I have tasted. The pork is ridiculously tender and comes with avocado, rice, spinach, and kimchi. On the other hand, the pork is dosed with a lot of sauce. Unfortunately, I did not like it at all because it is bitter. As a result, I ended up eating below the top layer of the pork to avoid the sauce. I definitely recommend the dish but maybe ask for the sauce on the side unless you know you like it.
Azul Tequila Mexican Taqueria 2
This Mexican food here is excellent and cheap. I tried the chicken burrito the first time I stopped by this food truck and loved it. I returned to the Tidbit Farm pod on my last day in Portland to try Hapa and the server noted that Azul has the best fish tacos (Picture on the right). Since I love fish tacos, I knew I needed to order one to try it. The tacos definitely live up to the hype. The tilapia is fresh and very smooth. It is also just $2. I highly recommend this food truck if you enjoy Mexican food.
Burrasca (SE 28th and Ankeny/113 SE 28th Avenue)
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I saw Burrasca on a list of best new food trucks in Portland. It is well deserving of the accolades. I started with the zuppa lombarda (soup of cannellini beans). I am not a big fan of beans but this soup is very solid. The tagliatelle (handmade pasta with beef ravi) completely steals the show. The pasta is extremely soft with great texture and excellent taste. Of course, it is handmade. It is out of this world good and I rank it as the best pasta I have tried to date. In addition, the meat sauce is spectacular and full of flavor. The pasta dishes at Burassca are definitely on my list of must try dishes in Portland.
Other Food
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Screen Door (2337 E Burnside St)
Screen Door is an amazing spot for Brunch. I sat at the bar by the kitchen and every dish that came out looked delicious. I read ahead time that Screen Door is known for the fried chicken. Accordingly, I ordered the chicken and waffles. I was obsessed with fried chicken from Roy Rogers as a child growing up. However, the chain disappeared over the years and I outgrew fried chicken because fried food does not agree with my body well anymore. Even so, the fried chicken here is amazing. First, crispy skin is a requirement for any fried chicken and this dish certainly delivers from this perspective. Next, dry chicken is a pitfall in making fried chicken. However, the chicken at the Screen Door is tender and juicy throughout. Unlike most fried chicken, I felt completely fine after eating this dish and was full of energy for a day of hiking. The waffles are a solid complement to the fried chicken. It is not spectacular but definitely very good. I usually do not put syrup on my waffles. Nevertheless, I decided to dip pieces of my waffle in the Screen Door’s syrup. It was excellent and I used it on the rest of my waffle. The Screen Door is very popular for brunch on the weekends. As a result, get there before it opens to get in line. I thought I had plenty of time to get there before it filled up 30 minutes after it opened at 9:30. However, the line was already out the door.
Life of Pie Pizza (3632 N Williams Ave)
I finally broke my rule of avoiding West Coast pizza when I ate at Life of Pie Pizza (picture in the middle on top row). I was trying to eat at Tasty ‘N Sons but it was still closed due to renovations. Life of Pie was one of the few places that were open in the area. I thought the name was clever and saw it has good reviews on Yelp. As a result, I finally gave in and tried West Coast pizza. At the risk of being called a pizza snob from the East Coast, I am going to be honest. The ingredients on top of the pizza (e.g. tomato sauce, mushrooms, cheese, etc.) are fresh and very good. However, I do not like the taste of the dough at all. It is a theory that the water is the reason pizza and bagels are infinitely superior on the East Coast. While I have no idea if the reason is valid, the results are certain: the dough tastes better in New York.
Olympic Provisions (1632 NW Thurman St)
If you enjoy pork, Olympic Provisions is a place for you (Picture on the top right). The charcuterie dishes have a variety of pork. I ordered the Chef’s Choice which is the chef’s selection of five meats. The server told me what each of the meats is. To be honest, I did not pay attention to the descriptions since I was preoccupied staring at all the pork and thinking about how I was going to devour them. Each one of them tasted excellent. Naturally, they are salty. However, they have the correct amount of salt so that they are not too salty. I did not eat much and hiked half a day at Silver Falls before I ate lunch at Olympic Provisions. As a result, I fell into the trap of ordering too much and ordered the ham sandwich too. It is one of the best ham sandwiches I have ever eaten. Unfortunately, I filled up on the charcuterie and complimentary bread already so I was only able to eat half the sandwich. I dined at the northwest location but Olympic Provisions also has a southeast location (107 SE Washington St).
The Observatory (8115 SE Stark St, Portland)
The Observatory is an excellent place to have a nice sit down dinner at a reasonable price. I met up with a childhood friend who now lives in Portland at this restaurant. The ambience is great and it was a great spot for us to catch up. The food is also very good. I had the red snapper dish (bottom left picture). The fish is exactly how I like it: fresh and smooth. The mac and cheese is solid and complements the fish well. I am not a big fan of broccoli rabe because it is bitter. However, I do not hold the inclusion of it against my opinion of the dish since it is my personal preference rather than an issue with the quality of the food. While I do not classify it as a must try, I definitely recommend it.
Shut Up and Eat (3848 SE Gladstone St)
When I did my research before visiting Portland, I saw one restaurant with the audacity to tell me to “Shut Up and Eat” (bottom right picture). Accordingly, I needed to test any place that has the gall to make such a bold statement. When someone or something cannot back up what they say with substance, they are cocky. When they can, they are just being confident rather than cocky. I can definitely say this restaurant is simply confident because it can back it up. The waitressed noted that the meatball sub and Broad Street Bomber (cheese steak) are their most popular sandwiches. I ordered the meatball sub and it was one of the best I have ever eaten. The meatballs and sauce were both phenomenal. The French fries were also great. For these reasons, Shut Up and Eat are at the top of my list of recommendations for Portland.
Dessert
Voodoo Doughnut (22 SW 3rd Avenue for original location downtown/ 1501 N.E. Davis St. for second location)
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Voodoo Donuts is one of the most popular spots in Portland. While I heard there is usually a line, I was able to avoid them by going at downtimes (e.g. 7 AM for the downtown location and 3 PM in the afternoon for the Voodoo Doughnut Too location). My favorite donuts are from Doughnut Plant from New York City. I definitely wanted to try Voodoo Doughnut to compare the two. While Voodoo donuts do not taste nearly as good as the ones at Doughnut Plant, they are still very good. In terms of presentation and creativity, Voodoo donuts beats any other donuts I have seen by a mile. They have unique shapes such as voodoo dolls and unique names such as Marshall Matters doughnuts (doughnut with mini M&Ms). They also have some provocative doughnuts (e.g. Cock-N-Balls doughnut which is shaped like a male gentile). These stores are cash only. Moreover, any orders must be made 24 hours in advance. If you want certain flavors, it is a good idea to place an advanced order. Voodoo Donuts is a staple of Portland so definitely set aside time to try it. On my flight home, I bought a box to share with my family. When I went to scan my ticket to board the plane, a flight attendant pointed out my box of donuts and noted “There is at least one every flight”. I also received a lot of comments about the donuts on the plane. One gentleman wanted to make sure I knew where he sat in case I decided to open up and start eating donuts instead of saving them for my family back home.
Blue Star Donut (3549 SE Hawthorne)
Blue Star Donut is not nearly as well known as Voodoo Doughnut. It is a different type of donut, brioche donuts. I consider them gourmet style donuts. I tried the Blue Berry bourbon basil and it is excellent. Doughnut Plant in New York and Marla Bakery in San Francisco are the two best doughnut shops I have tried. I rate Blue Star Donut slightly but clearly below those two. If it is your first time in Portland, I still recommend trying Voodoo Doughnut first because of the novelty of the unique designs. Nevertheless, I suggest Blue Star Donut afterwards if you want to eat better tasting donuts.
Salt & Straw (3345 SE Division St.)
If you are in the mood for ice cream in Portland, Salt & Straw is a solid choice. There are plenty of different flavors to select. In addition, they are unique. I tried the almond brittle with salted ganache and enjoyed it. It is not as smooth or creamy as the best ice cream I have tried. For this reason, it is not a must try overall. I tried the location on Division St. but there are many shops throughout the city.
Coffee
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Stumptown Coffee Roasters (1026 SW Stark St)
“Stumptown” is one of the nicknames of Portland. In the 1850s, trees were cut down at a fast rate in order to accommodate the rapid growth of the city. As such, there were more stumps than trees hence the nickname “Stumptown”. Stumptown Coffee Roasters is one of the best coffee shops in Portland. It has branched out to other cities and I had already been at and enjoyed one of the shops in New York. There are multiple locations in Portland. I visited the shop in downtown. As is my norm, I ordered the mocha (picture on the left). The taste is excellent. The latte art is the best in Portland.
Coava Coffee Roasters (1300 SE Grand Ave)
I usually drink mochas at coffee shops. Unfortunately, Coava does not have chocolate to make mochas. Nevertheless, I rank it as the top coffee shop in Portland. The macchiato (second picture on the left) is very strong and definitely gave me the energy I needed to complete a 3+ hour drive up to Seattle after my first trip to Portland. When I returned to Coava on my second trip, I ordered a soy latte (second picture to the right). It is phenomenal and is my favorite drink in Portland. The shop is huge and feels like a warehouse. It is a great spot to sit down and do some work on your laptop as it provides wireless internet and there are outlets to plug in. I also tried the new Coava location on Hawthorne. I hated it. The barista completely messed up my drink. It was total slop and looked like the garbage that Starbucks makes. While it may be difficult to train all their baristas, the A team is definitely at the Grand Avenue location so it is not worth it to go to the secondary location.
Heart Coffee Roasters (2211 E Burnside St)
Heart is another stellar coffee shop in Portland. There are multiple locations and I stopped by the Burnside location. The mocha is rich and provided the boost I needed to start my long day of driving to and back from the Oregon Coast for a day of hiking. It is also next to the Screen Door. If you did not get in line in time and are stuck waiting in line for brunch, definitely walk over to Heart for some great coffee. In addition, Voodoo Doughnut Too is nearby and a quick drive away. As any opportunist can conclude, Voodoo Doughnut and Heart coffee is a great way to start a day in Portland.
Hotel/ Lodging
Courtyard by Marriott Portland City Center (550 Southwest Oak Street)
I stayed at this hotel for one night on my first trip to Portland. I had enough Marriott points racked up for a free stay. It is a solid hotel. Parts of it appear old but the rooms are clean and comfortable. The receptionists and valet are very helpful with recommendations. This hotel is strategically located in downtown. It is next to a popular food cart pod on SW 5th and Stark. Nevertheless, there is not much to see in downtown. Most of my recommendations for Portland are not around this area. Unless you are in town for business that is situated downtown, there is really no reason to stay here. Valet parking is $32 but at least it is one price for the full day and you can drive in and out as you please without paying more than the $32 daily fee. Parking is a pain downtown so just pay the fee if you stay here.
Residence Inn Portland Airport at Cascade Station (9301 NE Cascades Parkway)
It is exactly what I expect from a Residence Inn: a comfortable suite with a kitchen, living room, bedroom, and bathroom. The layout and appearance of the room is exactly like the ones I stayed at the Residence Inn in Buffalo, New York. The location of the hotel is great. It is right by the airport. Although I did not use mass transit during my stay, the MAX is right outside the hotel at the end of the parking lot. It runs directly to the airport and downtown. The hotel is also right next to a shopping plaza which includes a Target where you can buy supplies for your trip and fast food options such as Subway or Chipotle. The hotel also serves a complimentary breakfast. I perused the food and was not inspired to eat any of it. I only grabbed a yogurt parfait and apple juice.
Evermore Guesthouse (3860 Southeast Clinton Street)
Evermore Guesthouse is great if you are looking to stay at a big house that has a colonial feel. It is located in the southeast part of the city. The appearance and smell has a colonial, older feel. I stayed at the 2nd Floor Suite and I had plenty of room with a balcony. The one drawback is that there is no television. However, the internet is very strong (make sure to connect to the second floor network) so I just watched my television shows the next morning. There is also a complimentary breakfast. It looked edible but I did not eat any of it. There is too much amazing food nearby for me to waste room. The Evermore Guesthouse is also less expensive than name brand hotels. Moreover, it provides its own parking lot. Its sister Guesthouse, Bluebird Guesthouse, is a lot cheaper than the Evermore Guesthouse. However, it does not have its own parking lot and is apparently not as nice (e.g. shared bathroom). Regardless, I highly recommend the Evermore Guesthouse if you want to try something different at a better price than a name brand hotel. I also had trouble finding it at first. The sign is small. It is on the intersection of Southeast Clinton Street and SE Cesar E Chavez Boulevard with entrances on both streets.
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