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One Day in Portland

June 4th, 2014 by Jason Hartman | Comments Off on One Day in Portland

Portland Saturday MarketIf you’re looking for a vacation spot that offers a little bit of nature, a little bit of city, and a lot of charm, Portland is your city! Located in the beautiful northwest, this Oregon hotspot has a big city feel with the safety, space, and accessibility of a much smaller town.

Portland is great for individuals and families alike because it offers a variety of affordable options and public transportation. It’s a very flat and walkable city with a lot to do.

You’ll want to start the morning off with brunch, Portland’s favorite meal. There are a ton of options, but Mother’s is a great choice. There’s a bit of a wait on weekends, but you can leave your phone number and receive a text when your table is ready. The breakfast is inexpensive, delicious, and plentiful and will fuel your walk through the city.

Check out Powell’s, an independent bookstore that takes up an entire city block and is several stories high. It will likely (if you’re literary minded) take a few hours—there’s more books than even Jason Hartman has read! Stop into their coffee shop for a quick caffeine boost. If you’re in need of an afternoon sugar rush, wait in the cash-only line at VooDoo Doughnuts and try the Maple Bacon Bar, Old Dirty Bastard, or VooDoo. They’re cheap and delicious if you’ve got about 30 minutes to wait in line.

Walk along the waterfront for some great people watching and check out the Saturday market (which happens on Sunday as well) for local artisan goods. For lunch, grab something from one of the many food carts around town and find a patch of grass to take in the city. If you need a break from the hustle, Portland State has a beautiful (and downtown) campus with a lot of green space and air-conditioned buildings.

For great views of the city, head up to Pittock Mansion, home of the former publisher of The Oregonian. For $9.50, you can tour the mansion, but it’s free to walk to the back and get spectacular views of the city below. Located in the west hill of Portland, the mansion is beautiful—but parking can be kind of a pain, so wear good walking shoes.

If you’ve got a car, check out any of the parks on the outskirts of Portland or drive to Multnomah Falls, a huge waterfall with lots of hiking (or all levels).

Spend a day, a weekend, or a month—Portland’s got a little something for everyone.

(photo credit: adactio via photopin cc)

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