When the weekend comes, we like to get away together or meet up in a fun city. Sometimes we fly in on Saturday morning and leave early on Sunday… still time for fun, like on our recent weekend wandering to Portland, Oregon.
7 Reasons to Visit Portland, Oregon
1) PDX – The Portland International Airport is spacious, sparkling clean and has terrific food, coffee, beer, wine and shopping. Often, there are musicians providing free entertainment. With the MAX Light Rail just steps away from the baggage claim, you can be in downtown Portland in less than an hour.
2) The MAX Light Rail — It’s easy to get around Portland on the MAX Light Rail system that connects downtown Portland with Beaverton, Clackamas, Gresham, Hillsboro, North/Northeast Portland and the Portland International Airport. You can travel from the Portland International Airport to Pioneer Courthouse Square in downtown Portland in about 50 minutes or less — for as little at $5 round trip.
3) Voodoo Doughnuts — While in the Portland Airport, you are likely to see people carrying large pink boxes tied with string. They’ve been to Voodoo Doughnuts, and if you are going to Portland, you’ve got to head to 22 SW 3rd Avenue to see why all of the excitement over sugary pastry. Plan to wait in line, and it helps to study the doughnut menu ahead of time.
Try the Portland Cream — “Raised yeast doughnut filled with Bavarian cream. Topped with chocolate and two eyeballs, representing the vision of our great city,” reads the description of this one. Notice the mist from the light rain, while enjoying on the pink picnic tables outside.
4) Powell’s Books — Nirvana for book lovers, room after room at Powell’s are filled with new and used books on every subject imaginable.
5) The Veritable Quandary –there is no shortage of great restaurants in Portland. Through Yelp we found this one on a visit several years ago. We’re thrilled to report the food is just as fabulous as we remember it. The menu changes daily but often features some of our favorites such as the Roasted Wild Mushroom & Baby Spinach Salad, Osso Bucco and Seafood Stew, plus the restaurant has a terrific wine list.
6) Oregon Pinot Noir — It’s fun to head on a side-trip to the Willamette Valley and Dundee Hills wine regions, but if you can’t spare the time there’s plenty of Oregon Pinot to be had in Portland. We enjoyed this bottle of Scott Paul Pinot Noir with dinner at the Veritable Quandary restaurant. A good wine bar or restaurant will serve it in the special Oregon Pinot Noir Glass.
7) Powell’s Books @ PDX Airport — if you can’t make the downtown location, or if you just need a second “Powell’s” fix before your flight, this airport shop makes a flight delay seem almost welcome.
What’s your favorite reason to visit Portland, Oregon? Please share in comments below.
Recommended Books for Further Reading on Portland:
Insiders’ Guide to Portland, Oregon,
Portland City Walks: Twenty Explorations In and Around Town
Newcomer’s Handbook for Moving to and Living in Portland
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