Living in Seattle means weekend trips to Portland are a mere three-ish hours away and the quickest way to find a change of scenery.

While I’m usually down there to visit with friends, each time I go I’ve got a few places I simply have to stop in at.

Stop Number One: Powell’s City of Books. A little slice of heaven for this book nerd is a visit to the world’s largest independent book store. They take up an entire city block and have over a million books, both new and used. I could get lost there for days if they’d let me! They’ve also got a Rare Book Room with signed first editions you simply must check out!

Stop Number Two: Blue Star Donuts. To say the brioche cake donuts are anything less than the best would be an absolute lie. Check out the donut contest my friends and I did last year for proof.

Stop Number Three: Erath Tasting Room. Known for their Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris this Oregon winery is constantly scoring 90+ points for their wines and for an excellent reason! Do yourself a favor and try it for yourself. You can thank me later.

Stop Number Four: Pittock Mansion. My love for old homes is sated with a visit to the gorgeous mansion and it’s gardens! The property is 46 acres and worth the hike around to see it all. Built in the early 1900s this home is on a beautiful vista 1000 feet above the city that looks out over all of Portland and Mount Hood in the distance.

Stop Number Five: International Rose Test Garden. Portland is know as the Rose City and the test garden in Portland’s Washington Park is the most stunning example of why we still call it that!

Stop Number Six: Deschutes Brewery Portland Public House. Portland is renown for it’s craft beer scene and Deschutes is considered some of the best beer in the world. Get yourself a tasting flight of beers, a dungeness crab roll, and an IPA pretzel and you’ll be the happiest person on the block.

If you’re not planning on crashing at a friend’s guest room the way I usually do, or at an airbnb, then my favorite place to stay in the city is The Benson. Built in 1913 it feeds into my love for old architecture and it has a fun old-school cigar bar, too. My dad likes to tell how he once saw Madonna when he was staying there a few years ago (so it’s got that going for it as well).

Enjoy your trip to Portland and let me know if there’s something I missed and should visit on my next trip!

xo,

Kate