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I just got back from a fabulous trip to Portland, OR for my cousin’s wedding! As most of you know, I grew up in Idaho and have a love affair with the Pacific Northwest. Any time I get a chance to talk about the PNW or visit, I get really excited.

Because I love Portland so much, I’ve decided to put together a list of my recommendations plus a few from close friends and family (who I trust)! Hope this helps you on your future adventures in Portland!

Fun Things to Do in Portland, Oregon….

First, let’s start with….brunch. 🙂

All I do is eat. #biscuitsandwich #portland #visitportland #pinestatebiscuits #thereggie

Best Brunch Spots:

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Inside of Bollywood Theatre (a great lunch and dinner spot)

Cool Things to Do:

  • Portland Japanese Tea Garden

  • Portland Saturday Market – amazing vendors and shops. Walkable from VooDoo Donuts and Powell’s! I always go to the jewelry vendors and buy cute, delicate rings.

  • Shops on Mississippi Ave. – It’s so awesome just walking down the street because there are SO many urban, hipster and eclectic shops to pop into.

  • Powell’s Bookstore – I come here every time I’m in Portland! You can get lost inside the store since it takes up an entire block.

  • Portland Farmer’s Market

  • Pittock Mansion

  • Rose Test Garden

  • Hawthorne District – Tons of thrift shops and 2nd hand stores with really cool clothes and trinkets!

  • St. John’s Bridge

  • Portland Art Museum

  • Cocktails at The Ace Hotel

  • Lan Su Chinese Garden

  • Boat Tour around the river

  • Pearl District – It’s fun to walk around this district and I recommend staying in this part of town since it’s so central!

  • Northwest Portland/Alphabet District – tons of great shops and food!

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My fam and I outside of the Portland Saturday marketHad the best time exploring Mississippi Ave. today in #Portland This area has changed a lot since I've been here last and is now even more awesome! We went into a bunch of amazing shops and of course @bluestardonuts for a lemon poppyseed donut! Hanging out on Mississippi Ave.

Lunch/Dinner:

  • Portland City Grill

  • Portland Food Carts – These are literally all over the city. You can’t miss them. Try going to get the Schnitzelwich if you can find it!

  • Bollywood Theatre – order all of the things! It’s got such a cool Indian/Bollywood vibe inside and the food is like nothing I’ve ever tasted before.

  • Little Bird Bistro

  • Henry’s Tavern

  • Bamboo Sushi – best rated sushi in the city

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Treats:

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Breweries:

  • Deschutes Brewery – this is about 1 block away from Powell’s. Great spot for happy hour!

  • Rogue Alehouse – The famous Rogue brewery that serves bacon maple ale to mimic the bacon maple VooDoo donut. I don’t recommend this beer….tastes super weird. 🙂

  • Laurelwood

  • Hair of the Dog

  • BaseCamp Brewery – try the S’more’s Stout!

  • Commons Brewery

  • Breakside Brewery

The s'mores stout at #basecampbrewing in Portland was awesome.21020186660_954460b2dd_o

Coffee Shops:

Made it to @portland and @stumptowncoffee #yummm #labordayweekend

Outside of Portland:

  • Multnomah Falls

  • Wahclella Falls

  • Go on a hike to Oneonta Gorge

  • Visit a fruit stand on the way to the Oregon Coast

  • Drive to the Oregon Coast (roughly 1.5 hours from Portland)

Heading to @portland today and can't wait! Also, I posted a bunch of SF restaurant and cafe reviews on the blog today in case you need knew places to try this #labordayweekend

I’m sure I’ve missed some great reccs! Any more to add?