Portland in 24 hours

We’ve been to Portland once before, way back in 1999 when Bryan had a conference here.  It’s a fun city with lots to do, so we had a jam-packed day with most of the quintessential stops along the way.

Voodoo Doughnuts — This is a Portland institution near the Chinatown section of the city, where people wait in line for upwards of an hour to buy a pink box filled with these delicious treats.  They feature a wide variety of creations with both yeast and cake doughnuts.  I bought one topped with fruit loops and another that was

a cookies and cream with oreos on top.  Mona had a blueberry doughnut and one that was covered with M&Ms.  Open 24/7, there’s always a line no matter the time.  Fortunately, we only had to stand in line about half an hour, but it was definitely worth the wait.

Portland Saturday Market —Also on Sundays, this market is filled with a variety of arts and crafts, food, and eclectic stalls.  This was one of our fond memories from our first visit and is where we bought one of our first Christmas tree ornaments to remember our various travels.  It was a gorgeous morning, with families out and about and kids playing in the fountain next to the market.  A must-do when you’re here on a weekend.

Pittock Mansion — Henry Pittock was the owner of the Oregonian newspaper and built this home with his wife Georgiana in 1914.  Sitting high on a hill, it has fantastic views of the City skyline with Mount Hood in the distance.  This is a beautiful home that was saved from demolition by the citizens of Portland, who helped raise money to save and restore it.  It’s now owned by the City and is maintained by the Parks Department and a non-profit Pittock Mansion Society.  Definitely the best views of the City.

Washington Park and the International Rose Test Garden — Portland is known as the Rose City and for good reason.  You can find thousands of varieties of roses in this corner of Washington Park, that is used as a test site for new varieties of roses that are created through hybridization techniques.  Fortunately, we were visiting when all of the roses were in bloom, and we were treated to a colorful and fragrant walk through the park.

Powell’s Bookstore —  Powell’s is another Portland institution and occupies most of a City block.  It’s the world’s largest independent bookstore, and is filled with both new and used books.  You could literally spend days perusing through the aisles.  It’s a good thing we stopped here later in the day or else we may not have made it to see any of the other sites.

Craft Brewery — Portland is one of the pioneers of the craft beer scene and no visit to the city is complete without sampling one of the local brews.  We stopped at Fat Head’s Brewery in the Pearl District for dinner and a beer, and the food was just as good as the beer.

Although we packed in a lot, we didn’t feel rushed at all and enjoyed a nice leisurely day enjoying the city.  We finished our day by catching a picture of the White Stag sign that is best seen at night.

Thanks Portland for another great visit.