Hi friends! Two years ago I spent the summer living in the beautiful city that is Portland, Oregon doing a missional internship with QuadW. The internship itself was an experience I’ll never forget, but doing it in Oregon made it even that much better. I did SO much while I was there and I realized today that I’d be a cruel and evil FOOL to not share all my knowledge. So, that being said, here are 12 things you need to do when in Portland (and surrounding areas).
1. Get some donuts
If you know anything about me or care about my existence AT ALL, you know I am a donut enthusiast. There is nothing I love better than a delicious donut. If you go to Portland and don’t eat donuts you are committing a DEADLY SIN. My recommendations? The original Voodoo Donuts, Blue Star, and a donut food truck.
2. Hike your booty off
It’s no surprise that the Pacific Northwest is known for its hikes. I did a hike every week while in Portland! Here are some of my faves
Multnomah Falls – a classic Portland landmark
Salmon River
Columbia River Gorge / Cascade Locks
Hood River / Mitchell Point Overlook
Ape Caves of Mount St. Helens – the most memorable and adventurous hike I’ve ever done.
3. Drink Stumptown Coffee
Sadly, I wasn’t a coffee enthusiast yet at this point in my life. However, I did get me some Stumptown Coffee, a Pacific Northwest fave.
4. Go to Mount Hood/Timberline Lodge
You can probably imagine this Southerners complete and utter surprise when we drove up to the Mountains for the Day in June and they were COVERED in snow. No warning (hence the capri leggings), just complete awe. Real tears were shed, folks. This was a memorable a spiritual moment for me.
5. Eat.
If there’s one thing I know how to do it’s eat. Here’s my fave places in and around Portland! (Picture creds to me but mostly to my dear friend Alex Bryan who is way better at taking food pics than me!)
Cubo – Hawthorne District, Portland
This place gave me a little taste of home and made me extremely happy.
Burgerville – a Pacific Northwest fast food chain
Brix Tavern – Downtown Portland
An affordable and yummy brunch spot!
The Local Cow – Gresham, OR
Best burgers in my favorite little town.
All the Food Trucks
Don’t matter which one, just try ’em all. Portland is notorious for its food trucks.
6. Use Public Transportation
Tbh, I hate public transportation. That being said, Portland and surrounding areas had the easiest to navigate bus/transit system I’ve experienced. Plus, everything is better when you have 9 other friends with you at all times.
7. Get lots and lots of ice cream
Whether it’s Tillamook from the cartons or Salt and Straw. Ice cream is a MUST.
8. Pick wildflowers and berries.
I so dearly miss walking home from the bus with all my pals, eating berries, and picking wildflowers and sticking them in my hair.
9. Explore Cannon Beach
Make sure you visit this iconic beach and explore the sweet town after.
10. Visit the Grotto
I didn’t know how much I would really like this Catholic outdoor shrine, but I loved it. The gardens, the spirituality, the labyrinth. Everything.
11. Dye your hair a crazy color, just cuz
Keep Portland weird
12. Be extra kind to my friends who live outside
Portland has a large homeless population that I spent some good quality time with while I was there and I wouldn’t have had it any other way. Make sure to be extra kind to them, they live lives worth knowing about.
Christina Claire 