I’ve always wanted to visit Portland, Oregon. Perhaps it was the quest to return to the era of the hippies during the 60s and early 70s that I associate with Portland. Growing up in the country, graduating class of 40 students, in the center of the Midwest, I was really only exposed to that culture through the news channel on TV. 
If I’d lived on the West coast, I probably would have been one of the ones up in the trees to keep them from being cut down or to save the nesting area of the spotted owl. I wore the hip-hugging bell bottom jeans, muslin smock tops, long beads. We heated our house solely with wood and made a stab at “living off the land.” (I was really glad a grocery store was only 10 miles away or I probably would have starved to death.) I did, and continue to, make most of our meals from scratch. I was against the war and listened in horror each night as the number of soldiers killed was reported on the news. That’s about my extend of the “hippie movement.”
While visiting my daughter in Washington this weekend, she asked if I wanted to explore Portland and the Columbia Gorge. Heck yes! By the time we drove down Saturday and had to return Sunday, we had about 24 hours. Boy did we pack each minute! Here’s our amazing journey. We have also decided to make an annual “Girls Weekend in Portland.”
With the forecast for Saturday as “off and on rain,” we decided to save our waterfall viewing and hiking for Sunday. Our first stop was to the famous NW 23rd Avenue.
We were in a “rain break” with the golden yellow and crimson leaves the only thing falling from the sky. These fun, funky, artistic stores lined both sides the street. So much to do and so little time! We only made it into a fraction of those that were there, but the ones we did, were awesome. These were our favorites. Child’s Play Toys was packed floor to ceiling with fun, educational games and toys as well as a fantastic selection of books and children’s art supplies. I left with a huge sack full of toys for the grandkids!
Our next stop was to the Pacific Northwest’s renown Salt and Straw. We had dashed between rain-showers and were fortunate to get there before the line had wrapped around the corner and down the block. This store puts together some unique ingredient combinations in their famous ice cream. I decided on three baby scoops of ice cream in a cup. I had sea salt vanilla ice cream with caramel ribbons, almond brittle with salted chocolate ganache in vanilla ice cream, and strawberry honey balsamic with black pepper as my third scoop.
It was AMAZING!!! I know, my first reaction to reading the flavors was, WHAT! They’re putting salt and pepper in ice cream! Strange as those spices sound, it was the best ice cream that I have ever had. The other great thing was that you could have an unlimited spoonful tastes of the other flavors. (Please remember though, there are other people waiting in line for their turn.) My daughter had Cinnamon Snickerdoodle as that is her favorite kind of cookie.
Flavors change monthly so check back often. They even ship pints!!! Established in 2011, Portland now has three stores and Los Angeles has opened up a band new store.
All For Paws was a store catering to the “Wolf and Tiger” in your home. It had everything from food, treats, clothing, costumes, leashes, training supplies to beds. There was even a large dog customer that seemed to be all by himself at the counter barking for a free doggie treat!
There were so many unique and fun stores with furniture, wood carvings, photography, art work, animal head carvings, hand knit hats & scarves, and more.
While there was still a break in the rain, we raced across town to the famous Portland Market.
This market is open March through Christmas Eve and is an eclectic collection of vendors selling homemade items, fresh produce and delicious food.
The old architecture in this part of town was stunning. I could have spent a whole day just taking pictures of old buildings!
Powell’s Books, self-proclaimed largest store in the world of new and used books, was our next stop.
I knew this could turn into a very dangerously expensive stop for me. I kept to a mission of looking at children’s books having to do with the Pacific Northwest.
As a collector of children’s picture books, I always try to find books that have to do with places I visit. Bingo! I found Elliot the Otter about an otter experiencing all that happens in Elliot Bay of the Puget Sound in Washington. Check back in the near future under “For the Love of Kids” tab and you will find some learning activities to go with this story. I succeeded in not draining the bank! 🙂
Next, it was off to the International Rose Test Garden. I was very glad it had rained as the pictures I took of the roses with little drops of rain were so pretty. What do you think? This garden was founded in 1917 and contains 7000 rose plants and over 500 varieties!
Gorgeous!
To polish off the night, we went to The Picnic House for a scrumptious supper.
I’d give this place 5 stars! I had potato croquettes as an appetizer, salmon with asparagus risotto as my main entree, and chocolate ganache cheesecake with slow roasted strawberries and almonds that was absolutely decadent! What a way to end our first day!
Have you ever been to Portland? What were some of the places you visited?
