Six Days in Portland, Oregon
Hi all!
I’ve been a little MIA so I apologize. I recently returned home after spending nearly a week in Portland, Oregon. My childhood best friends Dana, Sierra, and Brigitte all live there.
I have been struggling with my mental health for the past two months. Needless to say, this was the reset I needed to feel like my old self again. The entirety of my time spent in Portland was jam-packed with activities.
I’m going to briefly touch on my personal favorite moments from the trip. Before I begin, I want to give a big thank you and virtual hug to my squad for taking time out of their hectic lives to spend time with me. I love you guys more than y’all could ever know!
Picnic and chilled at Lone Fir Cemetery
Instead of celebrating the 4th of July, the squad and I headed to the historical Lone Fir Cemetery for a picnic. Although this might sound strange, the cemetery functions more like a public park. I saw people biking and walking. I don’t know much about the history of the cemetery but I will say that it felt extremely peaceful.
We sunbathed by a river
The squad and I spent a few hours chatting on the Clackamas River at Cross Park in Gladstone, Oregon. This is a suburban town that is only 15 minutes away from Portland. There’s nothing like good chisme with a pretty view!
My friends introduced me to McMenamins
McMenamins is a company based out of the Pacific Northwest that takes historical buildings and converts them into restaurants, hotels, theaters, and soaking pools. We visited McMenamins Grand Lodge in Forest Grove, Oregon to swim in their soaking pool (a soaking pool is basically a pool-shaped hot tub).
After, we had dinner at another McMenamins called the Kennedy School. As the same suggests, this was formerly an old school. I hate to say it, but capitalism really popped off with this concept.
We drove to the Oregon Coast
Brigitte, Dana, and I went on a small road trip to Cannon Beach. This is only about 1.5 hours away from Portland. We had Fish and Chips at Ecola Seafood Market before making our way to Ecola State Park for scenic panoramic views. If you have never been to the Oregon Coast, I cannot recommend it enough. The experience felt incredibly beautiful and surreal.
I learned about Portland’s spooky history
Dana and I met with my friend Alex from college and went on a ghost tour! Our tour guide walked us through Downtown Portland and shared with us the city’s haunted history. Portland is notorious for its history of human/sex trafficking. The city has underground tunnels that were used for this purpose.
The hotel pictured above is reportedly haunted by the man who built it, Simon Benson. Benson hated alcohol and prohibited his hotel from having a bar. However, after his death, the hotel did open a bar and there have been petty sightings of him ever since.
Food:
I ate a lot of food in Portland but a few places stood out to me! They will be listed below.
Cully Central-Laotian food that was unbelievable (pictured below)
The Hazel Room - gourmet breakfast that was superb (I also ate here my last visit and can confirm that it was just as good)
Chubby Bunny-Yummy vegan breakfast sandwiches
Spielman Bagels-do I need to say more?
Stumptown Coffee- An amazing Oregon-based coffee company that has wonderful lattes
