What to do and see in Portland, Oregon!
The Pacific North West is a very different and magical place. In Portland specifically, there is amazing opportunity and natural beauty just outside the city’s borders.
Conveniently, Portland is located between two of the biggest hot spots in Northern Oregon. The Oregon Coast which is to the West that bustles with wild life from the usual Arbor Seal all they way up to the Grey Whale. This area also has some fun coastal towns to stop at such as Astoria, Pacific City, Seaside, and Lincoln City.
Toward the West you have the very publicly know Mount Hood. This mountain is the highest peak in all of Oregon. It is stunning to see and I would strongly recommend going to Trillium Lake which is just south of the mountain to be able to take in all the natural beauty. However, Trillium Lake does shut down the roads when it comes to the fall and winter seasons so I would suggest planning accordingly. Also, there are great skiing options as well notably at Government Camp which has a ski resort at the base of the mountain.
Portland is a perfectly diverse city that has the finest of cuisines and some of the greatest restaurants that I have ever had the pleasure of eating at.
One notable restaurant is Il Solito which means The Usual in Italian is just as you could expect. It is a beautiful Italian restaurant that is about two blocks north of Pioneer Square. This restaurant has a seasonal menu with delicious bites from all sorts of flavor groups. This place does attract more of a higher class crowd but still is a relatively casual dining experience.
If you are looking for a higher class setting I would suggest the Portland Grill. This restaurant which is situated on the 32nd floor is amazing as well. A bit more expensive than the usual restaurant, it makes up for that expense with the amazing customer service and beautiful 360 degree view of the Downtown Portland area. This was the most notably the fanciest restaurant that I did attend with my stay in Portland.
Now on the other hand there is a downside to this beautiful city. The homeless are everywhere in down town. If you are planning a vacation I would suggest with staying toward the Pearl District in Portland. You can fine amazing accommodation and can typically steer clear of the homeless. However, it is expensive to stay in downtown and unless you are making a pretty penny while you stay there you will have decent size hole in you wallet after your stay.
If you are looking for cheaper accommodations and want to get outside the city I would suggest either Damascus to the south, Bethany to the West, Vancouver to the North, or Milwaukee to the South East. These spots have much less of a homeless population and in turn are cleaner and also more safe for late night activities.
These are just some of the amazing opportunities people can have while you visit Portland. If you are looking for more of a long term stay or to live in Portland specifically please reference my next post here on my blog! I hope that you all found this helpful and if you have any additional questions do not hesitate to ask!