Colby Lee Burke’s Guide to Portland, Oregon

Travelling is a joy and shouldn’t be cumbersome at all. Researching the place you’ll be traveling to also shouldn’t be a bother. You should be able to know where to sleep, eat, and play with just one click. That’s what I have here for you today, my complete guide to Portland, Oregon. It’s a vacationer’s paradise for all the right reasons.

I should mention, that to me Portland is like a BOHO, culture-filled, different world. You’ll find amazing places that don’t exist anywhere else in the US.

Where To Sleep

You’ll be busy exploring this wonderful country city, but you’ll want a place to lay your head and rest at the end of a busy fun-filled day. Check out these places to stay while you’re in Portland.

Tiny Digs Hotel

A hotel of tiny houses located in the brewery-rich area of the Kearns Neighborhood, you’ll find seven units with everything you need at the Tiny Digs Hotel. Each tiny house is about 150 square feet, has running water, electric heat and air-conditioning, a kitchen with sink, a flush toilet, hot shower, and at least a queen-size bed, usually supplemented by a foldout couch.

The Society Hotel

Originally a boarding house, the Society Hotel can be found right in the heart of Portland. It melds the concepts of hostel and hotel. A ground-floor complex of triple-high bunks recalls, aptly enough, the sleeping quarters on an old sailing ship (but with memory-foam mattresses). Upper floors are home to 26 small, basic hotel rooms, sharing bathrooms, and 12 suites with their own bath, all with plush beds, high ceilings and 8-foot-high windows that let in lots of Portland.

Northwest Portland Hostel/Guesthouse

Just a ten-minute walk from Downtown Portland, the Northwest Portland Hostel/Guesthouse is all about location. You’ll find common areas, outdoor gardens and courtyard, 2 kitchens to prepare your own meals, 32 private rooms, 160 dorm beds in small dorms, and 2 apartments. Breakfast is also included along with other amenities like luggage storage, free WiFi, and laundry facilities.

Where To Eat

Whether you’re looking for a quick bite, amazing craft brew, or a romantic dinner, Portland has it all. For some you may even opt to eat the Hostel Cafe or at the Society Cafe. Both are attached to their respective locations at the hotels. For those of you that are looking to be more adventurous here are my top three places to eat in Portland.

Lovely’s Fifty Fifty

It’s pizza brought to a whole other level. It’s wood-fired pizza with creative ingredients. They also feature farm-to-table produce on all of their pizzas including micro greens. When you’re done with your picture-perfect pizza, order their homemade ice cream.

Coquine – Upscale

Serving both Brunch and Dinner, Coquine is an upscale bistro with approachable prices with an expansive adult beverages menu. Explore the Northwest’s fare with a French flair on one of your evenings. You’ll be amazed.

Culmination Brewing

You can’t go to Portland without experiencing at least one brew pub. If you’re going to do it, do it right and check out Culmination Brewing. Offering typical pub fare like sandwiches and pretzels, the most impressive part is their tap list. Their tag line is, “Where Madness Meets Inspiration, Innovative approaches to old world beers … plus, a few new ideas.” You know you can’t go wrong.

Where To Play

Ok so you’ve slept, you’ve eaten, maybe even drank a bit (or a lot, no judgement here). Now it’s time to play, and play we will! There are tons of things to do and see in Portland.

Powell’s City Of Books

A whole city block, three stories high, filled with books – both new and old.
While you wander through the stacks, keep in mind that you are tracing the footsteps of great writers, many of which have scrawled their signatures on one of the building’s pillars. You might also schedule your visit to coincide with a reading, as the book shop hosts events nearly every day totaling more than 500 author visits a year.

Parks, Gardens, And Museums

You can visit Portland’s Japanese Garden, Washington Park, Forest Park, The International Rose Test Garden, and so much more. If you’re looking for a more educational day or two, you may want to check out the various museums. These include Pittock Mansion, Portland Art Museum, and the Oregon Zoo. If you’re looking for a tranquil day with hours to spend observing, walking, and just taking in the scenery then these places are just for you.

Portland Tours

While the above are self-guided, you can opt for a guided tour instead. Some of the tours include Portland Sightseeing Tour Including Columbia Gorge Waterfalls, Oregon Coast Day Trips, Portland Brewery Bike Tour, Foodcourt and Neighborhood Tour, and Portland’s Art District Food Tour. There is more to explore, and you won’t be disappointed no matter which tour or tours you pick.

There you have it, folks, the complete guide to Portland, Oregon. Travel, explore, eat, and have fun!