3 minute read
Portland
Where to Stay
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Shift Vacation Rentals
Located in the heart of the Alberta district is a fancy, modern style vacation rental that is beautiful, well-designed and has everything you could need and more. Shift Vacation Rentals has a couple homes around the Portland area, but we recommend their Alberta Street home. With both upstairs and downstairs units, this home can fit a large family and then some. The upstairs unit has 4 bedrooms, two full bathrooms, a laundry room, a large open kitchen and dining area that connects to the living room which is filled with games, books and a television with cable. The outdoor area has a BBQ and an outdoor play area for children.
Jupiter NEXT
Located on buzzing and artsy East Burnside Street, the Jupiter NEXT is a lovely 67 room boutique hotel just minutes from downtown Portland. Adjacent to the motor lodge Jupiter Hotel, the NEXT is an out of the box hotel that focuses on community, design, art and creativity. The edgy, forward-thinking vibe makes it the ideal spot for Portland visitors and even locals. The hotel may be small, but it still offers lots of space for hanging out. The NEXT has a variety of different styles of rooms based on your party size. The standard room, the X, includes a queen size bed and boasts wide windows which showcase the very best views of downtown Portland.
Where to Dine
Virtuous Pie
If you want to try something different from the usual greasy pizza realm, head down to Virtuous Pie for a vegan only pizzeria. From vegan ice cream to vegan cheese and gluten free crust, this pizza place has any vegan covered. All ingredients are plant-based, including their exclusive nut cheeses, dough and creamy ice cream. They work with local growers and suppliers to make sure you are getting the freshest ingredients. They also have salads, local craft beers, ciders, wine, cocktails and kombucha. We highly recommend their spicy cauliflower ranch pizza which had the perfect kick. Pair it with a local Portland cider to top it all off!
Voodoo Doughnut
Voodoo Doughnut is known to be famous for their unusual take on a familiar treat (Homer Simpson would be proud)! This establishment that was originally opened in downtown Portland in 2003, has been both a local and tourist favorite. They take a unique twist by adding oreo crumbles, cap’n crunch cereal and other yummy salty-sweets like bacon on their maple bar. They definitely have a handle on things, and has been featured on tv shows, hundreds of publications and always seems to have a constant line, especially at the downtown Portland location. There are currently a handful of locations in Portland, Eugene, Denver, Universal CityWalk in Hollywood and Orlando!
What to Do
Bottle & Bottega
Grab your friend or partner and head on down to this little art and wine studio in downtown Portland. Bottle & Bottega offers painting classes for singles, couples or groups and even private parties. Wine and drinks are available to purchase to get your creative juices following. For an affordable flat fee you get a detailed painting class, canvas and paint. It’s definitely a fun, laid-back spot for anyone who wants to get creative and make a masterpiece. The instructors really show you a fun time, while reminding you that every piece of art is different and no one is perfect. Bring home a piece of art to hang on your wall or give as a gift, and have fun doing it.
Electric Castle Wunderland
A fun, energetic nickel arcade and $3.50 movie theater is a fun spot to take the kids or kids at heart. They have a few locations around Oregon and offer current movies for just a few bucks, which beats many theater prices today. Wunderland is a family owned business that offers over 100 arcade games at nickel prices. Imagine going back 20 years or so! There is also a small ticket exchange for prizes. A few locations now offer laser tag, which is available for kids 7 and up.
Oregon Zoo
From bats to elephants, this zoo has a wide selection of animals to keep your day occupied. This 52 acre zoo is one of the oldest zoos west of the Mississippi. It was founded in 1888, and all began with two bears. Now it is home to nearly 2,000 animals, including 19 endangered species. There is a train that takes visitors around the park to see different types of animals and get an exclusive view that those on foot can’t see. The zoo sits inside Portland’s Washington Park, which is home to the International Rose Test Garden, Children’s Museum, Hoyt Arboretum and Japanese Garden. These are especially beautiful to explore before or after a day at the zoo!
