Roaming Gnome Gets Weird in Portland

I love spending time at the beach as much as the next traveler, but sometimes I need something different. A place where I can let my hair — and my beard — down, and truly be myself. A city that celebrates uniqueness. And I know I’ll find it in Portland. This intriguing destination is always an adventure, whether you’re just people watching on a bench or mingling with them at a local brewery. Catch me there from May 15-18, as I explore the latest sights and sips of this Oregon escape. Here’s to looking out for Portland’s own “Unipiper!”

Want to follow along? You’ll find a week’s worth of weird on my Twitter and Instagram pages, please join me! I love traveling like a local, so recommendations to add to my itinerary are appreciated.

May 15

Calories don’t count on vacation, right? Lucky for me … I’m always on vacation … so doughnuts can always be part of my “diet.” And Portlanders are awesome, because they would never judge me for it. Planning to start the trip out right with decadently simple doughnuts and creamy house-blended chai at Pip’s Original Doughnuts, a hot spot for local hipsters and sleepy-eyed visitors alike. My mouth is watering just writing about it.

Next up? If the weather cooperates, I’d love to spend some time biking, followed by lunch and a brew. I’ve heard great things about Hopworks Urban Brewery! And a trip to the Pacific Northwest requires some quality time with Mother Nature. Promise to snap a few pictures and share filter-free of either the recently renovated Portland Japanese Garden or the International Rose Test Garden, maybe both if I’m feeling energized from those doughnuts!

And speaking of great photos, you know I’ll be snapping a selfie with the White Stag sign. This Portland icon has been a named a Historic Landmark since 1977, and it’s one of the most famous parts of the city’s skyline. Call me a tourist and I won’t even care. Count me in!

May 16

Day two of my trip, and I’m going to be ready for a little R&R after yesterday’s outdoor adventures. The perfect place to cozy up and release my inner geek? Powell’s City of Books. The place is enormous, as the largest independent chain of bookstores in the WORLD. Yes, the world. They even provide a map upon arrival, so you won’t get lost … unless you want to.

Know what pairs perfectly with a book? Beer! So, after my reading spree I’ll stop by one of Portland’s finest breweries, thinking either Breakside Brewery or Occidental Brewing Company (toughest choice of the day!) After sipping like a local, it will be high time to eat like one. And Portlanders know the best way to dine isn’t at a fancy restaurant, but at a food cart. You’ll find a whole pod of them at Cartopia, where you’re encouraged to build your own lunch from a variety of choices for a gastronomical experience only you could create. Grilled PBJ + pepperoni pizza + Nutella crepe? Why not! Luckily this time, I won’t have to choose.

Once my food coma is complete, I hope to continue the blissed-out vibe at Knot Springs Spa for a wellness escape you can only find in Portland.

May 17

Maybe you can’t top two days of local craft beer drinking, but you can certainly match it with homegrown wine tasting! I’ll be kicking off the day at Teutonic Wine Company, a rustic hideout specializing in the finest German-style wines in Oregon. If the sun shows up today, I might go kayaking under the St. John’s Bridge, I hear the views are unbeatable!

Another Portland must? Sauvie Island, one of the largest river islands in the U.S. There’s a farm there that’s supposed to be excellent for picking fresh berries, and I can also head to nearby Collins Beach for a relaxing afternoon of sun and sand.

For dinner it’s all about getting that killer city view — along with incredible food — at Altabira City Tavern. Ok, and maybe I’ll try another local craft beer, if I must.

May 18

Last day in Portland, I’d better make the most of it! I can’t leave town without going to one of the area’s most eclectic hot spots, Purrington’s Cat Lounge, for a coffee and a cuddle. Who knows, I might even find a new furry friend to adopt, but she’d better LOVE to travel! After my caffeine buzz is achieved, I’ll work on honing my artistic side at ADX, where even total art novices like me are welcomed with open tattooed arms.

Now that I mention it, I’m not sure I can leave Portland without a tattoo of my own. Ideas for ink? Maybe Atlas Tattoo can help me out … I think “I Heart Portland” would look good on this old Gnome! 

 

 

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