The best places to have a meal and/or imbibe in the Pacific Northwest.
It’s not unusual to walk down a street in Portland and find a line out the door to an eating establishment. There are so many incredible restaurants in the city; Portland has become one of the premier places for brunch, fine dining, food carts…. …and doughnuts. So where are the best doughnuts in Portland? …
Okay, I’ll admit it. That headline was a cheesy attention grabber. I actually despise cigarettes. And I’m fairly certain you can’t smoke in most diners anymore. But I had to write a post about diners because I live for breakfast. The Best Breakfasts in Portland, Oregon There’s just something about the smell of pancakes, coupled…
Just off of I-5 in the midst of the fertile, wine-grape-loving’ Willamette Valley of central Oregon is the town of Eugene, and its neighboring town, Springfield. Eugene is the home of the University of Oregon, and more notably, the Oregon Ducks. As a member of the Pac-12 conference, Ducks players are regularly drafted by professional…
**This article was updated on January 30, 2025** Planning a trip to Seattle? Great, you’re in the right place. I love Seattle…the fact that Seattle is a sprawling, cosmopolitan city right on the edge of the stunning beauty that is Puget Sound makes it unique among the average big city. This coupled with its diverse…
Portland is undoubtedly one of the beer and coffee capitals of the U.S., dare I say, the world. But I would be remiss if I didn’t also include her wonderful distilleries. Maybe it has something to do with the fact that there is a vibrant food scene – along with a fine dish must come…
I was trying to get away from doing this. Trying to avoid writing an article about how to plan the ‘perfect Portland itinerary’ Because there really isn’t such a thing. Not for any one person, anyway. It’s impossible to suggest a ‘to-do’ list for a Portland weekend getaway because EVERYONE has different interests, different tastes,…
** This post was updated July 9, 2024 ** Victoria is the cuter-than-a-button, picturesque darling of British Columbia. I really love this little city – with its super-easy and affordable ferry trip from Seattle, and its walkable fun-filled streets, what’s not to love? When you’re looking for things to do in Victoria, look no further….
For a town that’s out in the middle of nowhere, smack dab in the high desert of eastern Washington State, Spokane is a pretty cool place. While it’s no Las Vegas by any means, it carves out its own niche with tons of family-friendly locals, stunning waterfalls in the heart of downtown (where else does…
When people think of wine produced in the United States, most immediately think California’s Napa Valley. But just up the road is the fertile Willamette Valley of Oregon, which produces some of the world’s best wines, most notably Pino Noir, Pinot Gris and Chardonnay. While most wineries are open year-round, the most popular time of…
As a state, Oregon ranks 3rd in the U.S. for the number of craft breweries per capita. When I moved to this area of the country I was most definitely NOT a beer drinker. I didn’t like the taste of beer and I couldn’t quite understand what the appeal was, other than the obvious…
As we emerged from the Willamette National forest going south, we noticed a menacing dark cloud hanging in the air towards our destination, Bend. This wasn’t a storm cloud, this was a gigantic cloud of smoke. Too large for a simple bonfire, or a residential leaf burning. As we entered the city limits, the unmistakable…
For years, my only exposure to Olympia, Washington was to simply breeze through the middle of it on the I-5 up to Seattle from Portland. And for years, my only knowledge of Olympia was that, a) it is the capital of Washington State, and b) it is home to Olympia Beer. And I knew…
The first time you visit Pike Place Market can be a bit overwhelming…especially if you come at a peak time, such as on the weekend or during the summer months. The crowds can get so thick you can barely navigate past the merchant boots. Be prepared to move quite slowly, especially at the main street…
When you think of a chain of hotels or a chain of restaurants, your eyes tend to immediately gloss over and the first thing you think of is BORING…right? You think of sterile, cookie-cutter establishments, such as Marriott, Hilton, Best Western….or IHOP, Applebees….blah, blah BLAH. But try to imagine a chain of hotels AND pubs/restaurants…
Updated May 10, 2024. In all of my travels, I have not been in (or heard of) any other city in the world that has as many diverse food carts as Portland, Oregon. These are some of the best places to eat in Portland on a budget. Food trucks in Oregon, in particular Portland, are…
Weather you’ve been exploring Portland all day, working hard for ‘THE MAN’, or hell, even cooped up in your home office working working on your novel (instead of actually working), it sure is nice to go down to one of the local cocktail bars and let out some steam. Right? Portland is a city bursting…
“Two hundred, sixty dollars for an almost-new commuter bike? Wow!” As I stood in front of the Community Cycling Center, a handful of cycling enthusiasts were happily outside, tuning up their rides for the day. The Center provides refurbished bicycles for sale, as well as new and used parts and accessories. They even provide repair…
“How much for this gramophone?” I asked. The elderly gentleman behind the counter in Stars Antique Mall smiled at me, then peered expertly at the item I had had my eye on since I walked in 40 minutes ago. Antique shopping in Portland’s Sellwood never disappoints in the treasure-hunting realm.
Mississippi Avenue is one of Portland’s most vibrant districts. I hopped off of the Number 4 bus to meet my friend at one of our favorite restaurants there, Miss Delta. My mouth began watering as I envisioned pulled pork, shrimp with cheesy grits, and homemade corn bread in my near future. Miss Delta is southern…
Continuing my series on Portland’s neighborhoods, this week’s focus is on the Hawthorne neighborhood. Despite some mild gentrification over the past several years, Hawthorne has managed quite successfully to retain its friendly hippy vibe, particularly between SE 20th and 39th Streets. Hawthorne Boulevard is home to
