**This post was updated on June 30, 2022**
City Breaks and Micro-cations are on the rise. What do these buzzwords mean, you may ask? City breaks are for those who are looking to relax and get away from the routine of their lives for a short while and do it in a place that still has some culture and plenty of things to do.
Micro-cations are just what it implies – a delightful mini vacation. This can be anywhere from 2 to 5 days, depending on your schedule and destination. Portland is the perfect city for BOTH a City Break and a Micro-cation, for so many reasons. Here are just a few:
It’s walkable, bikeable, busable… (yeah, busable is a word I just made up)
Seriously, do you need a car in Portland? NO! There are so many other transportation options to get you around with ease. At $2.50 per 2-hour window, or $5 a day, you can get around Portland on the MAX Light Rail, the buses, and the streetcars. Or rent a bike, or Scooter and zip around town on your own. Just remember to wear a helmet! Portland is a major bike city, and there are bike lanes on most every major street.
It’s friendly and progressive (read: we will be happy to have you!)
Instead of one big city, Portland is more like a collection of neighborhoods. It will be like discovering several small towns in one trip. The best neighborhoods to explore are Nob Hill (NW 23rd), the Pearl District, the Alberta Arts District, Hawthorne, Division/Clinton, and Mississippi/Williams.
All of these have their own unique vibe, with lots of shopping, galleries, live music, great coffee, and lest I forget the most important thing…
Portland food is amazing.
Great food is literally everywhere in Portland. It is a world-class destination for foodies, hands down. You will find any kind of cuisine from the world over here in Portland, with some pretty top-notch chefs and even a few James Beard Award winners. And then there are the food carts! DROOL. Legions of food carts, congregating in food cart pods, dotted all over the city and spilling into the ‘burbs.
So are the coffee/tea/beer/spirits, whatever drink floats your boat.
Move over, Starbucks! There are some new sheriffs in town, and they are all locally-roasted. There are also some great tea houses, fine distilleries, and a craft brew scene that is almost as varied as the food scene. With a prominent mixology scene, there is no shortage of upscale bars serving up a tasty cocktail I guaranteed you’ve never heard of, let alone tried.
There is culture up the yin yang.
Whatever you are in to – be it music, art (even kick-ass street art), sculpture, theater…Portland has it. See my Epic Resources page for the latest calendars of events. There is always something new going on, especially during the summer months.
The Rose City of Portland checks ALL of the boxes when you are trying to decide on your next City Break or Micro-cation.
