Portland Vacation: Things to Do in Portland - 3

Where to Stay

Hotels in Portland range from classic to artsy and family-friendly to romantic and couple-focused. Staying in a downtown hotel means that public transportation and activities are just steps from your door, and you can find great places to stay that cater to your every need.

Celebrating Oregon’s nearby wine country inside the city, the Hotel Vintage Plaza serves regional wines and honors their family guests with a special package called “Growing up Gourmet” that welcomes families with a bottle of wine for the parents and grape juices made from the same grapes for kids, plus a three-course gourmet dinner at the adjoining Pazzo Ristorante where the chef will let the family watch as they prepare an Italian meal. Complimentary valet parking is also included. Rates start at $384 per night. www.vintageplaza.com

Other top options include the Hotel Lucia, with its chic design aesthetic and room service provided by Thai restaurant Typhoon, or the Jupiter Hotel, which adjoins the Portland hot spot Doug Fir Lounge, and provides a party atmosphere well into the night on weekends. [For a green hotel stay, read our Eco-Friendly Portland Hotels article.]

Where to Eat

Portland’s food scene offers the work of great chefs, alongside lots of creative options for kids. If it’s just the adults on the town, head to Portland City Grill, on the 30th floor of the U.S. Bancorp Tower, which overlooks much of the city and offers a creative selection of entrées and a great happy hour in the bar with live piano music. Another classic restaurant with a great city view is the Chart House, which is perched in the West Hills and serves sophisticated seafood and steaks.

 

• In additon to the gourmet Pazzo Ristorante, the Hotel Vintage Plaza is home to the Pazzoria Bakery, a great place for a quick bite.

Courtesy of Hotel Vintage Plaza

When the kids are in tow and fine dining isn’t going to be the way to eat, check out fun restaurants like Peanut Butter & Ellie’s Café, which makes toddler-friendly food and offers a play area where kids can scream and run around without fear of dirty looks.

Unfussy food like pizza is offered up in a special way in Portland, with local joints like Pizzicato, offering gourmet pies for the whole family. Street food in Portland is also very popular, with ingenious recipes that can be eaten in the park or while walking around town. Even local microbreweries allow kids into their restaurants, and the character-filled McMenamins chains, with artistically restored buildings and pub food that’ll keep kids happy while mom and dad kick back with a pint of locally-brewed ale or one of the company’s wines, grown and processed at its Troutdale, Oregon estate.

Top Coffee Shops

A staple in every Portland neighborhood is the coffee shops. While Seattle to the north is known for its native-born Starbucks, true Portlanders have their favorite independent coffee shop and many offer a place for art to be displayed and independent professionals to work and converse on weekdays. Here are the best ones to sample:

 

• Stumptown Coffee Roasters is a favorite spot to get that much needed caffeine tune-up.

Jesse Millan

Portland’s Stumptown Coffee Roasters are the original indy-coffee spots in the city. They offer cozy spots in their cafés and knowledgeable employees who care about the coffee they bring to Portland. A newer local coffee roasting company is Cellar Door Coffee Roasters, which recently opened its café on the east side, near Hawthorne Boulevard. Finally, for the ultimate Portland coffee experience, swing through the Black Sheep Bakery’s bike-thru window in the morning for a cup of coffee and a vegan muffin. 

Whether it’s a romantic getaway or a family vacation, there’s something to keep everyone entertained, fed and continually exploring this city that’s known for its independent spirit. Join the laid-back vibe and stroll down green urban streets, or enjoy a frothy microbrew or cappuccino while people-watching in one of the city’s vibrant neighborhoods.

Additional reporting provided by Ashleigh Nushawg.