There have been a lot of trips I wish I could experience again, in their entirety. The wonder and novelty of a new place, meeting up with old friends – this trip definitely is on that list.
As always, my wife did so much to prepare for this trip – our schedule being as packed as our bags the moment we landed in Portland.
Admittedly, I didn't know much about Portland before this trip, besides what I had maybe seen in Portlandia, so every stop my wife planned was new and wondrous.
Lan Su Chinese Garden
Arriving outside the Lan Su Chinese Garden is a somewhat underwhelming experience. It's tucked squarely in the middle of the bustling city grid, surrounded by office buildings, parking garages, and noisy traffic.
To step through the entrance and into the courtyard is to be transported to another world entirely. The hurried sounds of the city become background ambience, the tarmac gives way to non-native plants, and a peaceful calm overtakes the senses.
Looking at the aerial view of the gardens, it is easy to imagine it as small, cramped, repetitive; however, the on-foot it quickly becomes apparent that a city block – the footprint of the gardens – is much larger than one would think.
The meandering paths around spacious water features do even more to expand the volume of the gardens, and walking through them feels like a journey.
I hope to someday revisit the tea house. Not so much because of the quality or service (though both were fantastic), but because I was – and this is turning into a bit of a running theme for these trips – so overwhelmed by nerves that I didn't have any capacity left in me to actually enjoy the experience. I believe there was a point in which the server asked if I needed more water, and my only reply was a blank stare, incapable of recalling what water was or its relevance to tea.
Wandering the City
We had met up with an old friend of mine who was kind enough to point us in the direction of a few notable activities. Some of which I didn't capture on camera, and some of which I will intentionally omit from this record, but all notable in their own right.
Ground Kontrol
The idea of an arcade that served drinks was the most incredible, "only in Portland," concept to me at the time (and one that would not be so widely replicated in Salt Lake City for at least another decade). It was fun, but maybe not something to do every time I visit Portland.
I regret not taking a million photos of Powell's Bookstore, but just imagine the largest bookstore or library you've ever seen and double it. I probably walked out with 20 or so books, 19 of which were from the "Love it for the Cover" section.
Voodoo Doughnut
It was the longest, hottest line. The options are a bit overwhelming, the chaotic noise and snaking path the queue takes through the building gives strong "theme park" vibes. We nearly asked for two dozen donuts, just so we could try them all. This would have been a mistake, however, as we barely finished these before they had become completely petrified sitting on top of the dresser back at our hotel.
Drinks to Finish the Night
Our first-ever tap room experience was a great escape from the limited beer selections back at home.
The Day After
Having a friend in the city meant having a guide to show us THE places to eat and drink. Lucky for us, those places were next door to each other. Food from Bertie Lou's Cafe, and a Bloody Mary from Jake's Place next door. This is the only Bloody Mary I've ever liked. Well, tolerated. I still don't think I'd order it on purpose.
More Gardens
Portland is known for a lot of things: lots of bridges, lots of IPAs, lots of strip clubs, and lots of parks and gardens. Today took us to the Portland Japanese Gardens. Nestled against the mountains on the edge of the city, the gardens are a 5.5 acre sprawl through forests and hills. Come with good shoes because there is definitely some serious walking involved.
The International Rose Test Gardens
Adjacent to the Japanese Gardens is the lovely Internal Rose Test Gardens. If you like roses it's probably already on your list of places to visit. If you don't like roses then let me be the one to tell you that it's still worth a stroll through the grounds.
Walking the Bridges
It's almost a shame that, despite the city's usable public transit, we still ended up walking everywhere. The excuse at the time was 1) we get to see more sights along the way and 2) it saves money. I think the reality was simply that we were a little overwhelmed at the prospect of figuring out the transit system.
Either way, it was a lovely journey over a bridge or two on our way to the OMSI (Oregon Museum of Science and Industry).
One Last Drink for the Road
A jam-packed long weekend. In total, the trip was only 5 days, one of which was just the flight home, but it certainly felt a lot longer. Despite all of the beer we consumed, none of it was from Rogue, which felt like a crime. To make up for it, we made sure to grab one at the airport.
