After our sunny time in Hawaii, we almost forgot we still had more to share from a much cloudier destination. We already wrote about our day at the Portland Home & Garden Show (you can read more about that on our site), and if we met up that evening there’s a photo from the event floating around online. Yes, Sherry is holding someone else’s baby in that picture and I’m wearing an apron intended for Clara.
Between all the presenting, meeting, and greeting we found time to explore the city. If you’re planning a visit to Portland or just curious what we did, here’s a condensed guide to our highlights.
We arrived around 4pm PST on Tuesday the 21st. Clara was exhausted—she’d woken up two hours early, was close to her usual bedtime on East Coast time, and hadn’t napped on the plane except for one brief wink as we landed. After a short power nap we went out for dinner at ¿Por Que No?, a local favorite that came highly recommended. Everything we tried was delicious; our top picks were the carnitas and the shrimp & pineapple tacos.
Determined to get on west coast time and see as much of Portland as possible, we stayed out for dessert at Salt & Straw. The shop offers unique, adventurous flavors—sampling everything from Pear with Blue Cheese to Arbequina Olive Oil was part of the fun. I went with their most popular choice, Sea Salt with Caramel Ribbon, while Sherry chose an almond ganache-inspired flavor. I also picked up one of their extra-soft T-shirts as a souvenir.
Salt & Straw is also very Portland in spirit—they compost, use rustic decor, and display local goods on reclaimed shelves. The shop featured wire birds on a wall, exposed beams, industrial lights, and shelves filled with retro-inspired soaps and stationery. We could easily have lingered longer, but Clara—their smallest ice cream fan—loved her Double Fold Vanilla so much she cried “buh bye ice cream!” when we left.
The following day was mostly at the Home & Garden Show while my parents watched Clara. Between morning interviews and the show schedule, we squeezed in a trip to the famously eccentric Voodoo Doughnut. The shop serves playful, unconventional flavors; we tried a Bacon Maple Bar, a Neapolitan doughnut, and an Arnold Palmer doughnut. They were fun and memorable—especially the Bacon Maple Bar, which combined crispy, salty bacon with sweet maple and classic doughnut texture.
By then we had a clear impression of Portland: environmentally conscious, creative with food, and delightfully quirky. Case in point: we caught a photo of Sherry striking a pose in front of a playful sign—she nailed the look.
We kept exploring on Thursday, our extra day in town. Breakfast at Pine State Biscuits was a must after so many recommendations. Sherry had “The Reggie” and I ordered “The Chatfield.” Both were fantastic; the flaky biscuits and hearty fillings made it one of the best breakfasts we had on the trip.
We also bought local letterpress art displayed on the restaurant walls. They were made by Old School Stationers and priced affordably; we picked one up to remember the trip.
Next we visited The ReBuilding Center, a large reuse warehouse filled with salvaged lighting, tile, lumber, and architectural finds. It felt like a giant ReStore with personality—cheeky signage and creative displays, including a wall assembled from old windows. We wanted to bring home finds but didn’t have a way to transport them.
We then wandered through a block of local shops and discovered Queen Bee Creations, where the retail area opens into an on-site studio. Seeing textiles and prints being printed, stitched, and packaged on the spot was a great reminder that much of Portland’s craft is made locally by small teams.
Part of the joy of Portland was simply driving through neighborhoods lined with bungalows, Craftsman houses, and colorful exteriors. The city’s mix of architectural styles and playful paint choices made touring the streets unexpectedly charming, even in the cooler weather.
We also lined up a House Crashing visit and toured an inspiring home—more photos and a full write-up are coming soon. Another recommendation from a homeowner led us to Schoolhouse Electric, where we discovered an expanded range of retro-inspired lighting, signage, printed lampshades, and creative furniture pieces. We wished we had time for Rejuvenation as well, but Clara was getting antsy.
To keep Clara happy we visited a nearby mall with a carousel she adored—picking her horse and riding while grinning the whole time. We also spent a few hours at Portland’s Children’s Museum, where she enjoyed giant interactive exhibits and play areas.
Our trip wrapped up in Beaverton with a family dinner hosted by my cousin. We didn’t take photos that evening—we were just glad to relax and catch up with family we rarely see.
Even though our Portland visit was brief, we packed a lot into two and a half days and left wanting more. We’re already hoping for another visit, perhaps during a book tour in the fall. Portland locals: save a few sunny days for us and tell us what we must not miss next time.
Psst — The Portland Home & Garden Show meet-and-greet photo at the top of this post was taken by NV Holden Photography.