Lily & Peter
Things To Do
Powell's City of Books
An entire city block of books! Four stories of novels, guidebooks, plays, graphic novels, board games, and so much more! You can't take a trip to Portland and NOT visit Powell's, it's a Portland institution. Be sure to check out their rare books room and coffee shop. And don't forget to grab a map when you enter the building, it's easy to get lost in the stacks! Peter's favorite section at Powell's is the Art section. Lily's favorite section at Powell's is the Theatre section.
Washington Park
Portland is called the City of Roses because we have an ideal climate for a wide variety of roses to flourish! Visiting Portland in August is prime time to see these beauties in full bloom, and the International Test Garden at Washington Park is an incredible place to stop and smell the roses. Washington Park is also home to the Portland Japanese Garden, the Hoyt Arboretum, and the Oregon Zoo, and each are well worth a visit while you are here! Lily and Peter love to tax the Max train up to Washington Park on a weekend and hike around the arboretum with Zeke, visit the roses, or go to the tea house at the Japanese Garden.
Blue Star Donuts
Blue Star donuts take everything you love about a circle of sugary dough and smash it in the face with funky, gourmet flavors. While visiting Portland you will be tempted to visit the famous Voodoo Donuts (and you should! Waiting one hour in line for a donut with fruit loops on top is an experience!), but we highly recommend that you stop by Blue Star before you head home to try a donut you will not soon forget. Peter's favorite is the Passionfruit Cocoa Nib. Lily's favorite is the Raspberry Rosemary Buttermilk. They serve great Portland coffee and tea as well!
Laurelhurst Park
Laurelhurst Park is one of Peter and Lily's favorite spots in Portland. It's a beautiful, huge park in Southeast Portland that was designed by the folks who brought us all.... Central Park in New York :) You can wander for a while through the winding pathways, past roses and the lake, the dog area and the yoga-in-the-park spot. On sunny, summer days Portlanders come out in droves to sit on blankets, drink discreetly on the grass, and get that sweet Vitamin D we've been missing all winter.
Lan Su Chinese Garden
If you are looking for somewhere to find respite in the middle of downtown, visit the Lan Su Chinese Garden (only 3 blocks from The Hoxton hotel!) and spend an hour or two walking through a beautiful, tranquil garden with koi ponds, Chinese art, and a fantastic tea shop! It takes up a whole city block of downtown and when you step in the front doors you feel miles away from the noisy, busy city. Lily's favorite part of the Chinese Garden is the moon cakes at the tea shop. Peter's favorite part of the Chinese Garden is the tea room overlooking the koi ponds.
Pok Pok
If you're looking for a meal that will be quintessentially Portland (hip atmosphere, delicious food, and a cheap price point) you've got to check out Pok Pok. Self-described as Thai drinking food, the menu is full of exciting, spicy, mouth-watering Thai dishes that you have probably never heard of and won't soon forget. Yes, the fish sauce wings live up to the hype. And the cocktails are incredible! Lily's favorite cocktail is the Southside (gin with mint and lemon) and Peter's favorite is the Tamarind Whiskey Sour :) Speaking of whiskey, if there is a long wait for a table at Pok Pok, fear not! You can put your name down and go across the street to the Whiskey Soda Lounge, owned by the same folks running Pok Pok, with an equally memorable cocktail menu and delicious small bites while you wait.
Pine Street Market
Out to lunch with a group in Downtown Portland and don't want to have to pick one restaurant? Check out Pine Street Market, home to nine different Portland hot-spot food vendors inside a large, communal-seating warehouse and you can have the best of many food/drink worlds in one! Portland's famous Salt & Straw ice cream has a frozen yogurt stand here that is uh-mazing. The ramen at Marukin Ramen is some of the city's best! And the burgers at Bless Your Heart will not disappoint. Pine Street Market is also across the street from Lily's office and one block from Peter's, so you are right by where we both work, and only two blocks from Portland's Waterfront Park!
Multnomah Falls
Multnomah Falls is well worth the short 30-min drive outside of the city to see the tallest waterfall in Oregon. It is easy to access and the drive out will give you beautiful views of the Columbia Gorge! There are many smaller waterfalls along the way that you can also stop at, with easy parking lots at each. Oregon is famous for it's breathtaking natural areas, and this area is one of our absolute favorites to visit!
Cartopia
Portland is famous for food cart pods, and if you've never been here before you HAVE to try one! Visiting a food cart pod is a great way to try lots of different kinds of food, desserts, beverages on the cheap and get a truly Portland experience. Cartlandia, located at SE 12th and Hawthorne, is one of the oldest food cart pods on the east side of Portland, but there are great pods all over the city! Lily's favorite food cart pod is The Portland Mercado in the Foster/Powell neighborhood. Peter's favorite food cart pod is the SW 10th and Alder carts in downtown Portland.