FOOD One of our favorite date night spots is Montelupo, a low-key Italian restaurant located on NE 28th Ave near a bunch of other great bars and restaurants. Clyde’s Steakhouse is a Portland institution that has prime rib, live music and 70’s decor. Other favorites are Screen Door for brunch, Straight From New York for pizza and Oma's Hideaway for Asian fusion. DESSERT Our go-to ice cream spot is Cheese and Crack (located down the street from Montelupo) on 28th Ave. For a more unique decor and desserts, there is also Rimsky-Korsakoffee House DRINKS The 1905 is a great Jazz bar. For tiki, there's Hale Pale or The Albi. We love Prost, a German bar; for an English style pub, Moon and Sixpence or Horse Brass. There are a plethora of dive bars in Portland some of our favorites are: Sandy Jug, Holman's Bar and Grill, The Vern, 21st Avenue Bar and Grill, Donnie Vegas, and Pay Master.
LODGING McMenamins Kennedy School - Converted from a historic elementary school, a funky hotel with a soaking pool located just a few blocks from our house! The Nines, a Luxury Collection Hotel - Upscale hotel with a rooftop bar in the heart of downtown Portland. Marriott, Downtown Waterfront - Also in downtown Portland, steps from the Columbia River. McMenamins Crystal Hotel - A funky hotel centrally located in downtown with an underground bar and soaking pool. THINGS TO DO Shopping For walkable area's with shopping and food: NW 23rd Ave for clothing and boutiques, NE Alberta St. for art and decor, or vintage and thrift stores and shops on SE Hawthorne St. Parks Washington Park in West Portland is almost unbeatable from its Arboretum to the amazing Portland Japanese Garden to the International Rose Test Garden (in full bloom in June!) Or, Mt Tabor Park on the Eastside is perfect spot to catch a sunset among its historic reservoirs to amazing views of downtown Portland.
Looking to see the Pacific Ocean on your trip? These towns are just under two hours from Portland Airport. CANNON BEACH, ORE. A very cute, classic beach town with a ton of shops, restaurants, and nature. Probably the most iconic and popular town on the Oregon Coast due to Haystock Rock (where we got engaged!). Cleanline Surf in Cannon Beach is also a great place to rent a board and head to either Short Sands or Indian Beach for some surf. There are a ton of places to stay, but the Tolovana Inn is right on the water and reasonably priced. Grab some breakfast at Sea Level Bakery, some food at Pelican Brewery, and hang in the sun! ASTORIA, ORE. Another fun coastal town is Astoria. A great small town right where the Columbia River meets the Pacific with a great vibe. You can stay at the Hotel Elliot, grab some breakfast at Coffe Girl, eat and drink at Fort George Brewing, and head to the coast to see the shipwreck of the Peter Iredale.
If you’re driving from Portland Airport you can take a slightly longer route and go through the historic Columbia River Gorge. Known for its beauty and history as a part of the Lewis and Clark Trail there are many beautiful quick stops along Highway 84. We recommended Multnomah falls, Oregon’s most well known waterfall; please note you need to make a reservation before you visit. If Multnomah Falls is too crowded there is a smaller water fall with little to no crowds a short distance away called Bridal Veil Falls. Past the waterfalls is the quaint town of Hood River, lots of cute shops, riverfront restaurants and breweries.
Our ceremony and reception will be taking place at The Ski Bowl. While in the town of Government Camp we recommend visiting Timberline Lodge, it was a 1930’s depression construction and is beautiful, a great place to see Mt. Hood, grab a drink or some food, fun fact this is where Paige’s maternal grandparents went on their honeymoon! For food and drink there is Mt. Hood Brew and Co and Ratskeller. Other restaurants we recommend in town are Koya Kitchen, Huckleberry Inn, and Ram's Head Bar & Restaurant at Timberline Lodge. Hikes: You wouldn’t be in the Pacific North West if you didn’t get outside! Some hikes in the area are Trillium Lake Loop, Timberline Hiking Trail, and Eagle Creek Trail.