48 hours in Portland: The perfect Saturday morning
If you’re here for a weekend, you’ll probably have a jam packed schedule trying to see as much as you can. Here is my favorite Saturday to spend with out of town guests, or sometimes just for the fun of it with my wife.
Breakfast — Portland farmer’s market
Start your day bright and early at Portland’s biggest farmer’s market. Located downtown on the Portland State University campus, this market brings together vendors from around the region, food carts, fresh coffee, and great people watching.
Come hungry. Eat a lot, but save room for your next stop.
Late morning — The Saturday Market
Head down toward the river for a stop at the Portland Saturday Market. This market offers trinkets, art, and more food from local artists and vendors. The market stretches from Voodoo Doughnuts all the way to the river two blocks away. When you get to the railing, walk along the riverfront path and be sure to take in a great view of the Portland, Oregon sign towering above the Burnside Bridge.
Local activities
You’ll need a car to get to many of these sites around town. While Portland has great public transportation, a Turo owner can hook you up with a car to get you to destinations on the outskirts of town quickly and easily.
Local Portland stops
Portland is a bustling metropolitan area, but we like to move a little slower than some of our bigger neighbors. Here are some enjoyable stops in town not to miss.
- Northwest 23rd — Northwest 23rd Avenue is the heart of the Alphabet District. The stretch from Burnside to the Northwest Industrial Area is packed with shops and restaurants, including Portland’s favorite ice cream shop, Salt and Straw. Expect a wait for the ice cream, but it’s totally worth it.
- The Pearl — Home to many of Portland’s best high-end restaurants and shopping, the Pearl also boasts the “brewery blocks”, as well as Powell’s City of Books, America’s most famous independently owned bookstore, whichtakes up more than a full square block.
- Washington Park – This massive hilltop complex contains the Portland Rose Test Garden (free), Portland Zoo, and beautiful Japanese Garden. Nearby is the historic Pittock Mansion, which offers tours of the 100-year-old property.
- Portland Bicycle Tours — The best experience I had on my first visit to Portland was a brewery bicycle tour from Portland Bicycle Tours. Highly recommended!
Tune in next week for my final installment of an insider’s guide to Portland.