Portland: Weird, and Definitely Wonderful.
Driving into Portland last month, I knew next to nothing about it apart from the fact that it's a little... bit off the wall. "Keep Portland Weird" is the city's famous slogan, demonstrating both its kooky nature and how fiercely proud of it Portland's residents actually are.
What makes it so weird? I wondered to myself as we checked into our Airbnb. Was it the people, the architecture, the culture?
Here's smattering of unexpected bits and bobs which serve to demonstrate the quirky charm of Oregon's biggest city.
Forest Park
The first thing we did in this big city was explore its rural edges. Unexpectedly, on the urban fringes lies one of the states biggest parks, filled with a range of trails to get your heart pumping and appetite building. We spent a therapeutic morning hiking through the moss-covered landscape, snapping pictures of huge trees and waterfalls, the sound of the highway just a distant hum.
We also headed to Multnomah Falls, just a short drive from the city.
Powell's City of Books
Being a massive reader, this was possibly my favourite thing we discovered in Portland. This bookshops is so big, you're given a map of all the sections as you enter. Every genre and type of book you can think of is here, and if you're a book lover like me you could easily spend an afternoon just browsing the shelves. Obviously, I came away with a couple of gems!
Cable Car
Riding a cable car high above the city of Portland inexplicably takes you to... A hospital. There might not be much to do when you get to the top, but the views out over Mount Hood and the city below are definitely worth seeing.
Food trucks
Food trucks are paramount to Portland's "weird" personality. The city is filled with them, offering everything from authentic Mexican food to savoury breakfast waffles. A few highlights included Fried Egg I'm in Love, and Jarochita's. Needless to say, I left Portland suitably stuffed.
Chinese Garden
Admittedly, Portland's Chinatown isn't its proudest or perhaps safest neighbourhood. However, if you take the trouble to venture in to its heart you'll find the Chinese Garden, a peaceful Oasis designed to inspire peace and tranquility. There's no right or wrong way to walk a round the garden, so you're free to explore its classical features, beautiful water features and tea garden at your own pace.
After a packed four days, it was time to drive away from Portland towards the final stop on our three month USA road trip: Seattle.
