Travel: One last day in Portland, OR

For our third and final day in Portland, we stayed in the city and ate and shopped our way until our flight that evening.

Ole Latte (Yelp, Website): We actually came to this coffee cart a few times in the prior two days, but I only took a picture on this third day. They're located on Alder St alongside a number of other good looking food carts :D

Travel: Columbia River Gorge and Mt Hood (Portland OR)

For our second day in Portland, we decided to head in the other direction, through the Columbia River Gorge and to Mount Hood for another hike. We grabbed breakfast at Mugshots Cafe again, and set out!

Our first stop was the viewpoint at Portland Women's Forum, then a pitstop at Multnomah Falls (very crowded, even at 10am on a Friday!). I was interested in seeing the Oneonta Falls, but the super cold weather combined with the need to wade through water to get there made it a pass for us. I also read it was very busy there as well.


Portland Women's Forum - A little foggy, but still pretty

Restaurant Review: Le Pigeon (Portland, OR)

For our first dinner in Portland, I had made reservations for Le Pigeon (Website, Yelp). I wanted to try the tasting menu which I had read so much about.

We went with the smaller, 5 course tasting menu. Cory got the beverage pairing, and I opted for the non-alcoholic beverage pairing (the first time I've seen that!). The food was excellent, and the drinks were also really fun. The price was also very good (living in the NY-metro area for 6+ years changes a girl's perspective, I tell ya) at $80 for the 5 course tasting menu, $45 for the bev pairing, and $25 for the non-alc bev pairing.

The food was fantastic; not a single miss. The pacing was also great as well; we tend to eat quickly, and we were glad the kitchen could keep pace!


Le Pigeon from inside the restaurant

Food Truck Review: Altengartz Bratwurst (Portland, OR)

A late lunch / pre-dinner appetizer after our trip to the coast. We love us some wurst, so we were thrilled when this food truck, Altengartz Bratwurst (Yelp, Website), popped up on my Yelp search right near our hotel :3 We decided to just split one (so as to not ruin our appetite for dinner), but I almost wish we just ate here for dinner XD

Travel: Cannon Beach and Ecola State Park (Portland, OR)

For our first day in the PDX area, we headed out to the coast. It was quite cool, so we popped into the City Target near our hotel and picked up some long-sleeved shirts to layer up. Glad we did, because it was very windy that day (and even colder the day after!)

First, we went to see the Haystack Rock on Cannon Beach! We parked at Tolovana Beach State Park (near the Mo's), and walked down the beach. It's actually a lot farther than it looks! On the side of the Haystack Rock, they have a cute marine garden. And yes, this is where they filmed the intro scene to Goonies!!



Haystack Rock

Restaurant Review: Mugshots Cafe (Portland, OR)

We found this little coffee and breakfast stop, Mugshots Cafe (Website, Yelp), close to our hotel, and I think we came here two more times over our trip. Great food (homemade and not too heavy), coffee, prices and opens EARLY! I would definitely recommend this place!

Accommodations Review: The Sentinel (Portland, OR)

In September 2015 (I am catching up!!), we went out to Portland, OR for a few days. We stayed at the Sentinel (Website, Yelp, TripAdvisor) in downtown Portland for our trip, and loved it! Great style and décor. Would definitely stay here again :)

Bonuses: the hotel is super close to a City Target, a row of food carts on Alder St, and a SmartPark parking garage.

Minor gripes: bathroom shower and tub could be renovated to be a little more modern/luxe, and some wall hangings seemed to vibrate slightly against the wall in the night.