24 Hour Layover in Portland

24 Hours in Portland

I recently had a 24 hour layover in Portland, Oregon!  When I have these long layovers I find that’s it’s nice to get out and explore instead of sitting in the hotel room all day long!  That’s one of the perks of this job!  Portland is definitely a unique city and I seem to find something new to do every time I visit.  

First and most important task of the day... coffee.  I did a little research on Pinterest and found some cute little coffee shops unique to the Pacific Northwest area.  It was also important that the coffee shop was within walking distance of my hotel as Uber rides can get expensive.  I walked to Stumptown Roasters right by the unique Ace Hotel, within the downtown area.  The vanilla latte was lovely and the veggie breakfast sandwich was egg-cellent!  You can sit in the cute hotel lobby and enjoy sipping your coffee.  Great photo spots for Instagram!

       Next up... the Burnside shopping district, only a five minute walk from Stumptown Roasters.  This is a nice area with cute shops and eateries.  Union Way is recommended for local/indie goods, however it is pricey.  I actually stopped by the local Buffalo Exchange and was surprised to see some name brand clothing that was stylish and in good condition.  Unique clothing pieces too!  Burnside also has a great Anthropologie store that has two stories!  They had a great selection of clothing and shoes; definitely one of the best stores in the area.

        A trip to Burnside shopping district isn’t complete without a stop at Powell’s City of Books.  This place really is a city!  Rooms and shelves of books that go on and on.  Different genres of books you can purchase either new or used.  A bookworm’s dream!  I definitely found my next read here; The Forgotten Girls, a thriller recommended by the staff.  Make sure you take a photo among the shelves of books!  

   

 

        After all the shopping... time for a snack!  I walked to Blue Star donuts off Morrison Street which was only an eight minute walk from Burnside.  I’d been to Voodoo Donuts before and wanted to try Blue Star.  I had the Passion Fruit Buttermilk donut and it was delightful!  Sprinkled with pistachio crumbs on top, the taste was so unique and delicious!  It was one of the best donuts I have ever had!  Blue Star uses unique and fresh ingredients that rivals Voodoo Donuts.  I think Blue Star might actually be better than Voodoo, and I’m not the first one to voice this opinion!  

        Debating on what to wear in Portland?  I knew it would be chilly and damp, so I dressed accordingly.  I wore tights and a printed maxi skirt (Free People) with my comfy and cozy Airplane Mode sweatshirt (Amazon); perfect for a Flight Attendant!  I also wore my combat boots (Schutz) and pink beanie (Primark) to add a pop of color.  Make sure you bring an umbrella or a jacket with a hood as it rains on and off all throughout the day.  I was lucky and it only rained a few minutes here and there.  Fashion tip:  if you want to fit in dress as your best hipster self!  You can’t go wrong with a beanie, plaid shirt, boots, distressed jeans, or oversized glasses!  

        I already can’t wait to visit Portland again and discover my next favorite coffee shop!  Thanks for reading and I hope you enjoy your next stay in Portland, Oregon!