Flickr user" cliff106TM
There's something really special about the Northwest. Being from Texas, you don't really think about the Northwest because it's so far away. But we had the pleasure of being introduced to the region a couple years ago and since then, have been determined to make an annual stop in the key cities of the great promised land of the Northwest United States.
Portland, Oregon was one of the most anticipated stops for us on our West Coast tour. Its a city that is built for anyone who loves the outdoors. The Willamette River runs through the heart of the city with a view of several different mountains in any direction. Upon entering the city you cant help but feel the youthful and unique spirit that Portland possesses.
Our first stop was Berbati's Pan and restaurant. We werent sure what to expect, but Berbati's was more than just a music venue. It has a full kitchen that serves authentic Greek cuisine on one side and a "vibey" room that houses art and music on most nights on the other. The place really provided for a special night! Nestled in on 2nd Ave, Berbati's is walking distance to many other cool spots in the city.
In between sound check and the show, a few of us decided to walk around the city for a bit. We ended up at a cool little coffee shop called Stumptown. They had a great selection of coffee from all over the world. One of the things that is very unique and cool to us about Portland is how many restaurants and coffee shops and boutique stores are individually owned. It really gives the city a personality unlike many places we have visited. Fitting into that mold is Powell Books. Powell Books is the largest independent bookstore in America. If you happen to be a reader, it could be your Mecca. We are in a van the majority of our days, so we are always looking for the next good read.
After the show we couldnt help but make a stop next door to VooDoo Doughnut. "Wow!" is all I can say. Earlier in the day we saw a line that wrapped around the building and we were quickly informed that we had to get some of their donuts. This is far from your typical donut shop. Our order consisted of a few bacon maple bars, The Loop and a few others. You could get anything and I mean anything - from Fruit Loops to cotton candy on your donut. Ha! They dont serve 'em like that in Texas. We quickly found out what made VooDoo so special! It was the perfect way to end the night after a great show.
There is always more to explore in a city with as much diversity as Portland. We left with a list of things to see next time we make back!
Portland, Oregon was one of the most anticipated stops for us on our West Coast tour. Its a city that is built for anyone who loves the outdoors. The Willamette River runs through the heart of the city with a view of several different mountains in any direction. Upon entering the city you cant help but feel the youthful and unique spirit that Portland possesses.
In between sound check and the show, a few of us decided to walk around the city for a bit. We ended up at a cool little coffee shop called Stumptown. They had a great selection of coffee from all over the world. One of the things that is very unique and cool to us about Portland is how many restaurants and coffee shops and boutique stores are individually owned. It really gives the city a personality unlike many places we have visited. Fitting into that mold is Powell Books. Powell Books is the largest independent bookstore in America. If you happen to be a reader, it could be your Mecca. We are in a van the majority of our days, so we are always looking for the next good read.
After the show we couldnt help but make a stop next door to VooDoo Doughnut. "Wow!" is all I can say. Earlier in the day we saw a line that wrapped around the building and we were quickly informed that we had to get some of their donuts. This is far from your typical donut shop. Our order consisted of a few bacon maple bars, The Loop and a few others. You could get anything and I mean anything - from Fruit Loops to cotton candy on your donut. Ha! They dont serve 'em like that in Texas. We quickly found out what made VooDoo so special! It was the perfect way to end the night after a great show.
There is always more to explore in a city with as much diversity as Portland. We left with a list of things to see next time we make back!
