My Portland To Do List

It is inevitable, we are moving to Connecticut.  Although we still don’t have a date, it’s currently looking like close to August 15th.  That’s barely a month away!  When I found out that our time in Portland was nearing an end (at least for now), I started protesting, saying things like “we can't move yet, there are too many things I still want to do and see in Portland and we need more time!” 

The same thing happened when I moved away from San Francisco after living there six years. I just couldn’t leave without doing what you’re supposed to do when there… and I still, to this day, have not been to Alcatraz!   Millions of tourists have been there and after living there six whole years with dozens of friends visiting each year, I still never visited this famous San Francisco destination. Strangely I feel like I’ve missed out on something uniquely “San Francisco”.  I didn’t want the same level of remorse to happen when exiting Portland. 

So I started making a list.  A very short one it turns out.  I thought it would be eternal, but apparently I have done a lot of the things I have wanted to do and see since moving here, with the exception of this short list below.  So with possibly one month left in town I have devised a list of things I must do, see, or eat, before leaving Portland.  What am I missing???

My Portland To Do List: 

Explore the Hood River Fruit Loop:
I worked in Hood River for over two years and never drove along the locally famous fruit loop.  And now that I am obsessed with fresh fruit, plus the fact that it is the season for it, I think it’s the perfect opportunity to take advantage of these fruit farms and orchards, combined with gorgeous scenery you’ll see along the drive.  

Eat at Paleys Place: 
It is incredibly embarrassing to admit, being someone so in love with good food and wine, but I have never been to this highly regarded restaurant and I intend to change that immediately!!!

Eat at Apizza Sholls:
Another famous Portland spot I still have never been to.  I blame the intimidation I feel when just thinking about the long wait patrons must endure.  I also found comfort in eating at their competitor, Ken's Artisan Pizza which, is delicious by the way, so I never braved the dreaded wait.  But I’m willing to go now regardless.  I have heard way too many good things and I can’t leave without going to “allegedly” the best pizza spot in Portland.

Eat at Olympic Provisions:
I know this place isn’t very old, but has received some great reviews and more importantly comes highly recommended by some trusted friends who frequent there.  And I don’t care that the acclaimed chef sourced his pig for Couchon 555 from Iowa (see story here), I won’t hold that against him.

Go to the Portland Farmers Market as much as I can and buy up as many Oregon berries and fresh veggies that my stomach will take as long as I am here.  I’ve been frequenting the farmers market a lot these days.  Sadly I didn’t really appreciate fruit, especially berries, much before my “condition”, but now all I want to eat is berries and visit the farmers market and hand pick the freshest fruits and veggies available to me, and I intend to spend as much time there as possible.
 
Visit OMSI (The Oregon Museum of Science and Industry):
I am not a *huge* museum goer, but I hear nothing but great things about this one.  And I figured in the next few years I’m going to have to get used to visiting museums, especially ones geared towards little ones, so I better start testing the waters now.

Go to Boss Hawgs and have a Hawgarita:
I know, it sounds strange and bizarre, but there’s this dive near my house that we pass by all the time that has this huge sign on the corner that says “Boss Hawgs, home of the Hawgarita”, and we’ve joked for four years about going and getting this mysterious Hawgarita concoction.  And, well I just gotta do it before we go.  It just won’t feel right leaving Portland without going at least once. Strangely, however, their website has a page called “hawgarita” but makes no mention of this infamous menu item. The curiosity grows.  They do, however, have $2.00 PBR’s for happy hour so the hubby will be satisfied regardless.

So what am I missing???

I’ve only lived in Portland four ½ years and I spent the first few years working seven days a week (or close to it), never really having the time to enjoy anything specifically “Portland”.  But now I want to make sure I leave feeling satisfied that I lived it up while I was here. So please let me know if there are any Portland gems that I need to do, see, or eat before I leave or if you have any favorites you want to mention.  And before I actually move I plan to compile a list of some of my Portland favorites.

Tagged as: Things to do in Portland