A Locals Guide to a Weekend in Portland

Story and Images by: Sammy Magaña

Have you ever had less than a day to plan a weekend for five people? I recently had some friends visit me on a spontaneous trip from out of town and inspired me for this post. The big question was how will I entertain five people for 48 hours? I had about a day to think of activities to do in Portland, places to eat, and have backup plans in case the first ideas did not work. As a local, I wanted to share some of my favorite spots in case anyone found themselves in a similar situation. 

A crowd favorite, Pine Street Market

One of my go-to orders is the bibimbop tofu bowl with the KJG Gochujang sauce

Soft serve from Wiz Bang Bar - you can’t go wrong with any flavor

One of the things Portland is known for is the variety of food options and the ability to cater to any diet. We had a group of six people including myself with an array of food preferences so we opted to go to one of my favorite spots, The Pine Street Market. This place is guaranteed to have food options for everyone from the Winner Winner Chicken Dinner at Toro Bravo to the Kim Jong’s bibimbop bowls. You don’t have to wander too far for dessert either, because Wiz Bang Bar (Salt & Straw) is there too!

The Pine Street Market has been open for several years now and continues to be a crowd favorite. Be prepared to find creative seating if you arrive during the common meal times. It’s a communal dining area and is an opportunity to get to know a neighbor if you do find yourself sharing a table.

In need of caffeine?

If you haven’t noticed by now, Portland has a coffee shop on about every corner and tea shops are not far behind it. 

Some of my favorite spots are Behind the Museum Cafe, it’s a Japanese themed cafe and I believe it has the best matcha in town and is very quaint inside. This is a great spot to enjoy a delicious pastry, coffee or tea, and people watch. 

Another favorite of mine is Tea Bar; it has an aesthetically pleasing interior, delicious boba, and numerous tea options.

Find nature in the city

View from Mt. Tabor on a clear day

Another magical aspect of Portland is the green that’s all around and we love our parks. One of the favorites that I like to go to regularly is Mt. Tabor, with three main trails it’s a great spot for city views, seeing locals and embracing the beautiful nature of the pacific northwest. On my last trip here, my friend and I went to Master Kong down the street for some fish congee and dumplings.

Do you like sweets?

Usually, when people come to Portland they hear all about Voodoo Donuts. In my opinion, you go for the experience, but not for the donuts themselves. Here are some of my go-to sweet spots: Blue Star, these are some of the best donuts in town, but try and get there early because once they sell out they close for the day. Each shop sells about 1,000 donuts per day, that’s quite impressive! 

Another great spot is Petunia’s Pies & Pastries. This is a great vegan and gluten-free bakery with an array of options. Back to Eden is another great spot if you’re in need of something sweet and they have a full menu at their shop next to their bakery.

Want more nature?

Some of the PNW beauty on the Wahclella Falls trail

The waterfall of Wahclella Falls

When it comes to hiking, I enjoy getting the blood pumping but I’m not about to summit a mountain. If you’re in that same mindset, then I feel well equipped to give you hiking tips. If you have some extra time on your hands when you’re not eating at great local spots and drinking tea, then I recommend getting out to the Gorge if the weather allows. The Gorge has some of the most beautiful hiking spots in the Portland area. For information on the weather and what hikes are open, I recommend checking OregonHikers.org since the first rule in hiking is safety. A good, general tip when hiking in Oregon and Washington is to carry an extra $5 with you in case you have to pay for parking at one of the hiking locations. 

If you’re looking for a great half-day hike, I recommend going to Wahclella Falls. It’s a quick 2.4-mile round trip hike with very little incline in areas. Depending on the day, this trail can be fairly busy so be prepared for that.