This place, and Kara, is awesome.
My girlfriend and I booked a quick trip from Austin to check out our “sister city.” Not knowing anything about PDX or where to say, we really lucked out with this place. It’s cute, conveniently located (10-minute Uber from the airport & get anywhere via transit), and Kara was a super friendly and helpful host.
Our tips & recommendations:
If you want to save a few hundred bucks on car rental and use the savings to go ham on some PDX food, get a hop card and head to the following places via the awesome transit system.
FREMONT AVE (walk there)
Batter is a 5-minute walk from the house. You have to try their chicken and waffles. Their secret recipe syrup is the BOMB. Pips is also a quick walk away for famously delicious donuts and chai.
HAWTHORNE (transit)
Cool area with fun shops and good food (Farmhouse for Thai - pad se ew and Tom kha with blue jasmine rice was delicious.)
ALBERTA (transit)
Artsy area with good food and bars. Check out great notion brewery for great drinks and craft meals. Grab salt and straw for dessert if you have time to wait in line! Pine State Biscuits was also awesome.
BURNSIDE Downtown (transit)
Head downtown to Powell’s books, sizzle pie (cool pizza joint; but the death metal kinda killed our pizza vibe lol), and whatever else you want to go check out. Food trucks looked tasty everywhere.
ST. JOHNS (transit)
Bring a frisbee and go check out the picturesque St. John’s bridge.
PORTLAND JAPANESE GARDEN (transit)
Go check out the rose garden and Japanese garden for awesome views and a romantic date.
MISSISSIPPI (transit)
More cool shops and por que no for your taco cravings.
CANNON BEACH (transit, 2.5 hours)
Check the tide schedule and go to haystack rock at low tide. Make sure you plan your trip so you don’t miss the bus/train!
Multnomah Falls (transit, 2 hours)
Just go. It’s gorgeous. Make sure you schedule your trip at the right time of day so you don’t miss the bus back!
& so much more. Stay with Kara, you’ll really enjoy it.