After hearing so many wonderful things about the city of Portland and watching a couple seasons of Portlandia, I decided to go check it out for my first college spring break. Leading up to my trip I spent multiple days reading every online review and watching every video on Youtube that I could find in order to make the best out of my one week there. Although I can't call myself an expert on the city from visiting just one time, after spending hours researching things to do and experiencing them myself, I have a pretty good idea on planning a fulfilling visit.

DAY 1 (Monday)

Black Hat Book Store

Just down the street from big, well-known stores like the Nike Outlet Factory is this hidden gem. On the exterior of this store is a selection of books being sold for $1 and some books even for free. On the inside is not only a great selection of classic and underground books but a very nice man with extensive knowledge of literature and Portland.

Grassa

If you are in the mood for Italian food this restaurant is the place to go. All of the noodles are handmade as you order them and are as tasty as they are fresh. While most Italian restaurants are typically fancy, this restaurant gives off laid-back vibes with its rock posters on the wall and family-oriented values.

Living Room Theater

If you love to go to the movies but hate leaving the comfort of your bed/sofa, this is the perfect theater for you. In the front, this theater is a bar/restaurant, but inside has theaters where you can watch movies from the comfort of a couch. The only downside to this theater is if you are under 21, the theater becomes fully 21+ after 7 p.m.

Day 2 (Tuesday)

DONUTS

Portland, famous for its Voodoo Doughnuts, is actually home to many other delicious donut joints. Of course, we had to try Voodoo, but the donut shop that actually won over our hearts and taste buds was a place called Blue Star Donuts. This shop is just a few blocks down from Voodoo, and in my opinion was a much more fulfilling taste without the long line. Another good place to check out, especially if you are looking for amazing chai to go with your donuts, is Pip's Original Doughnuts.

Powell Book Store

There are lots of locations of this store throughout the city, but the biggest and most popular one is located right in the middle of downtown. Probably one of the biggest bookstores I've ever seen, this store is filled with books, magazines, zines, tote bags, games, and whatever else you could imagine a bookstore could have. As strange as it sounds, going to this bookstore could be an entire day on its own because of how much it has within it.

Food Carts Pods

All throughout downtown Portland are clusters of permanent food carts that sell an eclectic variety of delicious food. The ones that I ate at that I would absolutely recommend were Verona and La Jarochita. A world-famous food cart, Verona definitely lives up to its expectations with some of the best pasta I have had in my life with a very good portion. Then at La Jarochita, I had the most amazing horchata unlike any other I have had before and a delicious tofu burrito that makes my top 5 favorite burritos.

Day 3 (Wednesday)

Proud Mary's

If you are going to brunch this restaurant is a MUST. You can either make a quick stop to the coffee and pastry section or sit down for a full meal. I was so hungry when I went here and the surprisingly large portions filled me up perfectly.

The things from the menu that I tried were the ricotta hotcakes, possibly the best breakfast I have ever had in my life, and the avocado toast which blew every other avocado toast I've ever had out of the water. Although I did not try it, all of the locals say that this is the place to go if you are looking for the actual best coffee in Portland.

Alberta Art District

Filled with any sort of store you can think of, this district has a nice vibe to it with friendly people at every place you stop. A nice way to explore this area is by renting out a bike for the day and riding from shop to shop. Most stores are independently owned so the owners are nice to talk to and can point you in the directions of all the best local spots.

Day 4 (Thursday)

Mother's Bistro and Bar

I am in no way, shape, or form a breakfast person by any means, but if I lived near this restaurant I easily would be. Although the wait to eat here may be long, the food and good service definitely makes it all worthwhile. This typical brunch scene is the perfect place to start off your day right with a menu that has something for everyone.

Mota Center

With so many events happening here year round there is bound to be something exciting going on at the Mota Center during your visit. While in Portland I went to see the Portland Trailblazers play against the Cleveland Cavaliers. Although tickets can be pretty pricey, if you are willing to wait until an hour before the game to purchase your tickets normally you can get them for as cheap as $10 because people reselling tickets are desperate to get back whatever money they can.

Day 5 (Friday)

Portland Art Museum

An art museum is always a good idea, and if you are interested in going but not spending to much money the tickets here are marked down to $5 every Friday after 5 p.m.

Day 6 (Saturday)

Portland Saturday Market

This market happens every Saturday and consists of all local vendors and crafters from Portland with stands. It is located right next to the water and a path of cherry blossoms that you can take a stroll under as you enjoy your handmade empanadas and expertly crafted soaps, and is a perfect way to spend any Saturday!

Record Stores

Portland is very famous for its music scene and as a result, there are record stores on every other block. The one that stood out to me was called Tender Loving Empire which is not just a record label, but also a handcraft concept store. There are many locations for this store (including the airport), but the one I enjoyed the most was hidden on NW 23rd Avenue.

This strip of the city may have been my favorite part of Portland that I luckily stumbled upon by accident. On top of the local independent businesses that seem to run the city, there were lots of familiar brand names and famous shops like Salt & Straw Ice Cream on this street.

Other Activities

Shanghai Tunnels/Portland Underground Tour (a tour that takes you underground to learn about Portland's scandalous past)

Peculiarium (a museum that can only be explained by seeing it yourself)

Oaks Amusement Park (go skating at one of the largest skating rinks in America)

Ground Kontrol and Old School Pizza (eat pizza and play at a real arcade)

Bollywood Theater (An authentic taste of India in Portland)

Lan Su Garden (a beautiful garden in Chinatown)

Kennedy School (an old school that is now a hotel/restaurant/SOAKING POOL/theater)

Pok Pok (authentic Thai food)

¿Por Qué No? (authentic Mexican food)