Portland in Bloom: Brunch, Blossoms, and Books 🥞🌹📚
A day of flavor, flowers, and forest trails in Oregon’s quirkiest city.
Hello, fellow foodies, flower-lovers, and curious wanderers,
This story is about a place that always surprises me: Portland, Oregon.
Yes, that Portland. Where coffee is strong, brunches are legendary, and rain feels like an old friend. Spread across the Willamette and Columbia Rivers, with a snowcapped Mount Hood watching over, Rose City is where gardens bloom in abundance, bookstores inspire, and eating good food is required.
So lace up your boots (and maybe grab a fork) and join me on a journey that starts slow, tastes like heaven, and ends under the lights with barbecue sauce on your chin.
First: Brunch Like You Mean It 🍳
But here’s the thing: brunch in Portland isn’t just about the delicious food; it’s about fueling up for the adventure ahead.
Here are a few favorites that never let me down:
Pine State Biscuits: Southern comfort meets Portland. Like grandma used to make, buttery biscuits, crispy chicken, and gravy that sticks to your bones.
McMenamins at Kennedy School: Where you can eat eggs and bacon in an old classroom. It’s quirky, cozy, and pure Portland.
Fat City Cafe in Multnomah Village: A nostalgic diner with checkerboard floors, a counter lined with stools, walls decked in neon signs, and license plates from all 50 states. Come for the blueberry pancakes, stay for the giant cinnamon rolls and hash browns.
Portland Farmers Market at Portland State: Every Saturday, the market comes alive under towering elm trees, over 100 vendors offer everything from heirloom produce to artisan cheeses and baked goods.
Check out this map to find the best breakfast joints in Portland.
Walk Off That Brunch: Trails, Trees and Stairways to Whoa 🥾
After eating too many blueberry pancakes, Portland provides an outdoor gym to get in your 10,000 steps (and stairs) and work off the calories.
Tackle a Portland Staircase Walk. These hidden hikes are like secret passageways, past mossy stone walls, fragrant gardens, and up to unexpected hilltop views that make you stop mid-step and say “whoa!”
Is Portland an urban city? Yes, it is also an urban forest.
Or check out Tryon Creek State Natural Area, a 658-acre lush forest oasis with eight miles of trails for exploring diverse wildlife, wildflowers, and Tryon Creek.
One of my favorites, Forest Park, feels like a rainforest with more than 80 miles of trails along the eastern slope of the Tualatin Mountains, overlooking Northwest Portland and the convergence of the Columbia and Willamette Rivers.
A City in Bloom: Roses, Rhododendrons … Wow! 🌸
Portlanders don’t just plant flowers; we celebrate life, filling our gardens with buzzing bees, fluttering butterflies, and breathtaking beauty.
After what feels like an endless season of rain, Spring pops to life like something out of a storybook.
Mark your calendar for the Portland Rose Festival with parades, fireworks, and dragon boat races on the Willamette. Witness thousands of rose bushes waking up at the International Rose Test Garden in Washington Park.
Across the river, the Crystal Springs Rhododendron Garden in Southeast Portland feels like stepping into a Monet painting. Here, rhododendron and azalea blooms burst like fireworks around quiet ponds filled with ducks and views of the spectacular gardens.
And it doesn’t stop there. Just walk around any neighborhood, and realize that everyone in Portland loves a garden.
Take a Breather: Books, Benches, and Waterfront Moments 📖
After a few miles, I like to slow down. Sometimes that means stepping into a bookstore, finding a quiet bench, or relaxing by the river (ideally with a loyal dog).
Portland is a book lover’s paradise. From Bold Coffee & Books, Revolution Bookshop, to Rose City Book Pub, mystery thrillers await around every corner. And, of course, there’s Powell’s City of Books.
And then, a walk along the river. A quiet bench by the Willamette as kayakers paddle the water, reflecting everything in motion. After a few miles, I like to slow things down, sit by the river, read my new book, pet my doggie companion, and let the world drift by.
End the Day the Portland Way with Food Trucks🍗
As the sun dips, the lights flicker on, and the air fills with the scent of sizzling goodness. Because after a day like this, you need something hot, satisfying, and served from a truck.
The first food cart in Portland appeared in the early 20th century, was pulled by a horse. Today, Portland has over 600 food carts, many organized into pods.
Lately, Friday nights have taken us to Sellwood, where we hold our protest signs at the bridge before refueling at Piknik Park’s Uncle Tsang’s Vegetarian Kitchen. It’s healthy, filling, and exactly what we need.
Golden-battered pumpkin, crispy and dusted with salt and pepper, with just a hint of heat. A small cup of sweet chili sauce sits nearby, promising that extra spark. Stir-fry crisp green beans, ground peanuts, and peppers, weaving through bites of seasoned tofu. And then Pad Thai, sweet, savory, and tangy.
But when we want to go big, we head straight for Chicken and Guns (potatoes no bullets).
Wood-fired chicken, crispy potatoes, and chimichurri, Aji, a garlicky, smokey, and tangy sauce, and Habanero carrot sauce. So good it should be illegal. We grab a table under the string lights, lean back, and let the city hum around us.
Why I Love Portland 💚
Portland isn’t trying to impress you, it just is.
And me? I keep coming back because Portland reminds me how to live in the moment.
Because this city reminds me that the journey isn’t always about the destination, it’s about brunch, books, muddy trails, and one hell of a good food truck meal at the end of the trail.
Keep wandering, savoring, and exploring, … and remember the best stories often begin with brunch and a trail map.
Hi Kacey,
Thanks for the great tour of Portland. What a great city. It's been a couple of years since we have been there and your travelog made us think of returning.
Best,
Craig and Sudy