2 days in Portland Oregon: How to Spend a Weekend Eating Donuts and Working Them Off

It had been 10 years since I set foot in eclectic, weird Portland and I have many fond memories of my visits there. However, Portland’s destination image has taken a major hit because of COVID-19, political violence, and public safety concerns over the last few years. This of course made me want to visit it even more (because I’m weird like that and love the underdog) to see how it’s changed, and how it has dealt with all the tourism blows. I planned 2 days in Portland to go back to some of my favorite places and to see for myself if Portland had lost its mojo.



When I think of Portland I think of its individualism, donuts, creators, food carts, and cute little neighborhoods. Did this Portland still exist? I would find out over the next two days…and even discover some new pieces to Portland I didn’t know existed!



Is Portland Safe to Visit?



Let’s jump right into it. I had a lot of people ask me if Portland was a safe place to visit. Somewhere along the line, Portland went from weird to scary in people’s eyes. It’s really unfortunate because Portland is a cute little city that is full of passion and promise. Sometimes – it’s just a little too much passion I suppose.



I understand how people got the impression that it might not be safe; the past few years it’s been in the news for demonstrations, riots, and homelessness (all things that many cities have struggled with since 2020). To many people, Portland appeared to be the epicenter of chaotic social and racial unrest. The area that was affected the most by this unfortunate image was downtown.



In an effort to dispel this idea Travel Portland ran full-page ads in the major newspapers in the US



Newspaper ad from 2021



It’s true – the only way to really understand what is happening in a place is to go there – so that’s what I did.



Here’s What I Found



A conference brought me to Portland, but I stayed an extra couple of days to just explore and experience the weird, wild Portland that I love. I stayed downtown and while there is definitely a homeless issue (similar to Denver), I still felt safe.



I walked by myself at night (even though some people warned against it) and just stayed alert – as you should do in any city. However, there were also plenty of rideshare options if you didn’t want to walk.



I was sad to see many downtown shops and restaurants closed, but I think every downtown city in the US is having those same issues.







However, my overwhelming observation was that during the pandemic, Portlanders raised their level of creativity; it opened the door to new chefs, creators, and makers with a resilience and drive that was exciting and energetic. Portland is as beautiful, colorful, accepting, tasty, fun, and weird as it ever was! I can’t wait to see how the city thrives in the post-pandemic world!



Perfect 2 Day Portland Itinerary



Now that you know that Portland is still wonderful to visit and is safe, what should you do? I focused my time on some old favorites – like donuts – and spent time exploring some new-to-me neighborhoods. I also tried some urban adventure which was surprisingly close to downtown. And of course, I ate…a lot…because Portland chefs are so incredible!



Map 2 Days in Portland







Day 1 in Portland



Morning – Donut Biking Tour



You might as well kick this vacation off right with an iconic Portland activity – eating donuts! If you are in Portland, you must get your donut on; after all the donut craze really all started here with the famous Voodoo Donuts.



I’ve always sort of wondered how Voodoo Donuts became such a phenomenon…I mean…it’s just donuts – but the key is – they are quirky donuts. The business actually started as a way to get around the liquor laws requiring any place that sells liquor must also sell food. So a couple of nightclub owners started making donuts in the kitchen that the nightclub was connected to. But what makes Voodoo great is the kitschy-ness of their donuts – and that’s been there from the beginning when the nightclub owners made ‘party donuts’ filled with things like Pepto Bismol and Nyquil to help partiers with their hangovers.



In an effort to feel better about eating delicious Portland donuts all morning, I took the bike and donut tour with Pedal Bike Tours. It takes you to 4 of the city’s most famous donut shops for a taste of Portland’s most delicious doughy delights!

























Not only do you stop at Voodoo Donuts and get to skip the line for their famous bacon maple donut, but you also get to see how Portland has moved beyond the kitschy nostalgia donuts and has embraced all kinds of donuts. We stopped at a shop that specialized in mochi donuts, one that specializes in laminated donuts (think croissant dough…layers and layers of light goodness), and also at Blue Star Donuts. Blue Star was the polar opposite of Voodoo serving up high-quality concoctions worthy of any French bakery.



If you aren’t into biking, don’t worry, you can still sample some of Portland’s best donuts on an Underground Donut Tour



Each stop means another donut…which is exactly why I was thankful that I was at least on a bike and getting a little exercise! Not only do you learn about the spectrum and history of Portland donuts, but you’ll also learn all about the various neighborhoods and history of Portland as you bike through the different areas. It’s a great way to get a complete city tour of Portland…while also getting to eat donuts!



My guide even took some extra time to show me a neighborhood across the river with a bunch of really cool street art!













Pedal Bike Tours was a great operation with quality bikes and guides that had a love of biking – so it was a super way to spend a morning! The Donut tour was 3 hours and you will be on a sugar high when you are done. They also offer a general city tour and a brewery bike tour.




Portland Bike Tours





View this post on Instagram A post shared by Sherry Ott (@ottsworld)
Check out a little video I did about the Portland donut bike tour



Lunch – Glisan Neighborhood



You will actually finish the donut tour around noon, and if by some miracle you are still hungry (how???) then I suggest you head on over to the NE Glisan Neighborhood along Sandy Blvd. Stop at Friendship Kitchen for some tasty Vietnamese food that will cut through all of that sugar you had all morning! You’ll find things like beef and cheese banh mi and bún bò huế, with a quirky and colorful cocktail menu leaning on Southeast Asian fruits and spices. Plus – they have a lovely outdoor space for some patio time.



Friendship Kitchen – so colorful!



Afternoon



Take a stroll around the NE Glisan Neighborhood and stop in at some of the little local shops. My favorite was Make & Mary . This mother-daughter-owned store will grab you from the sidewalk with its incredible aromas wafting from the store. Well – that’s at least how I ended up there! The beautifully designed shop focuses on holistic living, creativity, and community. Not only do they sell a number of tinctures, salves, and home décor; but they also have classes open to anyone who wants to get more in touch with their creative side.





















Take a look at their current events and see if you can sign up for a class while you are visiting Portland – it’s a wonderful way to get even more immersed in the community! The classes range from tarot readings, tea events, fabric dyeing, and other wellness-focused classes.



Of course, if after morning biking and donuts and then lunch you just want to go back to the hotel and take a nap – I wouldn’t think any less of you! After all – you are on vacation!



Evening – A Cultural Dinner



I accidentally came across a colorful and cultural restaurant downtown as I was walking around called Dar Salam . The sign said they served Iraqi food which piqued my interest – it’s an ethnic food you don’t see that often.



I’ll admit, I was a little wary at first as the restaurant felt pretty empty thanks in part to the really high ceilings. However, as soon as I sat down and the waiter greeted me with a smile – the empty feeling disappeared I felt as if I had just walked into a warm middle eastern home.



I’ve written before about how I love the Middle Eastern people , they are some of the most welcoming people I’ve ever experienced in the world – and Dar Salam had somehow brought this feeling to Portland for me.



Photo Credit: Venture Agency Photography



The Sahib Family owns and operates DarSalam, the first Iraqi Middle Eastern restaurant in Portland. The décor was fun, it transported me back to cultures I love. They had recreated a full wall mural of the famous Gate of Ishtar and its hanging gardens.



Ghaith, the founder, grew up in Bagdhad and was a refugee from the Iraqi War. After first living in North Holland in 2007, he then moved to Portland in 2010 where he has worked to share his culture with the community through food. He employs his entire family and has brought all of the family recipes with him.



The family struggled and worked hard to get through the pandemic – and they are still working through challenges with higher food costs, lack of employees, etc.



The thing that really kept us going is our family. We’ve worked so hard to build this business and we’re working so hard to keep it going. Family is everything in our culture. We work together and lift each other up. We support each other in every way.



Not only is this a fascinating family-owned Iraqi restaurant, but the food was also incredible. First off I was giddy when I saw the Cardamom Gimlet on the menu. Cardamom is my favorite spice, and gin is my favorite liquor …I couldn’t imagine a better match! The waiter told me about how they make their own house-infused cardamon gin to make their Classic Gin Gimlet. I must admit – I plan on taking this ‘Iraqi family recipe’ home to Denver and making it myself!




Photo Credit: Venture Agency Photography



Photo Credit: Venture Agency Photography



Photo Credit: Venture Agency Photography




This is classic Middle Eastern food made from the heart. It was SO GOOD! We tried the Mezze platter which had a little bit of everything; hummus, donut-shaped falafel, baba ganoush, and tzatziki with a choice of flatbread or raw veggie sticks. I also tried the shredded lamb platter with a delicious stewed chickpea dish.



I can’t believe I could eat more after a day of donuts, but Dar Salam is worth it. It brings the flavor – but most of all it oozes culture and hospitality.



Discover how to plan the perfect weekend in Portland, Oregon with these tips from a local



Day 2 in Portland



After all of that sugary goodness yesterday – today is all about cleansing. After all, you have to treat that body right! And today’s plan will also have you working off a few of those donuts from yesterday starting with a morning spent downtown.



Morning – Tea Time







I didn’t know about Smith’s Tea before coming to Portland. However, there were a few packets of them in my hotel room and I was intrigued by the beautiful packaging as well as the flavor mixtures. Upon trying it before bed…I was hooked.



Then I found out that Smith’s Tea is a Portland company with an interesting background. Founded by Steven Smith (original founder of Stash Tea which sold to Starbucks) started a 2nd tea company that focused on small, quality batches. “I have an idea for another tea company. But this time, we’re going to do it small and buy only the best tea on the market and blend it with total transparency in our hometown of Portland, Oregon.”



There’s a Smith’s Tea shop right downtown where you can try and purchase a variety of flavors. In addition, there is also a Smith’s Tea Café for a complete tea experience where they weave tea and food together. This new tea experience opened in 2021 at NW 23rd at Glisan in Northwest Portland.



Books, Books, Books













Take that tea to go and walk on over to Powell’s Books, the largest independent bookstore in the world, it is hard to pass up this behemoth of the shop when in Portland. However – don’t go into the bookstore if you are short on time. One, it’s easy to get lost in there, but two…there’s so much to look at and grab your attention – it’s overwhelming. I had to remind myself that I didn’t actually read books…else I would’ve walked away with at least 6!



If you are a book lover – plan to spend all morning there!



Shop Local and Support Local Makers



The light, bright airy displays caught my