I miss traveling. The kind that involves large aircraft crossing multiple time zones. But let’s not fall down that depressing hole right now. I may have three tiny people in my charge, but travel doesn’t need to completely vanish from our lives. Expectations just need to be reframed a little. Driving to Portland, Oregon in our minivan totally counts as travel! Right?
Portland is pretty fantastic. My husband grew up there, and my mother in law still resides in Northeast Portland, near the Alberta district. The spouse and I, pre children, would enjoy truly epic weekends traipsing about the City of Roses. Typical Portland weekend schedule: dinner out at delicious restaurant with in laws. Bar hop until all hours of the night, sans in laws. Bed. Scrumptious hungover brunch with in laws. Shopping and/or day drinking at breweries. Repeat. Drive home to Seattle in hellish traffic, complaining about impending gout.
Shockingly, this schedule has evolved somewhat. But only somewhat…beer and food, I can’t quit you. Especially in Portland. Things are generally more delicious and cheaper in Portland than in Seattle. And, I still experience symptoms of pre gout after every Portland trip. Which maybe means the trip was successful? Or I’m just a disgusting glutton.
Happy Hour Tacos at Cruz Room
Fatty liver notwithstanding, Portland with kids in tow was great (despite the usual challenges of road trips with small children. See: screaming; diaper explosions). Here are some highlights:
Lechon
Everything in Seattle has a parallel/twin in Portland. Lechon is in downtown Portland, which I would describe as the neighborhood twin of Seattle’s Pioneer Square. I picked Lechon for dinner because it was available via OpenTable, and the menu looked amazing. Everything we ordered was delicious, although I apparently don’t have photographic evidence of this. You’ll have to take my word on it. Solid choice for a dinner out.
Level Beer
This brewery is bit far from the center of the city, but perfect if you want your kids to take car naps. It features a large open air, but covered, space, and a sizable kid pit that kept our toddler entertained. The beer was tasty, and there was a food truck on hand, although we didn’t partake. Great family friendly option!
Liam peed all over himself, but Level sells onesies!
Great Notion Brewing
We, embarrassingly, visited Great Notion three times during the course of the weekend. This brewery is in Alberta, which meant we could walk there, and is kid friendly. The kid pit situation leaves a bit to be desired as it is tucked in the back of the space adjacent to the bathrooms. Lots of hipsters pityingly stared at us while waiting to pee. However the beer here is amazing. Lots of delightful hazy IPAs, which I am very into lately, and great sours.
Just grabbing a relaxing beer in PDX with our 27 children
Oysters @ Nostrana
Nostrana and Enoteca Nostrana
Parents night out went down here, and we grabbed a drink at Enoteca Nostrana prior to our dinner reservation at Nostrana. Holy shit, everything here was delicious. But the crab pizza was the clear winner. There is also a parking lot, rare for Portland but handy if you travel by minivan.
