This place has the best fried chicken sandwiches we’ve ever tried. It’s in a really cool building designed by the same person who designed the building we live in now. Definitely make sure to get their Dan Dan fries.

Kachka is a really unique spot, representing dishes from the former Soviet Union through a Pacific Northwest lens. We recommend their Rabbit in a Clay Pot and the Herring Under a Fur Coat. And the vodkas.

Really amazing Mediterranean food. I don’t love their falafel, but everything else on the menu is amazing. It’s also in a great part of Portland to roam around.

Our newest favorite upscale bar. Located within walking distance of the wedding venue. Really nice any night of the week. Drinks and food are delicious and it used to be a pharmacy.

So many pie choices. In a nice part of town to walk in if you’ve never been (Division). Richmond Bar is nearby which is delicious.

Australian brunch spot. Food is amazing, and if you love experimenting with really nice coffee, this is the place to go. Usually not a bad line.

Old-style prime rib spot. Part Americana, part Medieval Times. We love going here and getting the prime rib. Get the baked potato, not the mashed potato.

Really good to-go poke bowls. Great for taking on the road if you’re planning to drive out of town or for eating outside in the park. Also on Hawthorne, a street worth walking up.

Local fast food spot. If you see one, definitely get their chicken fingers. And their shakes. But, if you want a fast food burger, try Super Deluxe, another fast food spot.

Our friend’s Sarah and Tyler showed us this place. It’s our new favorite Italian spot in Portland, and you can usually walk right in (even on Mondays!)

Favorite dive bar. There can be really fun shows there, and the drinks are around $4 for mixed well drinks. Bartender/owner is amazing.

There’s Silverado’s and Stag which can be really fun. Scandals is somewhat gross but also fun.

This arcade is actually amazing. It’s $3 to get in and you get a card with money loaded on it. All games are around 10 cents. There’s also a virtual reality game in the back that’s an additional $5 and is so worth it. Less than a 2 minute walk from our house.

There’s a lot of live music in Portland. It’s definitely worth checking out if any of these spots have music: Revolution Hall, Goodfoot (also fun for dancing), Mississippi Studios, Rontoms (on Sundays), the Doug Fir, Laurelthurst, and Holocene (also has good theme nights).

This rocket ship / alien themed bar is really fun. The drinks are out of this world, and the food is delicious.

Each street has its own vibe but is good for walking around. Lots of shops and restaurants. Fun to aimlessly walk around.

• SE Hawthorne

• SE Division St.

• NE Alberta St.

• NE Mississippi

We have amazing gardens in Portland. Some of our favorites are:

• The Chinese Garden

• The Japanese Garden

• The International Rose Test Garden

• Elk Rock Garden

• Peninsula Park

Some of our favorite views and other activities:

• The Portland Zoo

• Council Crest

• Pittock Mansion

• Asia America (right near Cargo - also in a cool area in the industrial zone).

• Stars Antiques

• Old Portland Architectural Salvage (right near Stars, in Sellwood, a really cool area just south of Portland).

• Monticello Antiques

Some of our favorite shops:

• Kabinet - a store dedicated to cocktails, glasses, and Japanese posters. A must visit if you’re looking for gorgeous souvenirs.

• Powell’s Books - the world’s largest independent bookstore. Don’t go here on a weekend.

• Cargo - amazing imports store with a ton of stuff.

• Paxton Gate

• Hollywood Vintage

• ReRun 2

• Tip Top Vintage

Tucked neatly on the John Day River, not far south of the Columbia in Oregon’s north-central desert, this state park is our absolute favorite place in the state. We have camped here over 15 times including during the 2017 Total Solar Eclipse. We highly recommend this as a short day trip, just over 2 hours from Portland, for easy hikes and beautiful desert scenery that is a change of pace from Portland’s temperate rainforest,=.

About an hour from Portland, Hood River Oregon offers some of the best scenery in the Gorge. There are plenty of activities in the area, including the Pfriem Brewery, the lavender and fruit farms on Route 35, and the historic downtown and waterfront. Highly recommended for a short day trip!

Silver Falls State Park, which is just over an hour from Portland is an unforgettable hiking experience. The Trail of Ten Falls as it’s known, is an 8 mile hike with ten spectacular waterfalls. In early October, the mostly deciduous hardwood forest in this area will be starting to show amazing colors. Be sure to also check out the cute valley towns nearby like Silverton.

Did you know that Oregon is home to a world renowned wine country? The McMinnville and Dundee subsections of the Willamette Valley AVA are excellent places to sample the regional specialty, Pinot Noir. Our favorite winery, Maysara, is a completely biodynamic facility creating some of the highest quality wines in the region.

The Columbia River Gorge is a world famous scenic corridor along the Columbia River. Just off of Interstate 84 east of Portland, the area is home to some famous waterfalls, including Multnomah Falls. We recommend this for hiking and site seeing. Do note all hikes charge day use fees (typically $5), and some require reservations. If you’d like to drive the Historic Highway (Old US 30) you will need a permit. Be sure to check out the Brigham Fish Company in Cascade Locks!

The Oregon Coast is an incredibly scenic 360 mile coastline home to some of the world’s most iconic scenery, including the most photographed lighthouse in the world at Heceta Head. We recommend some of the following points on the north coast, easily accessible from Portland:

• Cannon Beach

• Manzanita

• Neskowin

• Cape Lookout

• Short Sand Beach

• Cape Falcon Trail

• Nevor Shellfish