10 Things to Do in Portland in 24 Hours

A behind-the-scenes look at my visit with Bob of Bob’s Red Mill plus my travel guide to 10 things to do in Portland in 24 hours.

Growing up, my mom’s pancakes were made with buckwheat, our bread was whole wheat and dinner was served with a side of bulgur. Lucky for me, whole grains have been a part of my diet for as long as I can remember. As a result, Bob’s Red Mill was the first brand I ever partnered with here on The Lemon Bowl over three years ago.

Top (left to right): Me, Stephanie, Bob, John and Dana, Cassidy
Bottom (left to right): Sarah and her husband, Julia, Carolyn, Erin

Needless to say, when they invited me to travel to Portland and meet with Bob himself, I said yes in a heartbeat. Bob has been a long time role model for me in the health food industry and I so respect him for choosing people before profit. He is spunky, passionate, outspoken and tells it like it is. And I love him something fierce.

My visit to Portland was brief but meaningful so I’ve decided to share my top 10 things to do in Portland if you just have 24 hours.

1. Mt. Hood: My first tip takes place before you even land at PDX and that is to choose a seat on the left side of the plane for a prime view of Mt. Hood. Full disclosure: I happened upon this tip by chance and was lucky enough to be seated on the left hand side but throughout the flight I overheard people saying that they always pick a seat on the left hand side for this very reason.

2. Luc Lac Vietnamese Kitchen: I don’t know about you but after a long day of travel there is nothing I crave more than a hearty and satisfying bowl of noodle soup. Thanks to a great tip from several Instagram followers I headed right to Luc Lac Vietnamese Kitchen once I landed in Portland for a steamy bowl of pho. It hit the spot on every level and is a must when you visit Portland.

3. Bob’s Red Mill Whole Grain Store, Restaurant & Bakery: While I know not everyone has the opportunity to meet with Bob personally in his office, you must make time to check out Bob’s Red Mill store and restaurant! They offer countless products you might not have at your local grocery store plus a full menu for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

4. Imperial Restaurant: Located directly next door to where we were staying (Hotel Lucia) was Imperial Restaurant which also came highly recommended by my readers. Erin and Stephanie, my gal pals from the midwest, joined me for the most incredible dinner of scrumptious small plates and creative cocktails. I’m still dreaming of the fried chicken and pickled vegetables.

5. Salt and Straw: When my friend Bev suggested we check out Salt & Straw I immediately headed to the website to see what all the fuss was about. Let’s just say they had me at Garam Masala and Cinnamon Cauliflower ice cream. Chocolate Caramel and Potato Chip? Yes, please. Get ready to drool over the most incredible (and always evolving) flavor list.

6. Cheryl’s on 12th: If you have ever watched TLC’s Little People Big World, you may have noticed that they frequently grab breakfast or lunch at Cheryl’s on 12th. A sucker for reality TV, I decided to grab breakfast there one morning since it was walking distance from our hotel. Stephanie and I knew we had made the right decision from the very first bite of our complimentary warm and fluffy beignets. The green omelet with veggies and avocado was also spot on.

7. Porch Light Shop: My dear friend Kristen told me about Porch Light so when I saw it during our walk that afternoon I knew we had to check it out. It was everything you could expect from a quintessential Portland boutique. Unique home goods, soaps & candles, funky jewelry and so much more – it was perfection.

8. Food Carts: Of course, you can’t mention a trip to Portland without hearing about the hundreds and hundreds of food carts scattered throughout the city. Whether you’re looking for authentic Israeli, Thai comfort food or raw vegan eats, there is a food cart for you in Portland.

9. Deschutes Brewery: If you love craft beer, Portland is the city for you. After asking a few locals where we could find the best IPA beer in the city, we quickly realized there was no shortage of options. We ended up checking out Deschutes Brewery downtown and it did not disappoint. I highly recommend the sampler so that you can discover a new favorite.

10. Departure Portland: One of the highlights of our trip was dinner and a private rooftop garden tour from Chef Gregory at Departure PDX. Serving unique, creative and approachable Asian cuisine, I was blown away by the amount of flavor in every single bite of food we sampled that evening. The best part? They have entire menus dedicated to Vegan and Gluten-Free cuisine.

Once again, a huge thank you to my friends at Bob’s Red Mill for hosting me in Portland. It is a foodie town after my own heart and I look forward to returning again soon with my whole family!

Disclosure: I am honored to be a long-term brand ambassador for Bob’s Red Mill who hosted me during my stay. Thank you for supporting the brands that make The Lemon Bowl possible. All thoughts are my own. 

Need a new vacation destination? You’re sure to find it somewhere on my Wanderlust Travel board!