Amble and Roam Travel

Three Nights, Two and a Half Days

July 2026

Han Oak (Photo by author)

Our Itinerary at a Glance

All the details your heart desires will be below

Thursday | Drinks and Dinner in Portland

• Arrive to Portland late afternoon
• Pick up rental car and check into lodging
• Scotch Lodge Whiskey Bar – cocktails & a snack
• Han Oak – Korean Restaurant

Friday | The Gorge, Hood River & Mediterranean Dinner

• Roseline Coffee – Alberta Arts District
• Columbia River Gorge Scenic Area

• Multnomah Falls
• Horsetail Falls & Ponytail Falls
• Hood River

• pFriem Family Brewers – lunch 
• Panorama Point
• The Fruit Loop

• The Gorge White House
• Phelps Creek Tasting Room
• Shalom Y’all – Mediterranean Restaurant

Saturday | A Spontaneous Trip to the Coast & Haitian Dinner

• Lauretta Jean’s – coffee and pastries

• Oregon Coast
  • Blue Agate Cafe – Lunch in Oceanside
  • Oceanside Beach State Park
  • Tunnel Beach
  • Cape Meares Lighthouse & Octopus Tree
  • Tillamook Creamery
  • Blue Heron French Cheese Company
• Kann Restaurant – Haitian Live Fire Restaurant

Sunday

Early Departure

Portland – A Foodie Getaway

For the past 3 years, my husband and I have embarked on an annual “foodie getaway” with my brother (Mark) and my sister-in-law (Jill).  They live in Denver, and we are based near Nashville, so this weekend has become a really fun way for the four of us to catch up, explore somewhere new, and indulge in a few adventurous meals together.  

Once we decided to make this tradition happen, the planning quickly escalated to spreadsheets, rankings, restaurant lists, and comparing our favorite can’t miss places.  

This year we chose Portland, Oregon.

We planned our trip for the end of July, and the weather could not have been more pleasant.  The days were sunny and ranged from about 75 to 85 degrees in the city, with cool evenings that made for especially enjoyable after dinner walks.  

We flew from Nashville to Portland, with a stop through Denver.  Our early morning departure was worth it, as we arrived Thursday afternoon with plenty of time for a pre-dinner drink and our first reservation.

Where We Stayed

Our Airbnb was located in the Alberta Arts District, a quiet neighborhood easily walkable to coffee and restaurants.  

The house was perfect for what we needed – clean, comfortable, and spacious enough for two couples, with two bedrooms, two bathrooms, and a comfortable living space.  

If an Airbnb isn’t your preference, there are also a few hotel options in and around the Alberta area that caught my eye during our planning:

McMenamins Kennedy School – A former elementary school turned hotel complete with guestrooms, restaurants, bars, and a theater. Sustainable and inclusive.

The Alberta Petite Hotel – A small locally owned guesthouse near the Alberta Arts District.  Sustainable and inclusive.

Cascada Thermal Springs & Hotel – Sustainable wellness retreat in the Alberta Arts District with saunas, steam rooms, cold plunges, and other spa amenities.

Thursday | Drinks and Dinner in Portland

Our flights arrived in Portland around 2:30 pm.  The airport was pleasantly quiet and had some surprisingly good coffee options, which felt like a very Portland welcome.  

Mark had booked a Turo rental car for us, which we picked up from the airport.  We hadn’t initially planned to rent a car. Since we were staying in a fairly central neighborhood and Ubers are easy to find, we thought we could get around without one.

But we ultimately decided that the freedom to drive ourselves – and the ability to change plans on a whim – was worth the extra expense.

That turned out to be exactly the right decision.

We made a day trip outside the city each of our two full days, and having the car made that incredibly easy to pull off.

4:00 pm | Scotch Lodge Whiskey Bar 

Scotch Lodge was our pre-dinner stop on Thursday.  It had been recommended by friends familiar with Portland, and it felt like a fun way to kick off the weekend.  

Reservations become available on their website one week in advance.  The available seatings disappear pretty quickly.  

The bar has a playful and relaxed speakeasy vibe.  It opens at 4:00 pm and, admittedly, it took us a minute to determine whether we were standing at the correct door.  Sure enough, right at 4:00, the doors opened and a sign appeared on the sidewalk.  

We were in the right place.

The staff was friendly, laid back, and welcoming.  Their menu featured creative cocktails, zero proof drinks, and elevated bar food.  With the time change from Nashville to Portland, we were getting hungry but were also trying not to ruin our dinner.  

We settled on Shrimp Chips and Pickle Spiced Fries.  

If you are traveling with a Scotch enthusiast – take note of this spot.

5:30 pm | Han Oak 

The atmosphere at Han Oak may have been my favorite of the weekend.  

Yet again, it took us a minute to find the entrance.  The door was nestled within a wall covered with ivy just off a small parking lot, with minimal signage and a humble entrance.

That seemed to be a recurring theme in Portland: understated entrances that eventually lead to something much more interesting.

Once we stepped inside, we found ourselves in a small, open air courtyard with covered seating.  It immediately felt like we had arrived at a friend’s backyard dinner party – with considerably more charm.  

The setting was relaxed and filled with natural light.  Instead of the usual soundtrack of clinking glasses and silverware, we were surrounded by the sounds of the courtyard and quiet conversation.

And then there was the food.  

We started with trays of banchan, followed by a variety of dishes we chose to share as a table.  We had twice-cooked pork, short rib, seafood stew, and an extra order of scallops that we absolutely did not regret adding.

Dessert was a roasted sweet potato mochi cake – light and not too sweet, it was the perfect ending to a wonderful first meal in Portland.

Han Oak (Photo by author)

Friday | The Gorge, Hood River & Mediterranean Dinner 

Staying in the Alberta Arts District put us within walking distance of Alberta Street, which became our morning routine.

Morning Coffee | Roesline Coffee

Each morning we took a stroll to Roseline Coffee for a cortado and a breakfast burrito.  

If you love a good strong coffee – as we do – you will love Portland.  A legit espresso is never far away in this city.  

We had an impressively long list of coffee shop recommendations we wanted to try, including Sterling Coffee, Upper Left, Keeper, Heart, Stumptown (Division Street location), Guilder, Case Study and Proud Mary.  

I wish we had had time to make a stop at each and every one.

Columbia River Gorge

After breakfast, we headed East out of the city toward the Columbia River Gorge Scenic Area. 

There are numerous hiking and waterfall stops along the route from Portland toward Hood River, and being on the road before the crowds was one of the perks of suffering early mornings from our time difference.  

Our first stop was the most well-known: Multnomah Falls.  

Multnomah Falls (Photo by author)

We had heard that the falls could get quite crowded, so we arrived by 9:00 am.  On our particular weekday morning, that meant we didn’t need a pre-purchased parking pass, there were plenty of parking spaces, and the area was still pleasantly quiet.

We had time to wander, take in the falls, and enjoy the scenery without feeling rushed.

From Multnomah Falls, we continued on to Horsetail Falls.  

The lower falls are located directly off the parking area and are easy to access.  From there, we decided to take the short hike to Ponytail Falls.

The uphill portion took us roughly 20-30 minutes and followed the cliffside.  I would consider it an easy to moderate hike, although there are some sections where you’ll have to watch your footing.  

When we reached the upper falls, we were rewarded with beautiful views over the gorge and the chance to walk behind the waterfall in a basalt alcove.  

We sat for a few minutes, enjoyed the view, and then made our way back down to continue the day.

Ponytail Falls (Photo by author)

Hood River | pFriem Family Brewers

After the waterfalls, we continued on to Hood River, a charming little mountain town along the Columbia River.  

We were ready for lunch, so we stopped at pFriem Family Brewers.  It was a beautiful day which meant we were able to sit outside on the patio directly across the street from the riverfront park.  

The food was satisfying, the beer was delicious and refreshing, and it was the kind of relaxed lunch break we needed.

PFriem Brewers (Photo by author)

The Fruit Loop

From Hood River, we headed out to explore the Fruit Loop – a scenic route filled with orchards, flower farms, vineyards, and farm stands.  

I could easily see spending hours exploring this area if you had the time. 

Our first stop was Panorama Point, a scenic overlook with beautiful views of the valley and Mt. Hood.  Unfortunately, wildfire smoke had rolled in just as we arrived, obscuring most of the view.

So onward we went.  

We stopped at The Gorge White House where we picked berries to take back to our house for the weekend.  There were gardens, tables, and plenty of places to sit and enjoy a snack or a glass of wine while on the farm.  

The Gorge White House (Photo by author)

I imagine, on a clear day, that the surrounding views would be beautiful as well.  

Our original plan was to continue on to a vineyard before heading back toward Portland.  But we had been watching the traffic build because of a wreck along our route home, so we decided to change plans and stop at the Phelps Creek tasting room instead.  

The wine was wonderful, and it was nice to slow down and talk for a while before beginning our drive back to Portland.  

If time had allowed, I think a vineyard with a garden and a view on a pleasant summer afternoon would have been the highlight of the Fruit Loop for me – more so than a traditional tasting room.

The vineyards on our original list were Stave & Stone and the Grateful Vineyard – maybe we’ll get another opportunity to visit them one day.  

Back to Portland | Shalom Y’all

The drives to and from Hood River were beautiful in their own right, with views of the river, gorge, mountains, and surrounding landscape.

We enjoyed our ride home and had a little time to relax at the house before dinner.  

And then it was time for another very good meal.

In my opinion, it is difficult to go wrong with Mediterranean food.  

Shalom Y’all definitely confirmed that stance.  

The restaurant is a lively spot serving Mediterranean and Israeli food.  We ordered several dishes to share for the table, and they arrived as they were prepared, moving from smaller plates to larger ones.  

Our table eventually filled with Aleppo Cucumbers, Gravlax, Za’tar Fried Almonds, Housemade Pickles, Turkish Baked Hummus, Heirloom Tomato Salad, Chicken Shawarma, Hanger Steak and a Salmon Collar.  

An after dinner walk was required.

And totally worth it.

Another Day Trip Option: Willamette Valley

Another day trip we considered was a visit to the Willamette Valley wine region with lunch in the town of McMinnville.  

There are numerous wineries to choose from including Sokol Blosser,  Domaine Serene, and Durant at Red Ridge.

We ultimately chose Hood River and the Fruit Loop, but Willamette Valley would be an easy alternative if wine tasting is a bigger priority for your trip.

Saturday | A Spontaneous Trip to the Coast & Haitian Dinner

Saturday morning began with an exciting highlight.

I met up with a dear old friend whom I hadn’t seen in 15-20 years. We couldn’t even remember exactly when we’d last seen each other.  

She has been a Portland native for many years now, and we met for coffee and pastries at Lauretta Jean’s.  

It was a quiet morning, and we grabbed a picnic table on the sidewalk and enjoyed catching up – and some pie for breakfast – if you so desire.

As I did.

We had not formed a concrete plan for our day on Saturday.  We had talked about exploring Portland’s parks and shops and taking things slowly.  But somewhere in our casual conversation on Friday, we had started Google-mapping the route to the Oregon Coast.

Once we realized we could reach the coast in about an hour and a half to two hours, everything changed.

We debated heading toward the iconic Cannon Beach versus choosing a different coastal town that would allow us to also visit the Tillamook Creamery.  

Our love for cheese won out.

Oceanside

We hopped in the car and navigated toward Oceanside Beach State Park.  

The route took us through Tillamook and into the small sleepy beach town of Oceanside.  We found a public parking lot near the beach that required a parking pass.  There wasn’t much cell service in the area, but we were able to connect to the lot’s wifi to pay.  

You could also plan ahead and bring cash to avoid this hurdle.  

Lunch was necessary to keep us going, so we wandered into Blue Agate Cafe, a very small older house overlooking the water.  

The restaurant reminded me of an old-school family-run meat-and-three that you may find in the South – except this one happened to overlook an incredible Oregon coastline.  

I will be thinking about the crab tacos I had here for a very long time!

Oceanside Beach & Tunnel Beach

Oceanside Beach (Photo by author)

After lunch, we walked across the street to the state park beach.  

This was my first time on a West Coast beach and I absolutely loved it.

The cliffs were dotted with old cedar-shake houses, and huge rock formations jut from the waves.  

From Oceanside Beach, a man-made tunnel carved through the cliffs leads to another beach called Tunnel Beach.  

We explored for a while and tried our best to determine if we were in an area where we may be able to spot a Puffin.

We never did.  

Tunnel Beach Tunnel (Photo by author)

Cape Meares

Next, we drove a short distance north to visit Cape Meares Lighthouse and the Octopus Tree.  

CAPE Meares Lighthouse (Photo by author)

It was an easy walk along a paved path to a beautiful view point and the cute little lighthouse.  

If you time your visit right, you can also tour the interior.

Tillamook Creamery

And then it was time for cheese.

We were in utter disbelief when we pulled up to Tillamook Creamery.  

The crowds were unbelievable.  

Until this point in our weekend, we had barely encountered a line, a wait, or a crowd anywhere.

The creamery was about to change all of that.  

We decided to brave the scene and see what we could find.

It turned out that most of the excitement was centered around the food court, where visitors were lining up for grilled cheese and ice cream.  

We walked right past the crowds and headed upstairs to the educational exhibits. 

No tickets or reservations were required when we visited.  The exhibits include a couple of large rooms overlooking the factory floor, explaining the history of Tillamook and how their cheese is produced.  

There was also a small sampling station where we could try a few of their cheeses at no charge.  

We grabbed some souvenirs for the kids in the very large gift shop – the lines there move surprisingly efficiently – and then we decided we’d had enough of the crowds for one afternoon.

We had originally had our minds set on ice cream at Tillamook.

But we weren’t willing to tackle the food court line.

We drove a couple of minutes down the road to Blue Heron French Cheese Compan instead.

Blue Heron was a completely different experience.  The small shop had samples of their brie, as well as a Tillamook Ice Cream counter, and a sunny garden with tables where we could sit and enjoy our treats.  

There were fewer ice cream flavors offered than at the Tillamook Creamery, but we skipped the line, and the whole experience felt more relaxed and pleasant.

They also have farm animals and vintage farm equipment on the property, which would make this an especially easy stop for families with younger children.

Back to Portland

It may sound like we packed a lot into the day, but our coastal stops were all relatively close together. 

We had also intentionally left ourselves enough time to head back to the house and relax before dinner.  

The drive back to Portland was just as beautiful as the drive the day before, although completely different.

Instead of wide open views of the Gorge, we passed through mountains, misty state parks, and forests with clear streams winding alongside the road.

Saturday Night | Kann

Tonight’s dinner was another high point of the trip.  

Kann (Photo by author)

We had reservations for Kann – a live fire Haitian restaurant.  The restaurant’s website describes its food as “Haitian cuisine meeting the bounty of the Pacific Northwest, with open-fire cooking at the heart of the experience”.  

Reservations are important here, so this was another meal we planned well in advance.

At this time, reservations release once a month on the 1st at 12:00 pm pacific time for the following calendar month.  Slots get taken very quickly so you may have to be flexible and plan around whatever time you can snag.  

We entered through another small and barely marked doorway, but this time the entryway led into a hallway that turned a corner and opened into a bright dining room accented with gold,  white, and live plants.  

The atmosphere here was lively with lots of talking and laughter. An open kitchen, bar, and large wood-burning hearth made the whole room feel energetic and exciting.  

The food here has a little more kick than some of our other meals, but the staff was incredibly helpful in guiding us toward dishes that matched our preferences. 

As usual, we ordered a variety of dishes for the table to share.  

This is one of my favorite parts of these trips: ordering things I wouldn’t necessarily choose for myself and getting to try a little bit of everything.  

For this meal, we enjoyed Akra (taro root fritters), Coffee Rubbed Carrots, Twice Cooked Pork, Ribeye, Steelhead, and Epis Brined Chicken.  

Kann (Photo by Jill Bivens – our travel party)

The flavors were vibrant and exciting, and the dishes were as colorful as they were delicious.  

And then Kann absolutely shined at dessert.  

We devoured both a Baked Haiti and a very unique S’mores dessert. 

Kann Baked Haiti Dessert (Photo by Jill Bivens)

Another after dinner walk was definitely in order after that meal.

If you were to ask me to pick a favorite dinner for this trip, it would be nearly impossible.  

They were all so different and delicious.  

But I have a feeling that Han Oak and Kann are going to hold steady as a couple of my favorites for a very long time.

What I Would Do Again

Looking back on our weekend in Portland, there are a few things I would absolutely repeat.

I’d rent the car.

There is so much opportunity to explore within a couple hours of Portland.  Having the car gave us the freedom to explore Hood River, and spontaneously make the drive to the coast.

I’d get an early start for Columbia River Gorge.

The early morning at Multnomah Falls was worth it.

I’d leave room for an unplanned day.

Our Oregon Coast adventure wasn’t part of our original plan.  It ended up being one of my favorite days of the trip.

I’d make reservations early for Kann and Scotch Lodge.

And I’d save something for the next trip.

Trying to fit everything into one weekend would have taken away from the very thing we came to do: slow down and enjoy ourselves.

Until Next Time, Oregon

Sunday brought a very early departure and a return home to our kids.

Portland treated us so kindly. 

We came for the food, but it was so much more than that.  A weekend with family and old friends, discovering a new city, lingering over coffee, and finding ourselves somewhere beautiful.

I hope to return one day to knock a few more coffee shops off the list, visit Willamette Valley, and explore more of Oregon’s coastal towns.

Until then, Oregon, thank you for a precious weekend.

Want to plan your own foodie getaway?

These weekend trips have become some of my favorite travel traditions, and I love helping other people create their own.  If you’re dreaming of a long weekend centered around great restaurants, good coffee, beautiful places, and a little room to amble and roam, send me a message.  I’d be happy to help you plan it.