Weekend getaway from Seattle · #5 of 10
Portland, Oregon
Food carts, Powell's Books and rose gardens three hours south - the largest US city with no sales tax, easy by I-5 or the Amtrak Cascades.
Swap Seattle for a quick three-hour escape down I-5. Portland is all about massive bookstores, fragrant rose gardens, quirky neighborhoods, and settling that famous donut rivalry once and for all.
Getting there
Hit the road by 8 AM to bypass traffic in Tacoma and Portland. Pro tip: taking the I-405 exits will slide you right into downtown from the north.
Six daily round trips let you skip the traffic. Grab local wine and snacks from the bistro car, connect to the Wi-Fi, and leave the parking headache behind.
Day 1
Vibing in Downtown, Washington Park, and the Pearl- 18:00 AMDrive
Drive south to Portland
Cruise south on I-5 past Tacoma and Olympia. Before you know it, you'll cross the Columbia River into Oregon, with Portland's skyline greeting you.
Tip · Need a coffee kick? Centralia sits right around the halfway mark and makes a perfect pit stop.
- 211:00 AMSight
Powell's Books
Prepare to get wonderfully lost. This Pearl District landmark is a massive, city-block-sized labyrinth packed with every new and used book you can imagine.
📍 Powell's City of Books, Portland
Tip · Snag a map at the entrance and focus on just one color-coded room - otherwise, you might never find your way out!
- 312:30 PMFood
Food cart pod lunch
Dive into Portland's iconic food cart scene at Midtown Beer Garden. It is a legendary hub with 300 seats, a dedicated bar cart, and an eclectic mix of delicious global eats.
📍 Midtown Beer Garden, Portland
Tip · Perfect for groups - everyone can grab food from a different cart and meet back at the tables.
- 42:00 PMSight
International Rose Test Garden
Stroll through the oldest public rose test garden in the country. Tucked into Washington Park, it features over 10,000 gorgeous rose plants terraced high above the city.
📍 International Rose Test Garden, Portland
Tip · Parking runs $2.40 an hour, but you can also hop on the MAX light rail - it drops you right in Washington Park.
- 53:30 PMSight
Portland Japanese Garden
Just steps away, this serene 9-acre sanctuary is widely considered the most authentic and breathtaking traditional Japanese garden in North America.
📍 Portland Japanese Garden
- 66:00 PMActivity
Pearl District evening
Meander past the chic galleries and boutiques surrounding Jamison Square, then treat yourself to dinner at one of the Pearl's highly acclaimed eateries.
📍 Pearl District, Portland
Tip · First Thursday of the month means Pearl galleries stay open late with wine and cheese.
- 7Stay
Overnight in downtown Portland
Crash downtown or in the Pearl. Staying here keeps you just minutes from tomorrow's east-side neighborhood adventures and morning donut runs.
Day 2
Donut Showdowns and Eastside Explorations- 89:00 AMFood
The donut rivalry: Voodoo vs Blue Star
Pick your fighter: Voodoo's crazy bacon-maple and cereal-topped bars on SW 3rd Ave, or Blue Star Donuts, the chef-driven brioche spot locals swear by for quality.
📍 Voodoo Doughnut, Portland
Tip · The downtown Voodoo line gets massive. Sneak over to their NE Davis St spot instead - it's usually way quicker.
- 910:30 AMSight
Tom McCall Waterfront Park and Saturday Market
Stroll the Willamette riverfront downtown. On weekends, the Saturday Market packs the waterfront with local makers and food stalls.
📍 Tom McCall Waterfront Park, Portland
- 1012:30 PMFood
Lunch at WonderLove pod
Head across the river to the Central Eastside and graze at WonderLove, an only-in-Portland food cart pod known for its creative vendors.
📍 WonderLove food carts, Portland
- 112:00 PMActivity
Hawthorne Boulevard
Browse Hawthorne's vintage gems like the House of Vintage and check out the ornate Bagdad Theater, the true heart of the bohemian east side.
📍 Hawthorne Boulevard, Portland
Tip · Belmont Street is nearby and offers a similar, much quieter mix of shops.
- 123:45 PMActivity
Alberta Arts District
Finish on NE Alberta Street, an artsy strip of murals, galleries, and cafes that hosts the lively Last Thursday art walk each month.
📍 Alberta Street, Portland
- 135:30 PMDrive
Drive back to Seattle
Head north on I-5 to get home in about three hours. Sunday evening traffic is usually lightest if you wait until after dinner.
Where to eat
Pods like WonderLove and Midtown Beer Garden let you graze on several of Portland's famous food carts all at once.
The ultimate local showdown: Voodoo's wild bacon-maple novelties versus Blue Star's chef-driven brioche donuts.
Grab a pint and pub fare inside beautifully restored historic landmarks like the Bagdad Theater and Kennedy School.
The Northwest's go-to fast-food chain, famous for seasonal Oregon treats like sweet potato fries and fresh berry shakes.
When to go
Early June brings the Rose Festival's parades and waterfront carnival, just as the rose gardens reach peak bloom.
The driest, sunniest stretch of the year, perfect for exploring Washington Park and lounging on food cart patios.
Expect a steady drizzle, which is the perfect excuse to spend a cozy, long afternoon lost inside Powell's.
Good to know
- Oregon has absolutely no sales tax, so save all your shopping for this side of the river.
- With the MAX light rail and streetcars, you don't even need a car downtown. Think about taking Amtrak to skip the drive!
- If your trip lines up, the First Thursday walks in the Pearl and Last Thursday on Alberta are free, festive monthly art walks.
