Tourists in Portland............

What to do in Portland?? We had a few places on our agenda for a day in Portland, but we wanted to go on a Saturday so we could go to the Saturday Market. Well, guess what? They have the Saturday Market on Sundays too!! So we went last Sunday! For more information, click here.

The Saturday Market has over 400 vendors, most of whom are artists or professional crafters. It is the largest continuously operated outdoor arts and crafts market in the U.S. We saw everything from glass designs, pottery, children's clothes, jewelry, and more. The food vendors were also pretty good....good choices for a fairly healthy lunch! In one area, the music played on...and was a fun spot for a break for lunch. I thought Tom would be bored silly, but he actually liked it and he even picked out a wind ornament for our front lawn (either in campgrounds, or when we actually get a stick and brick home). He helped me pick out the cutest sun hat for the soon-to-be-born grandson of ours too! We really had a fun time at the market, and spent quite a bit longer time there than I thought we would! All good!!

new to us...hand washing stations next to the port-o-johns

I'm gonna lose you aren't I?

lots of cool stuff...handmade

look what we spotted!

enjoying the music

lots of cool handcrafts

healthy lunch....with music!

lots of fresh veggies in this wrap too!

keeping us entertained

oh...another street of vendors!

the best "Booth display"....in my opinion

pretty

we thought there would be veggies here too...but just pretty flowers

oh look....a whole 'nother area of crafters!

wait...some of these are not handmade...never mind

these are just too cool to pass up

isn't this "booth" adorable?

very clever

my favorite booth

comfy skirts-good for post-partum- just sayin' Jess!

I like to wander around a city to see what we can see, but I also like to have a plan as a framework for our exploration. After consulting tripadvisor and other websites, and our "Travel Portland" magazine for iconic Portland attractions, we decided to check out the bookstore. We both love bookstores, so what better place to explore than Powell's Books-a city block long book store with new and used books. The place was huge! It claims to be the largest independent new and used bookstore in the world. We spent quite a bit of time there, and I now have a few more knitting books. I know....but the price was right and all my other books are in storage and I miss them. Haha. For more information, click here.

stay in control of your credit card!

oh boy...so many good books!

We took a nice walk back to the parking garage near the Saturday Market. Portland is a bustling city, even on a Sunday. Lots of people out and about. And where was everyone going????? Voodoo Donuts! That was also on the list of iconic "must experience" Portland attractions, plus we had the thumbs up from Judy and Linda, who went there a couple of weeks ago. For more information, click here.

mass transit

Chinatown....and a tent city on the right hand corner hidden behind the fence...lots of homeless

clever

Seriously, we followed several people for blocks - right there! The line wasn't too long, maybe 20 minutes or so, but it was pretty hot, especially in the sun. Hmmm.....we were wondering if it was worth it........wondering what all the hype was about. Food network fame? Glad we waited....hahah....it was delicious. Hey.....when in Portland, right? One young couple we shared a table with bought 6 donuts so they could try a few different ones. They even offered to share some with us too, which we just couldn't. Just way too much of a good thing. 

no sense being a tourist and NOT coming here

hope it lives up to the hype

we were lucky the line was so short

gotta love Portland!

what would we do without cell phones attached to our hands!!

almost there...what should we get?

just pick one!

not easy to chose

what...no one is working? (J/K...not sure why this opened up, but the customers and staff disappeared at once right in front of us so we had this big view)

apple fritter-pretty healthy right? It has apples!

not so healthy...oreo crunch....you would love this one Dad! Oreo!!

cool little deck in the city

We had a great afternoon as tourists in Portland, a funky city that has something for everyone. Foodies and beer drinkers heaven. So many craft breweries. And coffee shops galore. Art...Crafts....Galleries.....Museums...Parks. Lots to see and do, even on a Sunday. We had a hot day, so we were happy to get back "home" and just watch the ships go by and chill out with the constant breeze from the river. Its really amazing the size of these ships just slipping by, silently. Unless we look up, we aren't even aware they are going by.

sneaking by

ships are from all over the world