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Article is open in Vancouver with a gorgeous new store you didn’t know you were craving
Next time you're planning a girls' weekend getaway, consider Portland
A weekend away that includes wine tasting, fabulous food, and tax-free shopping? Sounds like a plan tailor-made for the ladies. Portland, Oregon, or PDX as the local Portlandians call it, offers up the ideal getaway. Here’s what to check out in the City of Roses. See? Even that’s girlie…..
For a smack-in-the-city location, nothing beats the Hotel Vintage Plaza, an Oregon wine-themed hotel that hosts a wine hour each day for guests from 5-6 p.m. The new Vintage Plaza Urban Winery Tour package is cool, and includes a deluxe guest room, a welcome amenity of local wine, local cheese and artisan bread, and 2 PDX Urban Winery Passports that provide you free tastings at each of the wineries. And… so smart? Wine wipes to keep your pearly whites from showing your love of red wine. Stains? Not so pretty.
Dinner at Red Star Tavern during happy hour may just be the best deal in town. Delicious sharesie plates of tapas plus wine and swishy cocktails at supersweet prices. Try the caldo verde, the bacon-wrapped jalapeno poppers and the iceberg wedge.
Next morning, breakfast at Pazzo back at the hotel will easily keep you full until dinner. The Italian-inspired menu offers plenty of options, but have the eggs florentine with capicola on a pepper ciabatta. You’ll thank me later. Later on (and pre-dinner), check out Cyril’s at Clay Pigeon Winery for an Oregon wine-tasting and some of the most delicious cheese that will ever pass your lips. (PS – their own Pinot Noir is excellent.)
A visit to Portland wouldn’t be complete without a stop at a hipster hangout. Comfort food, beards and plaid shirts are aplenty in the Jupiter Hotels’ Doug Fir Lounge. Have the mac ‘n cheese or the Pendleton sandwich.
Trio Club is new for karaoke fans. It’s a huge space with bars and multiple sound-proof singing rooms. With a sleek, modern light show, Trio Club is ideal for getting your RiRi on.
Brunch at Xico the next day is a must-stop. Portland’s only Oaxacan inspired restaurant serves up super fresh, healthy dishes. The owners and staff are truly passionate about the real deal when it comes to Mexican cuisine. Try the watermelon salad and the chilaquiles.
Lastly, you do have a substantial road trip ahead of you back to B.C., correct? A pink box of crazy good treats from Voodoo Donut will sustain you right through the Canadian border. And yes, they are that good.
