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Everything You Need to Know about Moving to Portland

January 31, 2018

As a Portland local for almost 2 decades, I know my home city has a lot to offer. And while I feel like this post could be five million words long because there is so much I could share about advice on moving to Portland, I’ll try to keep it short and sweet with only basic necessary information. So if you’re considering moving to the Rose City, then here are my best tips and everything you need to now about moving to Portland.

We have a really strict Urban Growth boundary in the city center of Portland.

One of the reasons for our housing shortage is due to our really strict urban growth boundary here in Portland’s city center. Though, this actually is a really good thing and one of the reasons Portland hasn’t ended up being a massive sprawl like LA, because we’re only allowed to build out so far from the city center. It makes it more livable and a prettier city in the long term.

The city is broken up by the Willamette River and then cross roads divide sections of the city in quadrants.

The Willamette River splits the city into what we call the West Side and the East Side. The East side is lower buildings and a lot more residential neighborhoods while the West side is the City Center and Downtown. Within the Downtown/City Center section of the West Side, major roads basically split the neighborhoods into fours: North of Burnside and East of the 405 freeway is the Pearl District and Old Town, North of Burnside and West of the 405 freeway is NW and Nob Hill, South of Burnside and East of the 405 freeway is Downtown and South of Burnside and West of the 405 freeway is SW and Goose Hollow. Each neighborhood has a very distinct feel and just crossing these roads you’ll know immediately you’re in a new neighborhood.

We have an incredible food scene here.

We take our food seriously here in Portland. Not only do we have an amazing food scene and incredible local restaurants, we also go above and beyond for farm to table and organic foods here in the North West, so be prepared for healthy eating. There are an endless amount of local restaurants in Portland serving every type of food you can imagine and the choices are endless!

Everyone is moving here… no but seriously.

Thousands of people have moved to Portland over the last handful of years and you can definitely feel it. After living here for almost 2 decades, I can honestly tell you, Portland is way more crowded than ever before. It’s a really livable city and while expensive for our size, still way cheaper to live than say San Francisco or Seattle. And truthfully, I can’t blame people for wanting to move here, it is my beloved home city after all!

It doesn’t rain as much as everything thinks, but the Winters are cold and gray.

One of the things everyone thinks they know about Portland is that it rains all the time here. And while yes, we do get a lot of rain and as I write this it’s pouring buckets outside, it isn’t as rainy as you may think. However, we do have pretty long long, cold and gray Winters so if that isn’t your thing, I’m not sure Portland is the place for you!

The media attention is overhyped.

During the Pandemic and after, Portland got a bad wrap on a lot of things in the media. I’ll tell you as a local, it was totally overhyped and the city is just that, a city. We have our issues like every other city has, but in the scope of what the news wanted you to think about Portland, it’s not nearly the same experience as they are making it out to be.

Headed to my home town of Portland?

See all my posts on Portland here!

A True Vacation on Oahu : What to Do and Where to Eat

January 26, 2018

It’s not often that I actually go to Hawaii to have a vacation, but this past Christmas, that’s exactly what we did. Considering that most of my trips there are for work and even when I lived in Honolulu, I was a local and not on vacation day in and day out. So when we spent 8 days there for Christmas, we truly experienced Hawaii like a tourist this time around, well sort of, considering we stayed with my parents who live there and did a little bit of work. But all in all, it’s safe to say we tried a lot of places and things to do that had been on my “tourist Hawaii” list for a while. So if you’re headed to vacation on Oahu, here’s some of my favorite things to do and my favorite places to eat!

What to Do

There is no shortage of things to do on Oahu and while there are so many things I could list, these are some of my recent faves!

Hike to Makapu’u Lighthouse – I’ve driven to the pull out at the Makapu’u lighthouse at the East end of Oahu many times, but I’ve never actually done the hike back around to the actual lighthouse and seen the views from here. On this past trip, we took a morning to do it and it was so great. We spotted a ton of whales and took in the gorgeous coastal views on this hike. It’s a pretty quick and fairly easy hike as it’s paved the whole way so pretty much anyone can do it and it’s so worth it!

Walk Magic Island – My mom’s local spot for her morning walk is at Ala Moana Beach Park or locally known as Magic Island. Nick and I walked it with her a few times while there and it’s such a great spot to take in the oceanside scenery and get a great workout in.

Go Ziplining at Kualoa Ranch – We ziplined the for the first time while in Hawaii and it was seriously so fun! I was super nervous about it beforehand, but truthfully, I’d do it again in a heartbeat. We chose to do it at Kualoa Ranch on the Windward Side of Oahu and had the best experience there.

Sunset at Waikiki – There is nothing quite as essential during a trip to Oahu as a sunset at Waikiki. No matter how crowded the area gets, as the sun sets, it seems to all get still and quiet as everyone is watching the incredible sight.

Shopping at Ala Moana – Honolulu has some world class shopping and no matter what you’re looking for, Ala Moana probably has it. I always make a quick pit stop at Zara while in the Islands but whatever your budget, you’ll find something at Ala Moana.

Where to Eat

Honolulu has some incredible food choices and while the list goes on and on, these are some of my favorites all price ranges.

DK Steakhouse – We ate at DK’s for the first time this most recent trip and it was a great spot in Waikiki for a steak. Just be sure to make a reservation.

Hy’s – This is an old time steak restaurant in Honolulu and in my opinion, still one of the best. I had the best filet mignon of my life there this past trip and it’s always a treat to go here. There is a dress code though and you’ll want to make a reservation so be sure to confirm both before hand.

Sidestreet Inn – One of the things Nick really wanted on this most recent trip was some great local island food. Think Mac salad and teriyaki chicken and yakisoba. And while there are a lot of places to get more of a plate lunch style of local food, Sidestreet Inn is one of my favorites for local food served family style.

Zippy’s – There isn’t anything else quite as local as Zippy’s. Whether for breakfast, lunch or dinner, Zippy’s is a local favorite and you won’t see many tourists here. There are a ton of locations around the island they are open all day long and while it’s not the most amazing food you’ll ever have, it’s a local staple. As a local recommendation, try the grilled cornbread here!

Asia Manoa – Again, this is a local spot up in Manoa that you won’t find tourists in but it’s amazing Chinese food. Their cake noodles and steamed sea bass are some of my favorite dishes.

Agu Ramen – For great authentic Japanese ramen, Agu Ramen is the perfect choice. With a few locations around Oahu, they are a great spot for your ramen fix.

Magnolia Ice Cream – If you’re in Waikiki and looking for a bowl of shave ice, this place in the new International Marketplace has an incredible shave ice offering. My favorite is a scoop of vanilla ice cream below your favorite shave ice flavor!

Headed to Hawaii?

Check out our Oahu Travel Guide in the Land of Marvels Shop for only $5!

4 Types of Trips Worth Taking

January 17, 2018

Travel is about so many different emotions and I find that with each different trip I take, I come away learning something very specific. Everyone experiences different destinations differently, however there are generally “types” of trips that all seem to have their own distinct experiences and you’ll walk away from each with a very different perspective on ourselves and our world. And while some people might prefer a beach vacation and others might prefer a city break in a high end hotel with amazing food, still others might prefer a mountain adventure trip or a yoga break in India. All of these types of trips each have a specific purpose for us as travelers and I personally believe that all should be experienced at different points in our lives. So give yourself this goal – the following are 4 types of trips worth taking at some point in your life – take away whatever you can from each because you’ll leave each one with a new awakening, I promise!

Adventure

When I started traveling regularly, I wasn’t really the “adventure-type” of traveler. I much preferred a city break in a great hotel and modern conveniences. I’d say all that changed on our first trip to Iceland five years ago. I was never much of an “outdoors-y” type of person, but my time over the years in Iceland has completely changed the way I look at our planet. And I’m still not a “camping out in the woods” type of person but put me in a beautiful landscape like Iceland and I come alive, even out in the middle of no where. You might need to find the right place to really experience an adventure trip but when you find the right fit – it will change you. I’ve done things in Iceland I never thought I would and it’s pushed me outside of my comfort zone in ways I never could have imagined. Since that initial trip to Iceland, we’ve been to all sorts of destinations that I would deem adventurous: Cambodia and Peru to name just a few. Sometimes you just have to pull out that inner tomb-raider persona and go with it!

Ideas for an Adventure Destination:

Explore the wind landscapes of Iceland
Wander the ancient ruins of Machu Picchu in Peru
Go zip lining across the mountains on Oahu
Trek through ancient temples in Cambodia
Drive the craziest roads in the world in New Zealand
Experience the craziness of the souks in Marrakech

Relaxation

Sometimes life is so chaotic you just have to rest on a true vacation. This type of trip might mean a beach for some, for me, it’s a nice hotel in a place with good food and relaxing experiences. I don’t do these types of trips often, but when I do, I’m reminded of how amazing they are. We all need a break in this fast paced world and relaxing trips are the ones that you come home from totally refreshed and ready to take on the world ahead!

Ideas for a Relaxing Destination:

Spend a week taking in the slow paced life in Hawaii
Enjoy a few days at the gorgeous and luxurious Udaivilas in Udaipur, India
Relax in a private villa on the beaches of Bali at the Oberoi Hotel in Seminyak
Take in a long weekend in Paris with no agenda or itinerary

Romantic escape

There are also times in life when you just really need a romantic escape with your partner. A few years ago Nick and I were having an incredibly crazy busy Summer and between a big promotion for Nick and a massive workload for myself, we were burnt out by August and felt like we’d barely spent any time together for months. So on a whim, I booked a long weekend in Amsterdam for us over Labor Day and to this day, it was still such an amazing few days together, without looking at our phones or worrying about what was going on at home – it was just us exploring a city we love together. When I say romantic escape, the sentiment is always that it has to be a luxurious hotel or a really romantic places with romantic dinners and such. Personally, I much prefer the places that just allow us to spend more time together and for me that’s romantic in and of itself. Romantic escapes don’t have to be this big blown out thing – oftentimes, a great romantic trip can be found in the smallest details.

Ideas for a Romantic Escape

A weekend in Amsterdam wandering around and eating amazing food
Spend a week in Paris, among the most romantic cityscape in the world
Explore India, including a sunrise visit to the Taj Mahal, one of the most romantic buildings in the world
A few days driving through the Vermont countryside in October as the colors create an otherworldly magical view
Driving through the beautiful vineyards of Napa

Personal Exploration

The final trip that I wholeheartedly believe is worth taking is the trip to really explore within yourself. I personally don’t love traveling solo and would much prefer that Nick be with me, but at the same time, while my solo trips have been some of my hardest, they have also led me to really explore within myself. It was on my many solo trips to Seoul that I did some of my deepest soul searching and on my solo trip to Paris and London years ago when I fully realized the direction I really wanted to head in my life. Solo trips and personal exploration is a worthy and sometimes much needed opportunity to do that deep soul searching that you can’t always do in your daily life and to offer you some much needed guidance about where you’re headed and where you want to go.

Ideas for Personal Exploration:

Exploring the incredible beauty of the Great Ocean Road and Melbourne, Australia
A few days in the incredible city of London
Take in the beauty and vitality of Vienna
Experience the calm, beauty, and kindness of locals in Bali

Reykjavik Favorites

January 15, 2018

Over the years of visiting Iceland, the capital city of Reykjavik has really grown on me. And while it’s definitely not a “big city” in terms of Paris or London, it feels huge compared to the other towns and cities around the country. It’s in Reykjavik where you’ll find the shopping and restaurants while you travel through Iceland, as well as a plethora of hotels and activities to partake in. Over the years we usually stop through Reykjavik for at least 1 night of our time in Iceland and we’ve come up with a list of Reykjavik favorites for the city. Next time you visit Iceland, don’t miss some of these quirky and fun spots to enjoy!

Food

Krost at Hlemmur Mathöll Food Hall – This has become one of our favorite spots for dinner while in Reykjavik. Sit at the bar top and watch the food being prepared while you sip on a great glass of wine.
Braou and Co. – This has become our go-to bakery in Iceland. Go for their cinnamon rolls (which are amazing) but try everything else too. They have an amazing assortment of vegan pastries which are delicious for me being dairy free and their rye bread is my favorite to bring home.
Reykjavík Roasters – This is THE Instagram spot in Reykjavik and everybody who’s anybody has visited this chic hipster coffee spot.
Laundromat Cafe – This is another favorite for any meal of the day and offers a variety of items on their menu and a great location.
Eldsmiðjan – On our last trip to Reykjavik we were craving some good pizza so we headed out in search of a great option – much to our luck we found this spot near Hallgrimskirkja Cathedral and it was delicious!
Ítalía Veitingahús – This is an incredible Italian spot right in the center of Reykjavik that has become a new fave.
The Coocoo’s Nest – This amazing spot down by the harbor in Reykjavik is the perfect brunch spot.

To Do

Hallgrimskirkja Cathedral – This is a famous building on the Reykjavik skyline and well worth checking out when in the area.
Shopping – Downtown Reykjavik is filled with quirky little shops and you’ll find everything and anything you need.
Grótta Island Lighthouse – This cool spot at the tip of Reykjavik is great during the day to see some of the area around the city and great at night to try and spot the Northern Lights.
The Pond – In the downtown area of Reykjavik you’ll find what is generally called “the pond,” a body of water that freezes over in the Winter and is lovely in the Summer. Wander by and take it all in!
Kringlan Mall – If you need to do a bit of commercial shopping on your trip or need to stop in at H&M or Topshop, head to Kringlan Mall on the outskirts of downtown for whatever you may need.

To stay

We have stayed in a lot of the hotels in Revykjavik – to see our reviews of all the spots we’ve stayed, take a look here.
And if you’re looking for an AirBnB, I have just the one!

Tips for Reykjavik

Use spare change for parking meters – Wherever you park downtown you’ll need to pay for parking at the meters!
Watch out for pedestrians – There are people everywhere these days in Reykjavik so when driving be sure to yield to pedestrians.
Explore the city but don’t spend all your time here – The beauty of Iceland really is out in the countryside so while Reykjavik is lovely, to really get a sense of Iceland, be sure to explore out of the city as well.

Headed to Iceland?

See more of our content on Iceland here!

The Do’s and Don’ts of Traveling in Iceland

January 5, 2018

Iceland is a magical place and after our fourth trip there this past year, I feel like I finally have the hang of travel in this incredible country. And while we’ve learned a lot over our four trips to the island of fire and ice, there are some things that I constantly tell people that ask me before going. So I compiled my list of the must do’s and don’ts before you head to the mythical and incredible Iceland!

Do…

Stop to play with horses.

Perhaps my favorite travel experience in Iceland are the incredibly friendly and beautiful Icelandic horses that will come up to you on the side of the road and let you pet them. I love horses and this is always one of my very favorite things to do in Iceland and something not to miss!

Get off the beaten path.

Iceland’s beauty is definitely off the beaten path and while the tourist spots are beautiful too, I’ve always found that our favorites have been the spots that you just stumble upon when no one else is around and you have the views all to yourself. Be sure to get off the beaten path during your visit for the best of Iceland.

Embrace the wildness of the landscape.

Iceland’s raw and desolate landscape is simply stunning and the best description I can muster is that it feels like you truly are on a different planet than Earth. But to really enjoy it, leave your expectations on the plane and really embrace the wildness of the island, the desolate emptiness – that’s when you really enjoy the beauty that awaits you.

Make a plan of where you’re headed, but be flexible.

Always have a plan of where you’re headed in Iceland as you can drive great distances to get to different places and you want to give yourself time, but with that said, always be flexible because things can change in an instant. Crazy freak snowstorm in May? 1 lane gravel road where you have to go way slower than anticipated and looked like a highway on your map? Endless stops for photos that take way more time than you thought? We’ve encountered them all – so be flexible but also be prepared with a plan.

Drive yourself.

On our first trip we hired a private guide to drive us around, but on all our subsequent trips we’ve rented a car and driven ourself. I’d highly recommend the second option – you’ll have so much more flexibility in what you see and where you go. It really is the best if you can drive yourself.

Don’t…

Stay just in Reykjavik.

A lot of tourist just stay in Reykjavik and do a day tour of the Golden Circle which includes the main attractions close to the city. My first advice to anyone going to Iceland is to not JUST do this! The true beauty of Iceland lies far from Reykjavik and the Golden Circle and you’ll want to give yourself time to really see the island and what makes it so stunning.

Underestimate the weather.

I can’t tell you how many times we’ve heard stories of people going to Iceland and saying “Oh I’m great with that type of weather, I grew up in snow.” And then when they get back, they say, “Wow, that weather is no joke.” Icelandic weather is famously unpredictable and can be really intense. Even if you’re used to cold and snow, both in Iceland bring an entirely new perspective on Winter weather. This past November we experienced snow storms that come out of nowhere and close major roads as well as 75 mph winds that quite literally blew us off our feet. And it’s not just the Winter in Iceland that can bring crazy weather, our trips in the Summer have brought insane conditions as well. So don’t underestimate the weather and pack and act accordingly.

Expect world class food.

While I adore Iceland and have been several times and plan to return several more in the future, the food there isn’t super great. And while it’s totally fine and you’ll be able to eat well, don’t expect world class food that’s going to blow you away.

Forget to take in the surrounds.

Iceland is one of those destinations that you really must stop and just take in the beauty around you. It’s an almost spiritual experience and some of my most amazing travel memories have come out of standing in the middle of Iceland without another soul for miles, just taking it all in. Don’t forget to really take in the moment and where you are, because there is literally no other place like Iceland.

Headed to Iceland?

See all of our Iceland content here.

Where to Stay in Iceland