Spring Date // Downtown Portland

City of Roses, Bridge City, Rip City, PDX. 

So many nicknames for this urban masterpiece called Portland!

I had an awesome time exploring downtown on a sunny day last April with my boyfriend.

It was his first trip visiting me as a couple (and his first visit to Portland!), so it was special (although I was pretty awkward and nervous part of it, haha!) 

 Portland's Waterfront

We walked alongside Waterfront Park, crossed the Willamette via Hawthorne Bridge, hung out on the docks of Eastbank Esplanade, then made our way back to Waterfront via the Steel Bridge. The total walk was somewhere between 2-3 miles and was perfect on this lovely sunny day. We made a full circle to Waterfront Park and rested on the grass before heading to dinner. 

our first "couple" photos. Awwww :)

Pearl District

A few days later, we explored another corner of downtown Portland, the swanky Pearl District. Brimming with local specialty shops, cafes, restaurants, and the urban Jamison Park and Tanner Springs Park, the Pearl has become an iconic pearl of downtown, pun certainly intended. 

 Tanner Springs Park

Jamison Park

Portland Saturday Market

 We explored another iconic Portland spot: the Saturday Market. We goofed around, smelled all the homemade soaps and lotions, and our bellies growled at the smell of all the delicacies around us. 

And then we enjoyed a little more time on the waterfront (so much busier on the weekend!)

Pittock Mansion

We ended our tour of downtown Portland by watching the sunset at Pittock Mansion, which boasts a gorgeous view of downtown and is just minutes away from my favorite downtown shopping area, 23rd Avenue. 

Laurelhurst Park

Quite possibly my favorite park in Portland, Laurelhurst boasts several miles of walking paths, a spring-fed pond, picnic areas, and plenty of trees to take shelter under and read a book or share a picnic. We only had a short time there and opted to take a short walk and then rest on a bench by the pond. It is a few minutes away from Belmont, a hip area full of great restaurants, so it is a great place to work off some calories before enjoying a good meal!

Day Trips Near Portland

We also took a few short trips out of Portland, which made for some dates filled with gorgeous northwest scenery for this Texan to enjoy!

Seaside & Ecola State Park

The Oregon coast is something beautiful to behold no matter the season. This spring beach trip was a bit windy, but we didn't mind since it was dry and sunny! We walked around Seaside, enjoyed sushi at Tora Sushi Lounge , through the frisbee on the beach (or atleast I tried to "through it". I blamed the wind for my bad aim, haha!), and relaxed on a bench overlooking the gorgeous view from Ecola State Park.  Less than 2 hour drive from Portland, it makes for a great escape from the busy city!

Angel's Rest

This beautiful hike is located about 45 minutes outside of Portland, on the western end of the Columbia River Gorge. It boasts an exposed bluff that gives a nearly 360 degree view including Beacon Rock, Silver Star Mountain, and the Columbia River. It is a 2.4 moderately easy trail and is worth the view. G and I made 3/4 up this time around because we wanted to relax and chat at a nice spot we found, so we let my brothers go ahead to the top. 

Spring in Portland is gorgeous! G and I loved exploring the city as well as escaping to the coast and the gorge, especially since the rain stayed away all week (which is quite a miracle in April!).