Festive Portland Holidays

Nothing says happy holidays like lights and decorations (and good food). This is true for anywhere you might go to spend the holidays, and certainly true for Portland holidays. Although I unfortunately have not yet been able to spend my holidays there, I would love to one year very soon. Oregon is one of my very favorite places in the world, and I am sure that when it comes to the holidays it will not be a let down.

If you're going to spend holidays in Portland, you might as well go out of the way a bit and make them the ultimate Portland holidays. Find the big displays of lights, the trees, the houses with a gazillion decorations. But also find the little out of the way spots for dinner, cozy but with a definite Portland holiday atmosphere. There is a little place like that where I live. It is in the middle of the hustle and bustle of the big city downtown, but it is out of the way, as in literally underground. It's one of the best places to go for a quiet cup of coffee or lunch (but don't go after eight o'clock if you want quiet; that's when the partying young adults hit it up). All that to say, I think Portland holidays would be most perfect if there was a blend of big city entertainment and cozy corner experience. For me that would certainly be true.

Also, it is nice to find a hotel that does its own spin off on Portland holidays, complete with their own festive decorations and music. Usually one finds bigger, fancier decorations in a bigger, fancier hotel, but if you are willing to look a little harder you might find a little bed and breakfast or other similar small establishment that might not be as big, but would still be better in its own way. That is, if you are like me and prefer the smaller atmosphere feel for the perfect Portland holidays.

One of the most fun things for me about visiting my grandparents over Christmas as a child was walking through their neighborhood and seeing all the lights. It can be difficult to do this in a new and unknown city without getting lost (and that is where a good GPS comes in handy), but if you can, it's worth it for great experiences of Portland holidays. Sometimes the downtown residential areas are great for this, especially if it's an area of downtown that really goes all out in decorating for the holidays. Other times it is an upper class neighborhood in which you will find the most Portland holiday spirit. Sometimes it is just the simple blue-collar average American neighborhoods that can bring back the most childhood memories and make it really special. It all depends on what you're after. I like the downtown area, the places with the oldest houses.

But don't forget the shops, places like the one in this picture. Especially old shops, the kind that are still operating downtown, but purely out of tourist interest. Those places can absolutely sparkle with magic and bring the Portland holidays alive for everyone.