5th Anniversary in Portland

For our 5th wedding anniversary (I can't believe how fast five years went), we took a trip to Portland, Oregon.

We took an early train from Seattle and four hours later we were in Portland. Our airbnb stay was only 2 miles from the train station, so we decided to walk there. On the way we stopped by See See motorcycles and coffee, a place I had been wanting to visit for a while. It was an awesome coffee shop, and had some great motorcycle nostalgia up on the walls.


























After getting settled into our place we walked back downtown to enjoy the small amount of daylight left before getting dinner. First we visited Mills End Park, which is the smallest park in the world, and the only leprechaun colony west of Ireland.




After that, we went to see the Portlandia Staute, before starting happy hour at Ground Kontrol Classic Arcade.



























After some intense racing in Mario Kart, we headed to Kelly's Olympian for dinner. Founded in 1902, the bar features a number of classic motorcycles hanging from the ceiling, and some great happy hour prices.


The next morning we headed to the Screen Door for an amazing fried chicken and waffles breakfast.

After that we visited some thrift stores, a haunted cemetery, and the Icon offices.







After that we went to The Freakybuttrue Peculiarium and Museum. Home to all kinds of information and trinkets related to the supernatural, cryptids, magic, paranormal, etc.




This vampire hunting kit was won in a volleyball tournament.













Spontaneous Human Combustion can happen to anyone, at any time.





















After a great time at the Peculiarium, we headed around the corner to Lompoc tavern to sample their seasonal beers.

After that we got some dinner at Old Town Pizza before taking a haunted tour. The tour started in the basement of the old Merchant Hotel (Old Town Pizza is in the former lobby). We were the only people that showed up for the tour, so we had a private guide. Once we had our flashlights and EMF meters we explored the basement.




In the late 1800s people that were too drunk at the hotel/bar would be tricked or taken into the basement where they were thrown in a pit and given opium to keep them docile. When ships would come to town they would be sold into slavery and smuggled onto the ships through a series of underground tunnels. Needless to say, there are numerous reports of hauntings throughout the city.



After the basement, we were led on a walking tour of downtown Portland, using our EMF meters to search for electrical spikes.

Seconds earlier this thing was dark.



This sums up Portland pretty well.

This used to be the door to a brothel. Designed this way for sailors to recognize it.
At the end of the tour our guide took us to another Portland staple, Voodoo doughnuts. Johanna had the "Homer Simpson" while I tried one with cereal pieces frosted on top. It was overwhelmingly sugary, but still fun.















We spent the rest of our time in Portland checking out some local bars and catching up with old friends. We had a great time there, and can't wait to go back.