I did very little on my last day in Oregon. I hadn’t yet been to Voodoo Doughnut, and although I know they aren’t the best donuts in the city, I still wanted to visit the iconic pink-trimmed building in Old Town for a breakfast treat. I walked over from my hotel and with no early morning line yet, I was able to walk right up to the takeout window and get my donuts (a buttermilk bar and a “Viscous Hibiscus”).
Now, where to enjoy them? I had thought of sitting in Pioneer Square until a better idea took shape in my mind… I would have a picnic breakfast on “my” bench in the Secret Garden in Washington Park. I grabbed a soda and some napkins from my room and made a little picnic bag for myself to take along. It’s another hot day in Portland, but the cool morning air had a slight breeze and I sat on my bench for a long time enjoying my donuts and the outdoors. I only saw two other people in my whole time there.
Of course, I needed to stop in the rose garden for a while to take some pictures too. A lot of the roses are definitely past their peak, but there was still plenty of color to be had.
I went back to my room for a while afterwards. After 14 days in the same hotel room, it was time for my least favorite vacation activity: repacking my suitcase. My suitcase always ends up a disaster by the end of a vacation, but this time was particularly bad. I don’t know why I even bother with packing cubes because they do nothing to keep me organized. I also caught up on last night’s episode of Big Brother (my summertime guilty pleasure). I made it out for a short walk this afternoon, but mostly just hung out in my hotel room. I know that sounds boring, but at this point, all I want to do is go home!
I had another picnic for dinner tonight. I stopped at Ranch PDX, a small chain making Detroit style pan pizza and serving it with a side of Ranch dressing. (Full disclosure: I ordered DoorDash from there while I was stuck in my hotel room, so I knew it would be good.) I brought my pizza and soda to the International Rose Test Garden and enjoyed it in the company of the beautiful roses.
Traveling with Laura 