Destination Discovery Portland, Oregon: Where to Stay, Spa, Snack & More

Portland’s already established as a hip city—tourists and locals alike appreciate and flock to the many scenes that make up this eclectic travel spot: music (bar and pub hop to listen to some amazing performers); the beer and wine scene (tap into one of the 60 city breweries or several urban wineries, or head to nearby wine country); and its green outdoor scene (be a true Portlander and explore the ample parks and gardens—not to mention the city!—by bike or foot). Everywhere inspires a sense of content, sense of self, and sense of wellness, making Portland a great place to travel and play.

Where to Stay
Hotel Monaco Portland supports Portland’s stern commitment to healthful living. The downtown property supplies a yoga mat in every guest room; you can also opt to work out in the complimentary fitness center, take a yoga class, or rent a bike (complete with safety gear and maps) to take advantage of this cycling city (there are over 300 miles of bike lanes, pathways, and bike boulevards in Portland). Eco-friendly spa services take place in Dosha Salon Spa or in the comfort of your room—as well, free chair massage services take place on select evenings in the hotel’s Living Room area.

Also downtown, the beloved Heathman Hotel, awarded the AAA Four-Diamond Award for the past 30 years, resides next to the Portland Center for the Performing Arts and the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall; other cultural institutions—the Portland Art Museum and the Oregon Historical Society Museum—are a stone’s throw away, as is the trendy Pearl District, popular for its art galleries, boutiques, and eateries. The hotel is prepped to help you snooze peacefully with its “Art of Sleep” bed menu: choose from a TempurPedic, European pillow-top, or European feather-top bed.

Where to Spa
Housed in the River’s Edge Hotel & Spa, The Spa at River’s Edge totals 13,000 square feet and features ample treatments that use high-quality lines like Eminence and Spa Rituals. Browse the spa menu to discover services designated for seemingly every type of spa-goer (note these are only our suggestions taken from the spa’s list of treatments): There’s the Eminence Custom Facial for women; deep-tissue massage for men; Spa for Two package with complimentary champagne and 90-minute massage for couples; prenatal massage for moms-to-be; etc. Gracious accoutrements include separate women’s and men’s relaxation lounges with steam rooms, whirlpools, and saunas.

Where to Snack
At Clyde Common, dine on innovative dishes (pork cheek adobo, house-made trofie pasta, spring Chinook crudo) with locals and hotel guests at communal tables, sip handcrafted spirits and cocktails, converse, and watch your dishes being created from the open kitchen. The tavern-type restaurant is situated in the same building as Ace Hotel Portland, which also hosts a branch of the city’s own Stumptown Coffee chain.

And while it’s not in Portland, we’re going to suggest JORY Restaurant & Bar at The Allison. This Willamette Valley restaurant, a 45-minute drive away in Newberg, Oregon, takes the culinary experience seriously: Seasonal, garden-to-table fare celebrates the bounty of Oregon wine country (as do the wine pairings, of course). Book a spot at the chef’s table, or make a reservation for a Friday or Saturday night so you can listen to live jazz entertainment.

What to See
Wander Tom McCall Waterfront Park along the Willamette River—weekends are a good bet, as the park hosts the open-air Portland Saturday Market for local artisans, food vendors, and musicians. Or, get lost in urban Washington Park, where the Hoyt Arboretum, Oregon Zoo, Portland Japanese Garden, museums, and war memorials are scattered amidst 400-plus acres of canyons, trails, hills, and trees. Voracious readers will want to visit the famous Powell’s City of Books, an entire-block bookstore stocked with over one million books.

Where to Sweat
No doubt Forest Park is perfect for joggers, bikers, and hikers—70 miles of trails wind through the more than 5,100-acre parkland, which is also home to the 30-plus-mile Wildwood Trail.