Ever since I realized that nature was at the root of my healing, joy, and sense of adventure, Portland, Oregon made its way onto my bucket list.

Because when you learn that there’s a forest in the middle of the city—with over 80 miles of trails across 5,200 acres of land—you get your hiking boots ready. One minute you’re walking from a café in a cute neighborhood, and the next you’re in Forest Park surrounded by towering trees in the straight-up wilderness. Top that with Latina-run wellness spots, authentic Latino food, and a thermal spa hotel with apartment-style rooms, and it’s a miracle I came back to New Jersey.

*The Witch’s House along our trail in Forest Park.*

Our only regret is that we didn’t get to stay longer. So in addition to sharing what to do in Portland if you only have three days there, we’re also sharing our wish list of things we want to do when we go back in 2026.

This guide is for you if you love nature, are a foodie, or are in dire need of a spa day.

*This is our post-thermal springs look courtesy of Cascada.*

WHERE TO STAY

Cascada Hotel

Note: This is an apartment-style wellness hotel complete with a thermal spa and I loved the way these rooms are setup. It’s giving functional and still stylish studio apartment. I have stayed in Portland once before but it was private room rental.

What Cascada is like:

Location: super convenient as it’s in an eclectic neighborhood (Alberta Arts District) and a 10 minute Uber ride to Forest Park.
What the studio-like rooms are like: Half-kitchen, washer/dryer, full fridge, and spa-like shower with shampoo, conditioner and body wash that smells oh so good.
Perks: Three thermal pools and saunas to decompress from a flight and/or recover from a strenuous hike. And a pool that feels like its own experience with outdoor access. Stay the night before your hike and the day of, so you can decompress and recover with intention.
Other perks: work-friendly area and cafe with food in the lounge. Restaurants, bars, shops, etc. are all within walking distance.

Restaurant in the hotel too? Yes.:

Terra Mae is a Japanese + Portuguese fusion absolutely worth going to. Possibly after your hike to celebrate? Plus you won’t be far from your room since it’s on the second floor of the hotel. I would definitely have the Milk Bread Buns, Octopus Salad, Sunomono, Duck Duck Rice, and any of their aesthetically pleasing and deliciously strong cocktails.

WHERE TO EAT

Hot tip: If you do stay at Cascada, there’s a killer gastro-pub across the street called Radio Room with outdoor seating which closes “late”, according to their website, which is true because I definitely walked in after I landed around 10PM. Their tacos (3) hit the spot after a long flight.

Breakfast & Brunch

Tin Shed Garden Café

Location: Walking distance from Cascada, great for people watching, as they have an outdoor patio situation, perfect for a lovely day.
What I ordered and would get again: Veggie pesto omelette with bacon, cheese grits, and a strong coffee I could get and make myself as part of their setup. The portions were muy generous. Do not forget to try their buttery biscuits! This local staple is super chill and delish.
Note: Great place to stop before walking around town. Be prepared to wait for a bit for a table, it’s popular for a reason! Unless you’re like us (2) who were open to sitting facing out and got seated a little faster.

Grits & Gravy

Location: About a 10 minute car ride from the hotel, but a 5 minute walk from the famous Powell’s Books,
What I ordered and loved: Fried chicken, waffle, and cheese grits because locals rave about this Southern comfort spot. Portions are generous. Leftovers were even more delicious the next day!
Note: You might also have to wait for a bit but it’s well worth it. Make a reservation to guarantee yourself a spot!

Lunch & Casual Eats

Chicken and Guns (Peruvian Pollo a la Brasa)

Location: About a 15 minute car ride from Cascada at Cartopia Food Carts, plus there’s a beer garden there as well! Because of its outdoor picnic table seating I would say this is a solid daytime lunch spot.
What I ordered and would go back for: Perhaps it’s because I am Peruvian but I still think about their crispy potatoes aka guns. Put it this way, there’s no documentation of this meal because it was gone in minutes. When I go back, I want to try their Tacu Tacu.
Note: We didn’t explore any tourist attractions in this area. We literally only went to this area of Portland for the Peruvian chicken which is of course a legitimate trek if you’ve got a craving AND you’re from Peru.

Grand Fir Brewing

Location: About a 15 minute car ride from the hotel or from Forest Park, a perfect refuel for a post-hike brewery lunch. This brew pub is run by a superstar foodie couple with award-winning careers and it shines from snacks, to the salads to the mains.
What I ordered that I still think about: Their Fried Chicken Sandwich was finger-licking good, but I almost ordered the Grand Fir Burger. I ordered a light beer along with a mango flavored Jarritos.
Note: This spot could also be good for dinner! And, there were dishes that we tried that were on the specials from a burrata concoction to a tuna tartare situation I still daydream about. Well, worth it!

Dinner

Note: I already mentioned above to check out Terra Mae, which is in the Cascada Hotel, on the second floor. Dress to impress!

Casa Zoraya (Peruvian)

Location: About a 7-10 min car ride from the hotel.
What I ordered and would recommend: Delicious fish ceviche with a healthy kick and arroz chaufa with pork belly that hit the spot.
Note: We heard that they sometimes have live music, so call ahead if that’s what you want!

República (Mexican)

Location: About a 10–15 minute car ride from the Cascada Hotel. It’s high-end Mexican with a dressy vibe and was listed as one of The New York Times’ Top 25 Best Restaurants in Portland.
What I ordered and want again: Their menu is hyper-seasonal, so I can only speak to the Verano tasting menu I had in August 2025 — and even that can change daily. It’s a full Chef’s Tasting Menu experience: maíz ancestral with frijolitos and jalapeño, peach with tuna and serrano, a chile + chapulín bite, beef with chile sandía, huitlacoche with requesón, and a maíz ancestral dessert with raspberry and totomoxtle.
Note: This was the perfect spot for a final-night dinner, but what really resonated with me is their mission: to empower Women, LGBTQ+, and the BIPOC community by “helping co-launch and co-own their own establishments under our guidance, mentorship, and financial support.” Those are exactly the types of businesses Reclama is here to support.

WHAT TO DO

Forest Park

If you do only one thing in Portland, make it this. We got a guided tour with Around Portland Tours, shout out to our hiking guide Sarah Gilbert! This park is a must see. It’s not everyday we have access to one of the largest urban forests in the country! Plus, it has over 40 access points, so… options!

Perfect for: Going from urban baddie to forest fairy. There are easy, short trails as well as challenging hikes, it depends what you have the time and energy for. I suggest hiking to the Nature Center for a beginner hike and for panoramic views and a more challenging hike, hike up to Pittock Mansion.

The Japanese Garden

If you want to step into what feels like its own world for an afternoon, check this garden out. Think bridges, flowing water everywhere and landscaping inspiration for days. There’s even a Rose Garden that smells amazing.
Perfect for: Slow walkers, nature lovers, and people who like to take their time. Or even if you need a break from walking around the city and want to pack your lunch and have a picnic there. I saw a few families bring their picnic blanket and set up camp outside the Rose Garden.

Portland Spirit Cruises

A river sightseeing cruise around Portland that departs from Downtown Portland. You will see everything from iconic bridges to floating homes.

Perfect for: A chill way to see the city while also winding down for the night if you take the one around sunset. And, the captain sometimes likes to let others in on the experience, so be sure to say hello!

The Grotto

Even if you’re not religious, this nature sanctuary is well worth the trek. This church in the mountains is closer to the airport in case you want to make it a stop before heading home like we did.

Perfect for: a mini meditation and nature walk near Downtown perfect for families or older folks considering they have an elevator. Or if you want to see what a majestic outdoor altar looks like.

Orox

Outside of the restaurants in Portland, this just might be the best smelling store in town. Orox is a family-run leather shop with roots in Oaxaca, Mexico, now four generations in. When I visited, I spoke with one of the Martínez family members, who pointed out the black-and-white photos on the walls and shared how the company first began. You can see the family working right there in the showroom, making everything from belts to bags, to backpacks and even luggage tags. Or literally custom-made anything.

La Sirene Botanica

While walking around the Alberta Arts District, we bumped into this super magical, informative, and culturally affirming spiritual shop “that honors and celebrates Vodou and Afro-Caribbean traditions,” filled with candles, herbs, and other spiritual tools. This shop is ideal for anyone who loves botanicas.

WHAT’S STILL ON MY BUCKET LIST

Multnomah Falls
If I had one more day or could do the Forest Park hike a day earlier, then I would have rented a car and taken a drive to the Columbia River Gorge (about a 45 minute drive from the hotel). The iconic waterfall has been the talk of the town ever since it made its debut in the baseball scene in the Twilight series.

And, a big thank you to Latino World Travelers for making this trip possible, and to our new friends at Travel Portland who curated this experience with a Latinx lens. It matters — especially in a state where Latinos are the largest minority group, making up 14% of the population in 2020, with numbers still on the rise. Exploring Portland while seeing our culture reflected along the way was super powerful and I cannot wait to go back in 2026!