Creating a literary tour in Portland, Oregon encompasses an eclectic range of opportunities. For book lovers, literary tours are all the rage. These destinations can include authors’ homes, places that a book was based on, exquisite libraries, bookstores and much, much more.
Portland has been an up-and-coming city for well over a century. Because of this, education and literature play a predominant role. As I walk you through this literary vacation, you’ll see how age-old entities are now reappearing as ideal destinations to give traveling bookworms their fix.
Securing Lodging for the Literary Tour
Kennedy School
If you’re like me, you’ve slept in school before. I wasn’t SUPPOSED to be sleeping in school but late nights and early mornings don’t mix too well. Propping up a book was all I need for a solid 30 minutes of zzzz’s.
Those hard desks weren’t the best option for a nap but a cozy room with a soft bed will work perfectly. The Kennedy School has taken a beautiful elementary school, built in 1915, and converted it into a boutique hotel. Each classroom is divided in two with a private bathroom added to each side. Chalkboards have been left on the walls to create an authentic ambiance. You can slumber and not have to worry about anyone seeing your head nodding off or a bell suddenly waking you up.
This school was very plush for its day. The indoor pool, which would have been used for gym class, is currently the hotel’s spa. The auditorium houses events and performances with wonderful acoustics.
Which Student Are You?
Although this Portland boutique hotel has been open for over two decades, it has added niche bars throughout the premises. Two bars that were closed during our visit include the Detention Bar and the Honors Bar. The bartender gave me a brief overview of each of them and I can’t wait to make a return visit when they are open.
For our visit, we were able to check out the granddaddy, and the newest of the bars: The Boiler Room. This room is not to be missed. It can be described as nothing less than a piece of architectural art. The designers took the pipes, gauges, vents, and various other boiler parts to create a phenomenal railing and exquisite décor. Unique, mismatched lighting pendants hang from the ceiling. You can meander around the room over and over and see something new each time.
Speaking of walking around, you can walk the halls without a hall pass and admire art, notes and memorabilia from when the school was functioning back in the early part of the century. I could go on and on about this place, so you’re going to have to visit it yourself to see why it wowed us to no end.
Kennedy School 5736 NE 33rd Ave. Portland, Oregon 97211
This Literary Tour Includes a World-Famous Bookstore
Powell’s City of Books
Visiting a bookstore isn’t something new, yet they are becoming fewer and farther between. There’s something totally different about perusing selves upon shelves of possible reads versus clicking online.
Powell’s offers the largest selection of new and used books not just in the entire United States but in the entire worlds. Floor upon floor is packed with every genre you can imagine. The new and used books are intertwined within the shelves so you only have to look for the topic of interest and go from there.
A fun, pleasant surprise is the assortment of book themed accessories they have on display. A perfect shopping opportunity for those book lovers on your gift list.
A coffee shop is inside the massive store. Note that its hours do differ from the store’s hours. There is also a rare book room on the top level and that room also operates on its own hours.
Powell’s City of Books 1005 W. Burnside St. Portland, Oregon
Pearl District
Powell’s is located in the famed Pearl District. This multi-block portion of the city is full of restaurants, art, murals, and shops to visit.
Pittock Mansion
As the editor of The Oregonian, Henry Pittock grew the newspaper’s distribution from a weekly periodical to a daily source of news. With that, his bank account grew. Achieving this level of wealth allowed him to build a phenomenal, state of the art family home.
To realize that this home was built in 1914 just blows my mind. There were so many advancements incorporated into the home’s creation. The architecture and designs are jaw dropping, and the details wow you in every room.
Literary Tour Googly Eye Section
The Pittock Mansion’s den/library is a dream for most any bookworm. Cozy and inviting are only a few of the adjectives that pop into my mind upon seeing the interior of the home. The rooms, along with the tie to the local newspaper, make this a necessary stop for your Portland literary tour.
Admission to the mansion includes the interior, the grounds and the groundkeeper’s home. It is self-guided but the signs around the home give ample information to give you a well-rounded understanding of the property. This home is part of the Blue Star Museum program, so admission is free with a valid military ID.
Pittock Mansion 3229 NW Pittock Dr. Portland, Oregon
Portland’s Literary Tour Includes Food
Pips Original Donuts and Chai
Are you a literary fan of Great Expectations? Yes or no, you’re going to love what Pips Original Donuts and Chai has to offer. Their made to order mini donuts are as tasty as they are adorable. Homemade chai is a perfect compliment to these savory bites.
If you happen to visit on your birthday, this generous café will present you with a dozen donuts of your choice. For first timers, I recommend two of each variety as they are all scrumptious and so unique.
These are the tiniest donuts I’ve had on my travels. Much different from the huge ones in San Francisco and Ohio’s Amish Country.
Pips Original Donuts and Chai 4759 NE Fremont St. Portland, Oregon
The Alphabet District is a No Brainer
Shouldn’t every literary tour include an alphabet district? I have no idea how it got its name, but it’s a fun destination. You will feel like you’ve been transported out of the city and planted in small town USA. This pedestrian friendly district is packed with coffee shops, cafes, boutiques stores, and restaurants.
Thai Bloom!
For a great restaurant choice, head to Thai Bloom! for authentic, delicious dishes. Our choices for the evening included mackerel wrapped in banana leaves and a classic dish of Pad Thai. Not one for anything super spicy, I was hesitant when the waitress said my mackerel would be served with a red pepper onion sauce. It was on the side, so I was game. Wow! It became a love-hate relationship. Lol Yes, it did have a bite to it, yet it was SO good.
Thai Bloom! 333 NW 23rd Ave. Portland, Oregon 97210
Smith Teamaker
A flight of tea at Smith Teamaker won’t fill you up, but the warm brews and a few macaroons will at least hold you over. The baristas are very knowledgeable about the tea varieties and can guide you through the ordering process. Each tea comes with a personal card depicting the flavors and the region from which the tea leaves originate.
Smith Teamaker (2 locations) 500 23rd St and/or 110 SE Washington St. Portland, Oregon 97210
Supporting Local Entrepreneurs
One thing you’ll see almost everywhere you go is the great variety of Oregon made merchandise. We first noticed this in the gift shop at the Pittock Mansion and then continued to see it as we made or way around the city. The Alphabet District takes this to a whole new level. One store in particular, Tender Loving Empire, offers a great selection of locally made items of all sorts.
Getting the Most Out of Your Portland Vacation
As with most theme trips, there’s always room for additional adventure. You can read my full Portland, Oregon article to learn more about Portland destinations such as the Rose Test Garden and nearby waterfalls. It also goes into detail about a coastal day trip from Portland to see the famous haystacks and puffins.
Until then, keep reading and keep exploring. There are whole worlds out there to be discovered by doing both.
