Most people love the idea of traveling more than travel itself. I have always loved traveling, but it was always with people. As I am growing older (it’s time I accept it!), people around me are becoming busier day by day.

Recently, there have been times when I wanted to go somewhere but couldn’t find anyone to go with. Last weekend, I decided to travel solo for two reasons. One, I wanted to prove to myself that I love traveling and not just the idea of travel. Two, I wanted to travel solo. I couldn’t find people to go with, but we will go with the idea of traveling solo.

I started looking for options. Flights were costly, probably because of high fuel prices, so I decided to go to Portland. It is the closest city to Seattle that can be considered a travel destination. I took a bus, booked a hostel, and ventured out with a backpack.

A Portland hostel sign with a bicycle illustration A large hostel wall map of Northwest Portland

Portland is Oregon’s largest city, situated on the banks of the Willamette River (read as “Dammit,” as told by my walking tour guide). I had been to Portland before, but it was always a pit stop or a layover. I never got a chance to explore it.

An evening Portland street with lamps, trees, and a bridge in the background

I reached there Friday night after my bus was delayed by an hour. Yes, buses in the US are generally late. I ate a grilled chicken sandwich with rustic toast and a chilled Indian mountain ale, or a similar name. It was the best beer I had drunk in a while.

A glass of beer at the hostel cafe

I started my trip on Saturday. I had heard a lot of not so good things about Portland, but as I walked through the streets, the fear started vanishing. I guess the situation was bad, but not as bad as I thought. Or maybe that head of mine had made up scenarios after reading things online.

A colorful street mural in downtown Portland

I first went to Screen Door, a nice place that serves Southern breakfast, not to be confused with South Indian breakfast. It was my first time solo brunching, and I was nervous. So I did the most optimal thing ever and ordered whatever I saw first. That was a warm cinnamon roll with cream and praline bacon caramelized with pecans and brown sugar.

Unwillingly, I consumed sugar for the entire day, and I was not able to finish it. The cinnamon roll was nothing special, but the praline bacon was definitely something I would order again if I am ever at Screen Door.

The Screen Door restaurant sign in Portland A cinnamon roll and praline bacon at Screen Door

After this, I started wandering toward the river. I crossed Powell’s Books, which is the biggest independent bookstore in the world. I crossed Mill Ends Park, which is the smallest city recognized park, another artifact of how weird Portland is. Coincidentally, there was a marathon for dogs. People in Portland claim that there are more dogs than children in the city.

I crossed Voodoo Doughnut. Nothing special, but the doughnuts are worth taking a picture of. I’d recommend trying it once. From there, I took TriMet, Portland’s own transit system, to reach the Rose Garden. Unfortunately, there were no roses. Then I visited the Japanese Garden right opposite the Rose Garden.

Powell's Books storefront in Portland Mill Ends Park, the tiny park in Portland A dog marathon scene with people, dogs, and a llama Voodoo Doughnut storefront in Portland The Keep Portland Weird mural The entrance gate to the Portland Japanese Garden
A view of Mount Hood from the Portland hills

From there, I went to the Oregon Zoo and then to Ramen Ryoma. They had some really good ramen. I mean, no one can ever go wrong with ramen. I came back to the hostel and then went to explore NW 21st and 23rd Ave, which has the best collection of cuisines I have ever seen. I’ll definitely come back just to try all the cuisines there.

The Oregon Zoo entrance The Ramen Ryoma storefront Hal's Cafe at the Crystal Hotel

On Sunday, I took a walking tour with the sweetest tour guide, full of energy. She took us through the streets of Portland and explained the culture, how young people come there to retire, why it is the funniest city ever, how The Simpsons was influenced by the city, the challenges faced by the city, the history of its downtown, Zoobombing, and many other things.

A sign reading Portland is what we make it The Ned Flanders Crossing plaque in Portland A pile of bicycles marking a Portland biking landmark The Portland theater sign downtown A Portland music mural downtown

Walking tours are really fun. I always thought they were boring and an old person activity, but I am happy to accept that I was wrong.

Portland was fun and memorable. Portland lives to enjoy life. People there earn to live life and not just to survive, and there is a big difference between those two ways of living.

I am happy that I went solo. It was something I always wanted to do. I can confirm that I do love traveling and exploring. Traveling solo makes you more vigilant and alert. That eventually helps you observe things more closely and understand them better.

Am I doing it again? Hell yeah.

Till then, keep moving. Your body is not made to be stationary. In fact, visit Portland, and I can promise you will find something you like in this city.