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Somehow, the baby I used to Björn to my chest and tote around trips to Hawaii and Colorado is now a 6'2" man with beverage preferences reclining his seat on a cross-country flight to college in Oregon. I chose to spend our pre-campus nights in the decidedly un-stuffy Jupiter Next in Portland’s Central Eastside district for its fun vending machine (get a mystery bag for $10!), chill communal outdoor balconies with views of Mount Hood, and proximity to food vendors with delicious local eats. I packed for five days, anticipating much walking, hydrating, and chowing down. Oh, and lugging books into my son’s dorm room. Read on for a peek into my packing list for Portland, Oregon.
July Carry-On Light
Gone are the days of the boring, black suitcase. This little guy, in a subdued moss color, always gets me plenty of compliments regarding its tiny size (an adorable 21.25" H x 14.17" W x 7.5" D). Despite its portable frame, I was able to pack five days worth of clothes, sneakers, slippers, and my toiletry kit into its two zip-up interior mesh areas. This carry-on is lightweight, zippy, and stashes in small spaces quite easily.
I love stretchy knit clothing that doesn’t need ironing, looks chic, and can be dressed up or down. Reformation makes some of my favorite travel pieces, such as this long stunner in a neutral light brown which pops out of your suitcase wrinkle-free and is ideal for both neighborhood walks and a celebratory dinner.
I try to take advantage of Portland’s many spas with its saunas and soaking opportunities, such as Knot Springs, which is a short stroll from the Jupiter Next. I like to pack a pretty one-piece, like this colorful number from Agua Bendita, and put it to double-use by pairing it with a long, flowy skirt when I’m not enjoying the pool.
This shoe has everything I require from my footwear: It’s cute, it makes me two inches taller, and most importantly, I can walk in it all day and not feel like I have heels on. It was a no-brainer to wear these sandals on our exploring jaunts through neighborhoods like Buckman and Hawthorne.
There are lots of water refilling stations around my kid’s campus, which is great when you’re parched from hauling mailroom boxes or done with a brief shopping run. We made good use of our recycled aluminum water bottles, which are proudly emblazoned with Birdie, NYC’s cartoon pigeon mascot.
This lip oil comes in a flattering, your-lips-but-better cherry shade that feels comfortable on your kisser and vibes well with a natural, glowy look. I wear it in place of balm and feel instantly more put together.
For this trip I booked a few nights at Jupiter Next, located on East Burnside Street. The hotel encourages mingling with its spacious communal balconies, from which you can enjoy the sights of Central Eastside Portland and Mount Hood in the distance. I particularly liked how close the hotel is to a large chunk of the Portland food scene, including the hotel’s own fun, plant-strewn restaurant, Hey Love, which lets you order and pay for scrumptious bar food like jalapeño popper nachos and watermelon agua fresca on your phone.
