How I Spent 5 Days in Portland, Oregon, for Under $600 + Photos - Tarot Card Reading, Counseling, Life Coach, Feng Shui

I took a five-day journey to Portland, Oregon, that value me a complete of $577.67.
Staying in a sprinter van, which we additionally used for transportation, helped minimize down prices.
My greatest expense was a $120 facial, which was price each penny.

Portland is understood for “maintaining issues bizarre,” and it has a lot to supply guests of all sorts.

Crammed with parks, microbreweries, and occasional retailers, Oregon’s largest metropolis has been hailed as one of many US’s most eco-friendly locations and finest locations to eat for folks with plant-based diets.

I have been to Portland a couple of instances and was excited to return throughout a 10-day highway journey with my buddy in her mother and father’ sprinter van.

We spent 5 days exploring Portland earlier than driving down the Oregon Coast on our method again to California. I saved monitor of my bills throughout our keep, which ended up costing a complete of $577.67.

Here is what I did, and the way I spent my cash, throughout my 5 days within the Metropolis of Roses.

Day one: We ate Vietnamese meals, performed within the park, and had a cookout — $35.90

ashley probst sprinter van — Touring in a sprinter van cooking a couple of of our meals saved us cash throughout our journey.

I awoke round 10 a.m. on our first day in Portland. Fortunately, parking was free since my journey companion’s cousin allow us to hold the van exterior their dwelling.

After a few of my associates arrived, we walked by the Roseway neighborhood to the bustling Sandy Boulevard for lunch on the Vietnamese eatery Mekha Restaurant.

I ordered contemporary spring rolls ($8.95) for the desk in addition to Phnom Penh tofu noodle soup ($13.95). I additionally acquired the Sandy Drink cocktail ($8) and Thai tea ($5). In complete, the meal value me $35.90.

ashley probst laying in the grass surrounded by tarot cards — My associates took images of me surrounded by my tarot playing cards.

From there, we walked to the close by Wellington Park, the place we frolicked by the grass, made flower crowns, performed video games, and took images.

On our stroll, we stumbled upon a few containers containing free objects. I discovered mountain climbing boots that match me completely. The invention was completely timed contemplating I hadn’t introduced my boots, and the group made a spontaneous determination to discover Mount Hood the subsequent day.

ashley probst van cookout, plate with sausage and portato on the right — We ate exterior of the van on our first evening in Portland.

That night, we had a cookout in entrance of the van utilizing the groceries all of us introduced. We ended the evening with a sport of Jenga.

Earlier than mattress, I seen that my face had began breaking out, which was possible attributable to a mix of stress, hormones, publicity to a special local weather, and nights spent sleeping within the van.

Day 2: The group drove to Mount Hood for the evening — $174.18

mount hood summit with road and car in foreground — We made a last-minute determination to camp out at Mount Hood.

Round 11 a.m., my buddy cooked us a hearty breakfast of scrambled eggs, grilled onions, bell pepper, and kale.

We would have liked a fast caffeine kick, so we packed up our autos and drove again to Mekha Restaurant for Vietnamese espresso and Thai tea ($6).

Safeway was throughout the road, so we walked over to purchase groceries and divided our listing to attenuate our time within the retailer.

My focus was protein, so I grabbed eggs ($3.79), refried black beans ($3.29 per can), and Unimaginable meat ($7.99). I additionally wanted toiletries, like travel-size toothpaste ($2.19), mouthwash ($2.49), face moisturizer ($21.99), and pimple patches ($7.99) for my breakout.

the inside of ashley probst sprinter van, dog on cushion on lower right side — We borrowed a sprinter van from my buddy’s mother and father.

Then, we stopped at Rose Metropolis Liquor to replenish our booze provide with two pints of whiskey ($29.90). In complete, I spent $88.92 on groceries and alcohol.

There was yet another cease to make earlier than driving as much as Mount Hood: the fuel station. At Fred Meyer, we used my associates’ gas factors and spent $85.26 for a half-tank of diesel.

Ashley Probst campaite with mountains in the background — Our campsite had a hearth pit and a view of the summit.

We made our technique to Mount Hood, the very best level in Oregon, round 3 p.m. Inside an hour, we had been on the lookout for the proper campsite and finally discovered a stupendous open area with a hearth pit and a view of the summit.

We tried to have an early evening, however by the point we had dinner, completed dessert, and performed a spherical of a sport known as “We’re Not Actually Strangers,” it was already 1 a.m.

Day 3: We spent the day mountain climbing earlier than heading again into the town — $22

ashley probst hiking on left with boots in foreground, waterfall on the right — We set out on a hike round Mount Hood on the third day of our journey.

My associates wanted to get an early begin on their drive again to northern Washington, so we had been awake earlier than 7 a.m.

We needed to do a straightforward hike earlier than heading again into the town and ended up on the Tamanawas Falls Path, situated on Mount Hood’s jap slope, by 10 a.m. We set out on the reasonable route alongside Chilly Spring Creek, and I lastly made it to the top after about an hour and a half of strolling.

We took a lunch break to eat the almond butter and huckleberry jam sandwiches we packed earlier than spending one other hour and a half finishing the path.

ashley probst selfie on the left, sandwich in front of friend on the right — I took a break from my hike to have the sandwiches we packed.

By that time, we had been exhausted so we headed to our dwelling base round 4 p.m. to calm down for the remainder of the night.

We had been tempted to exit for dinner, however neither of us had the power. As a substitute, we ordered burgers from Vegan Junk Meals ($22) and made it to mattress earlier than midnight.

Day 4: We labored throughout the day after which had an evening out in town — $125.09

tacos on lap in takeout container, laptop in the background — I labored throughout my fourth day in Portland.

I am an expert tarot reader, so I spent the fourth day of our journey working from the van.

My buddy and I began getting hungry round 1 p.m. however since we had plans to go to joyful hour, we did not need to eat an excessive amount of beforehand. The decision was fish tacos from Muchas Gracias Mexican Meals ($10).

Following a busy work day, we left for joyful hour at Victoria Bar round 4:15 p.m.

On the restaurant, I ordered vegan “rooster” strips with Parmesan-herb fries ($11) and the Inigo Montoya cocktail ($13). We ended up splitting the invoice evenly between three folks, so I paid $27.

vegan "chicken" strips with fries underneath — I had vegan “rooster” strips with fries.

I additionally found a pop-up merchandising machine known as Magic Field and could not resist getting a thriller magic bag ($7.10) in addition to a witchcraft equipment ($10). I most well-liked the latter, which contained a tealight, incense, herbs, crystals, and matches.

After joyful hour, we dropped off the van and took an Uber to downtown Portland ($18.91) for an additional spherical of drinks.

We had been prepared for a lightweight snack and one other cocktail, so we began strolling and got here throughout Luc Lac Vietnamese Kitchen, the place we shared coconut prawns ($8.25) and garlic string beans ($7.50) and every ordered a cocktail ($11).

Ashley Probst's friend smiling in front of three cocktails — My buddy and I went to a number of bars to strive totally different drinks.

We cut up the invoice evenly, so my complete got here to $18.88 (plus a $3 money tip). I acquired yet another drink ($13.20) earlier than we moved on, so all in all, I spent $35.08 at Luc Lac.

After we left the restaurant, we did not need the evening to finish and likewise wanted to make use of the restroom, so we set out seeking a bar.

We ended up at Yamhill Pub, a quiet dive bar the place we promised to get a spherical of beers ($17 for 3 drinks) in change for entry to their bogs.

It was a late evening, and we did not get again to the van till 2 a.m.

Day 5: I splurged on a facial and edibles — $220.50

Mississippi Marketplace in Portland, Oregon — Mississippi Market has quite a lot of foods and drinks choices.

Since my pores and skin was breaking out, I booked a 60-minute customized holistic facial ($120) at Blooming Moon Spa, which presents natural skincare companies utilizing cruelty-free merchandise.

I additionally purchased a small crimson calcite crystal ($5), which I positioned on my chest throughout the remedy for its grounding power, and a sticker ($4).

After tipping my esthetician, I spent a complete of $155, which I assumed was nicely price it.

From the spa, I walked over to Mississippi Avenue and popped into Paxton Gate, a retailer that carries ethically sourced taxidermy, fossils, bones, and crystals. I did not find yourself buying something, however one of the crucial intriguing shows I noticed was a two-faced calf.

taxidermy two-faced calf — A two-faced calf at Paxton Gate captured my consideration.

Mississippi Market, a meals middle with varied meals vehicles, was proper throughout the road. I opted for a latte from Bloodbuzz ($5.50) and a sushi burrito from Teppanyaki Hut ($12).

Marijuana has been authorized in Oregon since 2015, so we made a last cease at Nectar, a dispensary that sells regionally grown hashish. There was a sale on edibles that day, so I ended up shopping for 4 packages of Wyld gummies ($12 every).

At that time, our time in Portland had come to a detailed. We hit the highway round 2:30 p.m. to start out driving down the Oregon Coast.

My journey complete got here out to $577.67 — this is the breakdown

ashley probst climbing on the side of the van — We stayed in Portland for 5 days, and touring within the sprinter van was a good way to chop down prices.

Lodging: $0

Meals & drinks: $218.74 (together with ideas)

Actions: $220.10

Transportation: $104.17

Toiletries: $34.66

Highs: Dwelling-cooked meals, Mount Hood, facial

Lows: Gasoline costs, my pores and skin breaking out

I budgeted $100 per day, so I in the end did spend a little bit greater than I anticipated (solely by about $14 per day). And that is with out paying for lodging.

An Airbnb or lodge would have value no less than $500 for the 5 days we had been there, so I am grateful that my buddy’s mother and father allow us to borrow their sprinter van at no cost.

The van was additionally our foremost mode of transportation to and from Portland. So though fuel was costly, we balanced out the fee by strolling loads and solely driving when it was actually crucial.

Moreover, we saved cash by bringing groceries with us and cooking a couple of meals. Although I hardly ever remorse spending cash on meals and drinks, I might’ve favored to spend much less cash on alcohol.

My greatest expense was the facial, however the fee was price it to depart the town feeling rejuvenated after breaking out early on within the journey. I will undoubtedly return subsequent time I am in Portland.

Trying again on my time in Portland, my favourite moments had been all free, like our day on the park, our tenting tour, and the standard time we spent with associates. That can all the time be priceless.