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Portland Has America's Craziest Doughnuts

May 26, 2009 at 1:27 PM | 0 Comments

Chicago has its street dog vendors. DC has jumbo slice. New York has Pommes Frites. Every half-decent drinking town has that one late-night, greasy, calorie-ridden eating option that any sane, sober person would avoid like the plague, but at 2 a.m. after a particularly arduous bar crawl, sounds like the very best idea in the world.

In Portland, Oregon, that option is doughnuts. Specifically, VooDoo Doughnut, a tiny, 24-7 downtown bakery outfitted with a disco ball and quirky duct tape mural, where a rowdy line inevitably starts forming once the bars start closing.

These hot, freshly baked treats could probably have attracted a following just by keeping it simple, and indeed, their basic frosted chocolate doughnuts rank up there with the best. But what keeps the late-night crowds streaming in here are the much, much crazier options, including doughnuts covered in oddball toppings of the day, from mini-marshmallows to Lucky Charms to bacon strips.

Are you going to feel good about eating a bacon-covered doughnut the next morning? Absolutely not, but that's hardly the point.

Related Stories:
· Voodoo Doughnut [Official Site]
· Get Dat Donut [Jaunted]
· Do-Nuts So Old School, They Won't Drop the Hyphen [Jaunted]

[Photo: kimberly marie lawson]

Three Tourism Twitter Accounts We Don't Want To Shake Our Fist At

April 6, 2009 at 3:41 PM | 1 Comment

When Travel Portland launched its associated Twitter account, it added a little something longer than 140 characters -- a mission statement:

If what you’re doing is planning a trip to Portland — or just looking for cool places and happenings around town — you should follow Travel Portland. We share tips on making the most of this city we love, and we’re happy to answer any questions you may have, whether you’re a first-time visitor or a seasoned pro.

In an ideal world, all tweeters would have to justify their existence. Oh, if only it were that easy! But since we're all about separating signals from noise: here are three travel-related Twitter accounts who know what they're into.

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Portland Will Ride It Out on the 'Worst Day of the Year'

February 9, 2009 at 11:51 AM | 0 Comments

There are two approaches one can take to travel this time of year. You can let the snow and the cold get to you and hunker down indoors, or you can just embrace it and hit the road anyway.

A few thousand enthusiastic athletes will take the later sentiment to the extreme this month as they gear up for the eighth annual Worst Day of the Year Ride. The 18-mile cycle race takes place in Portland, Oregon each February 15, celebrating the all-around bad weather that hits the Northwest this time of the year, culminating in the region's most miserable day.

The city flooded on this date 13 years ago, and way before that, recorded its lowest temperature ever, negative 54 degrees. So participants break out their umbrellas and vow to get in a good day of cycling, rain or shine (hopefully rain).

Lest you think this is some crazy endeavor just for tough guys with a masochistic wish for pneumonia, the Worst Day of the Year Ride comes complete with roadside pick-me-ups like hot cocoa, warm cookies, and a raucous finish line party, with special prizes for those who come in costume.

· Worst Day of the Year Ride [Official Site]
· Bicylcing coverage [Jaunted]
· Weird travel coverage [Jaunted]

Photo: [Worst Day of the Year Ride]

You Look Like Peter Pan

December 8, 2008 at 8:37 AM | 10 Comments

Chasing Racers is back, with a brand new Amazing Race 13 mashup. This map will update the morning after every new episode. Send along tips, rumors, gossip, locations and spoilers to our map editors, become a member and comment on the stories below and add to the Jaunted-Flickr photo pool to get in on the fray.

Remember to zoom in, out and around on the map--with so much happening in each episode, it's easy to miss a map point.

It's the finale, and we have to look back. Eleven teams set out from Los Angeles, California, in a race of nearly 40,000 miles and across five continents that took 23 days to complete. Teams experienced highs and lows, and 16 racers fell to the wayside. Ken and Tina came on the race with hopes of repairing their seriously broken-down marriage. Over the course of the race, they rediscovered each other--and we found out how nag-tastic Tina really is and what a whipping boy Ken has become. Not pretty!

Andrew and Dan have bumbled their way through the race, and with a lot of luck and tenacity, they've found themselves, almost accidentally, in the final three. Meanwhile, Nick and Starr have been the model of consistency, winning six first-place finishes. When the pressure is on, will Nick's calming influence be enough to keep them on track? Will Ken and Tina power through to a first place finish or will Andrew and Dan beat all the odds and win The Amazing Race? Which team will win lucky season 13, and $1 million?!

LET'S FIND OUT!

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C'mon Ride The Train: New England Drivers Hip to Downeaster

July 22, 2008 at 1:50 PM | 0 Comments

It's hardly shocking that as gas prices rise, more commuters are looking to public transit options they may not have considered earlier. But the Amtrak train leading in gains may surprise you: It's not the soup-to-nuts Northeast Regional or the posh Acela trains, but the Downeaster, the Portland-to-Boston route which picked up 947 extra passengers a day over last year.

We're pleased that we may have reached the tipping point for new public transportation options to be developed nationwide, although the initial result will just be more crowding. (A Midwestern friend of Jaunted says the Milwaukee-Chicago "Hiawatha" service is in dire need of another car per trip, as workers used to driving the 90 miles kick back on the train instead.)

Related Stories:
· Amtrak's Downeaster Ridership up 28 Percent [AP, via Yahoo]
· The Downeaster [Official Site]
· Amtrak coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: herzogbr]

Movie Set Travel: Untraceable

January 25, 2008 at 9:10 AM | 0 Comments

In the world of viral videos, YouTube and all else, this week's movie pick was inevitable. Untraceable focuses on secret service agent Jennifer Marsh (Diane Lane) who gets involved in a cat and mouse game with a serial killer--who commits his murders via an "untraceable" website.

The more people who visit the website, the quicker the victim dies. Yikes. We're not sure about this one just yet--we're hearing it's like a drawn out CSI episode and that Diane Lane's unimpressive--but if you're looking for a weekend scare, this is it.

The cool thing about this flick? It was all shot in Portland, one of our favorite cities! Check out what you shouldn't miss in Portland:

Where To Stay: Heathman Hotel We don't say this often, but this hotel's got it all: an awesome location right downtown, an award-winning restaurant (with a James Beard celebrated chef) and a serious on-site art collection which includes a Galle, Warhol and Pander. You can select from a comfy "bed menu" or grab a book from the well-stocked library to go with afternoon tea.

Where To Eat: Paley's Place Paley's is a true local spot, a cozy bistro serving Pacific Northwest-inspired cuisine like halibut, chilled oysters and a delicious winter squash salad. Think fresh as Gourmet named it one of the country's 10 best farm-to-table restaurants last year. Keep in mind that they're closed for quick kitchen renos from February 18-29.

What to See: The Grotto Even if you're not religious, you'll appreciate this stunning outdoor cathedral among 62 acres of woods. The grotto itself was carved out of the base of a 110-foot cliff that's surrounded by views of the Columbia River and the Cascades. You can imagine what it looks like done up at Christmas. It's a non-profit organization supported solely by donations and sales from the gift shop so be sure to buy something.

2007 Awards: Best Domestic Airport

December 31, 2007 at 9:30 AM | 1 Comment

We've spent a lot of time this year digging up airports with free WiFi. And though lots of smaller airports have wireless--and don't get clogged with too many flights--we have to give this year's award to a major airport that's just great: PDX.

Portland International goes so far to let you set up a VPN so you can handle secure data. The airport also has plenty of plugs and seats around; you won't have to set up shop on a dingy patch of floor. Add in the fact that we have fond childhood memories of PDX and that it's so close to great skiing and you've got a winner.

[Photo: web_guy94301]

Best Raw Bars :: Dan & Louis in Portland

November 8, 2007 at 3:05 PM | 0 Comments

A friend of Jaunted checked in from Portland, where he's been passing a week's vacation among nature. He even got a chance to check out the city's bike scene, which he says is even better than we reported.

But the real reason he got in touch was to tell us about Dan & Louis Oyster Bar, a killer raw bar celebrating its centennial this year. What made it so good?

I got a dozen oysters for $9.95, and threw in a glass of wine and a big tip for a bill that came to $22. Had some Yakima Bays--an East Coast transplant oyster--and Oregon Kumamotos. It's my second time there, and I'm only in town for a week.

Sounds like the kind of place we want on our raw bars map.

Related Stories:
· Dan & Louis Oyster Bar [Official Site]
· Best Raw Bars Map [Jaunted]
· Portland coverage [Jaunted]

Urban Active Travel: Portland's The Place for Bikes

November 6, 2007 at 5:05 PM | 0 Comments

Looks like Portland, Oregon doesn't want Europe to have all the fun. While cities from Seville to Paris are introducing public bike hire racks, Portland's been friendly toward two-wheelers for decades--and the it's making strides to stay that way.

The city is full of custom bike shops like Veloce Bicycles and Pereira Cycles, where you can get a hand-built ride, provided you don't mind parking yourself on a waiting list. Portland also has a number of rental outlets if you aren't ready to drop four figures on a new bike. Waterfront Bicycle Rentals can hook you up with a city cruiser for a half day for $28.

And if you're not sold on renting a ride for your whole trip, a new system a la Velib could be coming online soon. While Portlanders are still debating whether to charge a fee for the public bikes or suffer advertising, local politicos are bullish on the idea in general. If all goes smoothly, look for the program to start up with 500 bikes next year.

Related Stories:
· Cultivating a Culture of Two Wheels [NYT]
· Waterfront Bicycle Rentals [Official Site]
· Biking coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: Stuart Isett for The New York Times]

Best Sushi in Portland

October 30, 2007 at 10:13 AM | 0 Comments

Unpretentious world class sushi, that is what Mio Sushi in Portland's North West neighborhood is all about. Sonny Kim, a well-known Portland restaurant man and owner of Mio, is the driving force behind this neighborhood haunt.

The sushi pizza and any of rolls are the main draws on the menu, though there are plenty of options to satisfy those scared of raw fish -- bento boxes, noodles, and miso soup.

Prepare to write your name on the chalkboard and wait outside for a table most weekend nights, as this location does get quite full. However, the staff politely moves people in and out and soon enough you will be filling out your order on a paper menu with a pencil.

While Mio has six locations it is the 23rd Ave blue house that serves the best sushi. More good news? The Portland street car can take you to Mio, just ride the car to the Northwest and get off at the stop before Legacy Good Samaritan Hospital.

Mio Sushi menu is posted here.

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Starbucks Alternatives: Sippin' By The Flow Of The Stream

October 9, 2007 at 2:37 PM | 0 Comments

Sure there are plenty of Starbucks alternatives in Portland proper, but what is one to do when outside the city in the middle of suburbia? Well, if you find yourself in Beaverton, just south west of the city, you can head to Ava Roseteria on SW Hall. Ava's is open 24/7, pours a strong cup of joe, teams it with a good selection of pastries and offers four-bar free WiFi.

This fair trade coffee house even throws in a bit of live entertainment from time to time, and they top it all off with a perfectly landscaped faux stream and waterfall setting that make you feel like you are at the L.L. Bean of coffeehouses.

The coup de grâce? Every Saturday from May through October the Beaverton Farmers Market sets up shop right across the street from Ava's. With all the commercialized conformity going on in cities throughout the U.S. this place makes you feel suburbs like Beaverton might be the new new thing. Suburbs as destinations? Not yet, but possibly coming soon.

Related Stories:
· Ava Rosteria [Official Site]
· Starbucks Alternatives coverage [Jaunted]
· Beaverton Hotels [HotelChatter]

Portland Streetcar Is A Pretty Young Thing With A High Pitched Squeal

October 8, 2007 at 10:34 AM | 0 Comments


Jaunted is always in the midst of a public transportation festival. Join us in celebrating the ultimate travel tool: a cheap way to get around. Share your stories in the comments or by emailing us at tips [at] jaunted [dot] com.

The difference between Portland and Seattle can be summed up in their respective streetcars.

In Seattle you ride the SLUT, while in Portland you board a shiny, new, beautiful, clean streetcar.

Portland Streetcar started in 2001, running from the Portland State University campus, north through the Pearl District, out to NW 23rd, then back to PSU. In 2005 the southern end of the street car line was extended down past RiverPlace to the South Waterfront, which also serves the Oregon Health & Science University.

As for fares, allegedly, the streetcar is $1.75 for a two zone ride, however, almost all of the downtown stops are in what is called "Fareless Square", so paying for a Portland Streetcar ride is increasingly rare.

However, just because Portland Streetcar is beautiful and mostly free doesn't mean she won't cost you. The line has also been dubbed "The Screechcar" because of its high-pitched electric motor hum and nasal female voice used in sponsored stop announcements such as, "SW Moody at Gaines sponsored by Residence Inn by Marriott". Don't worry though, Portland Streetcar doesn't sport a Brooklyn accent.

Related Stories:
· Portland Hotels [HotelChatter]
· Public Transportation Love-Hate coverage [Jaunted]