I am lucky to have a job that can send me to conferences each year. This is a great way to get to travel and see amazing places for much cheaper than if I did it on my own. One such trip was to a magical place called Portland in Oregon. I had seen some of the shows and heard many of the things but one person said it best when she told me ‘Portland has its own energy and vibe and it is not like anywhere else.’

This place just vibrates your soul. Everywhere I went, I had this feeling. Walking the streets downtown was always an adventure and something new to see. The mountains that border this city and the wild Pacific Northwest you know is just outside brings an extra hint of adventure. That and the food, my god the food. I did my best to never repeat a meal. I utilized TripAdvisor to find all the favorites in reach around my conference and walking around found more surprises.

I am so glad I found the street fair that Saturday. I was looking for donuts and found a huge monument to the pulse of Portland. So many people in this city are local artisans with so many talents and skills they are cultivating and commodifying for a living. The ultimate blending of that was in the street fair. The craftsmanship and care I found at every stall were amazing. I could have spent hours just standing with my eyes closed and breathing in and feeling the energy here.

A friend back home challenged me to do more which is how I found myself also at a night club Saturday night. I picked a gay club as there's only one where I'm from and had a blast. It was their Halloween party and they had a photo wall set up for folks to have fun with. Everyone was friendly and even being there alone was a blast!

I wish I had more time in Portland to explore the small businesses that spring up here like crazy. I wish I had the time to go on the many adventure tours and learn more about the history and culture of everyday living. A weekend was not enough to take everything in but it was enough of a taste to crave more and more.