Bookish Wanderlusting: Portland, OR

Fridays are typically reserved for First Impression Friday posts, however, I don’t feel like I can participate this week. For FIF we’re supposed to discuss our initial reactions to a book we recently started reading. Given that I’m doing a re-read of Neverwhere, I feel like I’d be cheating if I took part.

Since I’m breaking away from my usual repertoire, this seems like a good time to break out a new blog feature that I’ve been thinking about for a while.

A few weeks ago I wrote a post about my desire to travel and see more places. (You can see that post here.) There are so many places in the world I’d love to visit someday, especially bookish places. Places with unique bookstores, literary history, and book-related events galore. Reading and writing at home is great, but sometimes you need to just get out and find inspiration elsewhere.

One of the top places on my list is Portland, Oregon. Home of Powell’s City of Books, the world’s largest independent bookstore. From what I hear, Powell’s has multiple floors of new, used, and rare books. *wipes drool off chin*

Outside of Powell’s, there are lots of other (smaller) independent bookstores to check out, such as In Other Words, the all-feminist bookstore, and Broadway Books (just to name a few). There are also bookstores dedicated solely to children’s literature and several comic book stores to help you get your geek on.

For a fun family activity, you can check out the Beverly Cleary sculpture garden or do a walking tour of Beverly’s neighborhood.

For the Whovians (like me!) there’s a fish and chips restaurant with a TARDIS bar in the back! (I hope the bathrooms are bigger on the inside.)

And of course, we can’t forget the annual literary festival, Wordstock.

In addition to all the bookishness, Portland is said to be a major mecca for hipsters. Now, I don’t call myself a hipster, but I’d be lying if I said that I wasn’t drawn to a lot of hipster-type places. (Does that make me part hipster then? *sigh* Maybe it does.) Portland is home to vintage shops, bars and breweries, art, music, restaurants, and, of course, coffee. Apparently, they even have a tour specially dedicated to the local coffee scene. There are tons of fun things to do!

I don’t have the money to go right now, but I’m currently saving up so I can go there. I’m hoping to go next Fall when Wordstock is happening.

Where are some bookish places you’d like to visit?