Ever thought it would be a good idea to buy an elementary school and turn it into a hotel and microbrewery? Well, someone beat you to it. That already exists in Portland, Oregon. You can sleep in a refurbished classroom, watch second run movies in the school’s auditorium, and drink some high quality microbrews in several bars and restaurants “on campus.” And the best part is you don’t even need a hall pass.
Nothing can please a lover of books more than Portland’s one-city-block bookstore: Powell’s Books. With used and new books next to one another on shelves, Powell’s doesn’t try to hide the fact buying used books is cheaper. In fact, they encourage it. It’s another one of those progressive ideas in the Pacific Northwest. And with no sales tax in Oregon, you can stock up for beach reads, college textbooks, and Christmas presents and save 10%. Just make sure you have enough space in your luggage.
With the soggy climate, progressive politics, and large population of plaid-wearing hipsters, downtown Portland fulfills many Pacific Northwest cliches. It’s not a bad thing. Who doesn’t like reasonable temperatures, public art, indie music, and microbreweries? Not to mention Powell’s Books, a bookstore mecca for the literary-minded. It’s all here in downtown Portland.
