Portland Coffee Tour 2025 - Part 5

Spring has sprung, and that means the return of sitting outside in the sun and drinking some first-rate iced coffees. Honestly, I'm an all-year hot coffee drinker, but if I'm out and about in the middle of the day, I'll order one over ice. Often I choose something that's a bit different than my usual hot drink then, because the ice can water it down.

I had some errands to run on the other side of town and that gave me an excuse to try some other coffee shops not near me. 

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Crema Coffee + Bakery

I was picking up some treats for the dog on my day off and decided to pop around the corner to check out a coffee shop I've not seen before. My friend lives near there and told me Crema let's them hold their fundraiser there every year and that they also give back to the community through charitable contributions, and I love that. This shop is big and airy with huge roll-up garage door walls that are opened when it's nice out. I'm a big fan of those.

There are so many baked goods here, from bread to pastries, and next time I'm in the area, I'll be picking some of those up. There were so many Spring drink specials here and I was intrigued. I asked for a recommendation between the strawberry and the lavender latte and, though she said I should come back to try the other, the person taking my order and money said she slightly preferred the strawberry, so I ordered an iced oat milk strawberry latte. It was light and fruity and not artificial tasting at all.

I will try the lavender latte on a future trip and probably also sit outside, because they have the street blocked off and in that space they have a lot of nice tables and umbrellas and games to play. I bet it's packed in the summer. 

Saint Simon - Brazee

Saint Simon has a few locations in Portland. This one is right in the middle of a neighborhood and we used it as a meeting point for a weekend walk with friends. This place was busy busy, so you might not get a seat, if that's what you're looking for. It's also bigger than the other location I've been to, where I was able to order and snag a window seat. This one has seating outside, too, but that also seemed full. I can't blame people, because if I had a coffee shop like Saint Simon right by my house, I also would be there every weekend.

Saint Simon, named after The Shins' song by the same name, is very Portland: sleek, white, but innovative and friendly. I didn't actually wait in line too long before I got to order and it gave me a chance to look at the specials board and then ask about the intriguing fig and clove latte. I love a spicy drink, but too much clove can overpower everything and numb your palette. I was told it was a little spicy and a little sweet. 

The flavors were perfectly balanced and it was a great coffee to take with me on a walk around the neighborhood with friends to check out little "libraries" on the Sidewalk Joy map. 

Brickhaus Coffee

This is my favorite local coffee shop. I try to go at least once a month. It's Asian, woman owned and they got me the very first time I came in and asked for a suggestion and they recommended a "butterbeer" coffee. Um, yes, please. They also have all the Houses as latte flavors, with my favorite being Hufflepuff and my second choice being the spicy Gryffindor. 

I have tried many of their coffee specials and they are always delicious. They get their pastries from a local French bakery, so they are always awesome. I love their bagel breakfast sandwiches as well. They are a small business that raises up other small businesses, too. They sell a bunch of things from other local places and things they just love like handmade chocolates, bags from Portland Gear, and Ruth Bader Ginsburg Funko Pops. There's always some amazing baking show on their TV that is entrancing (I believe they make Vietnamese sweets). 

Two of my favorite things at this shop are the Iced Strawberry Mocha and the strawberry pastry flower. They are perfect items for spring and summer, but the strawberry mocha is also great hot. I don't go many places where they know me and my name and always ask about trips I'm taking. This is the only coffee shop where I'm on a first-name basis with the owner. It's also the only shop that I go to that has eliminated tipping, because they pay their small staff a living wage. 

That's it for this month. I've got my eye on a few potentials for June, so stay tuned for that. Tell me about your favorite coffee shop from your travels or your own city. 

Why Taking the Scenic Route Makes a Better Trip

The scenic route of a trip makes more sense to take if you have the time. There are such sights to see when on your way to a new destination, making the journey the star of the show. From making memories to exploring for an adventure, here are some reasons to take a detour.

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Enjoying the Slower Pace

Unhurried travel meandering through stunning vistas, stopping off at small towns, and savoring the journey is more fulfilling than pushing past unmissable destinations. Discovering heartwarming places that become part of you is what makes a scenic tour worthwhile, especially when cruising through and stopping off at an RV park. Stopping means you can take in more of the local scenery and discover something magical no matter where you are on your journey.

A More Memorable Journey

If you aren’t paying attention, the world will pass you by, and what a waste that can be. On the road, it can be a little boring, but you never really know what is beyond the next pass or around the corner. Scenic routes can make a journey far more memorable with all that you can discover. Coming over the horizon, you can witness a golden sunset across fertile farmland. You never really know what you will see, and they can make a lasting impact you will never forget.

Taking the Scenic Route is Great for Photos!

Further to never forgetting, there could be remarkable photo opportunities just beyond the next corner on a scenic route. Photography is a hugely enjoyable hobby when you learn about lenses and photographic techniques. However, even phone cameras are pretty decent these days. You can also share from your phone instantly. 95 million images are shared on Instagram every day, and there are other apps for travelers to show off their scenic images.

A Little Bit of Exploration

Getting from point A to point B is the journey most people take. But what about everything in between? There is an entire world waiting to be discovered, and all it takes is a willingness to stop every now and then and consider exploring more than usual. Taking the scenic route encourages your inner explorer to heed the call of the wild and stretch your legs. Along the way, there will be new things to experience and unexpected opportunities for a fulfilling adventure.

Engaging the Senses

While you can enjoy a cold breeze on your face just as much as the dog with its head out the window, there is so much more to experience on the road. The land between cities is littered with glorious sights, aromas, and other sensory experiences that make a scenic trip worth the extra time and effort. Experiencing new things and engaging the senses are more likely to forge unforgettable memories that help you appreciate the journey in a much more profound manner.

A calmer and more relaxing experience is possible when taking the scenic route on your travels. There’s also the opportunity to feed your inner shutterbug and get some stunning shots along the way, all while engaging all your senses with the sights, sounds and smells of nature.

3 Ways to Get a Cheaper Flight

The U.S. dollar is weakening a bit and with travel already being expensive, that's not going to do you any favors. We're all out here trying to visit cool places, while also not going broke in the process, so how do you even accomplish that when things are so uncertain? Well, luckily, the dollar only dipped slightly, so unless that changes drastically, we're all still pretty okay. 

If you don't want to travel within the U.S., and I certainly can't blame you, even though there are amazing things to see and do in this country, here are 3 ways you can a cheaper flight. Don't worry, you can also use these tips domestically:

Travel during off- or shoulder-season

Everyone wants to go to Paris in the Springtime or Germany in September or Greece in the Summer, but what that means is that everyone is there. It's crowded, it's expensive, and it's kind of a nightmare. You can't see everything you want, your flights and hotels are going to cost more than you want to spend, and you'll have to stand in All. The. Lines. Instead, go during less in-demand times, because not only will you save money, you'll also save time and sanity. You may have to pack a light sweater or enjoy shorter opening hours, but it may ultimately worth it. 

We almost always take our big trip in September/October, and while the weather may be cooler and things aren't open as long, we get more things done, don't have to contend with massive crowds, and we save money overall on our trip.

Use your points

If you use the same airline(s) for your trips, chances are you have a lot of points built up. Get online and book all or even just part of your flight with points. I've used points to go round-trip to Vegas, we've used points to travel one way and paid for the way back, and we've also covered one person's flight and paid for the other. Maybe you have frequent flyer miles through a credit card or have accumulated a bunch of cashback through one. That's free money for your flight.

Book mid-week flights

More people want to be at their destination on the weekend, so they're flying on Thursday or Friday, the most expensive days to fly. Friday and Saturday are also the most expensive nights at hotels. Aim to fly Tuesday or Wednesday and early in the day. Sure, you may hate getting up at 4am to take that first flight of the day, but you'll also get to your destination earlier and you have a much lower chance of your flight being delayed or cancelled by something other than weather.

I'd much rather sleep on the plane or take a quick nap when I arrive than take a later morning flight that then gets delayed due to late flights and then I lose a good portion of my first day. Suck it up and take that first flight and you could save hundreds sometimes. Learn how to make your trip more comfortable so you can get some rest and enjoy your time right off the plane.

Did you find an awesome deal on a flight for any of your trips?