by ninalary - 21 Reviews - 50 List
The element of surprise: that?s one key to opening the door for romance, whether it?s passing an evening at a candlelit salsa lounge, sharing boxed wine while taking in a soaring Gorge view or embarking on an overnight trip to a seaside literary inn. We?ve got details on six romantic dates in Portland that are certain to win you points for originality. (Photo: Flickr user Lili Vieira de Carvalho)
Updated: January 13, 2010
Pack a French picnic of bread, cheese and boxed wine for the seven-mile hike to enjoy stunning views of the Columbia Gorge stretched for miles in every direction. Added bonus in the Spring: hillsides sprayed with mountain wildflowers.
Plan a Portland staycation with romantic flair at the west coast White House, where you can sweep your date up the grand staircase and into one of the spa suites to find a four-poster bed, champagne and local chocolates waiting for you.
Serious salsa fans claim Mambo Lounge as their hidden oasis. Free of meat market-ism, the crowd at this romantic lounge tucked above E Burnside is all about the rhythm. A live band comes on at 11pm every night, but take your partner early (9:45pm) for a 45-minute salsa lesson before the regulars show up.
An urban getaway to the wilds of Powell Butte will bring you and your date to another world in less than 20 minutes. Follow the Powell Butte Perimeter Loop Hike for a moderate three-mile meander past sprawling pastures, an old orchard and, in the spring, blooming arcs of wildflowers. Pack a picnic lunch and use the mountain finders to name all the peaks.
In love with a book lover, or trying to woo one? Plan an overnight getaway of sand, sea and stories. Any bibliophile will become easily unraveled when surrounded by the works of literary greats such as Tennessee Williams and Virginia Woolf at this unique inn.
