If you are like us and you are sticking pretty close to home we want to spend the next few weeks giving you some fun ideas of place to go in and around Portland during the break.

How about an overnight trip or a day trip to the coast?

One not to be missed Oregon Coast stop is Bruce’s Candy Kitchen in Cannon Beach, just an hour and a half drive from Portland.  Bruce’s Candy Kitchen has been around since 1963 and no trip to the beach would be complete for our family without a visit to Bruce’s!

Bruce’s Candy Kitchen is candy heaven!  They have the feel of an old fashion candy shop and an amazing selection!  There is even candy on their front doors!!

If you are lucky you will be able to watch them make their salt water taffy during your visit.

If you miss it be sure and pick yourself out a nice selection of their amazing, house made taffy!

If taffy isn’t your thing, no worries, there is plenty of other sweets to tempt that sweet tooth!

And if you just can’t decide, you can always try my personal favorite – white chocolate covered gummi bears – polar bears!!

No matter what your candy of choice we can pretty much guarantee you won’t leave empty handed.

Enjoy a sweet treat at Bruce’s Candy Kitchen at Cannon Beach!

Jam on Hawthorne located at 2239 SE Hawthorne Blvd.  They are closed on Monday but open Tuesday through Friday from 7 a.m. to  3p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

You’ll notice the sign on the door – Jam Cafe and Art House   Here’s the art!

Jam is a smaller cafe but large on flavor and menu selection!  I had done a little research and heard that their lemon ricotta pancakes with blueberry compote were to die for so I had to give them a try!

The reviews were right – they were delicious!  I had them with blueberry compote and maple syrup – a great combination!  Jim had an egg scramble which was good too.

 Jam on Hawthorne was a delightful corner cafe and we’ll definitely be back – maybe we’ll try lunch next time!

Since Monday was a holiday and the girls were off school it was the perfect opportunity for my neighbor and I to take our daughters to lunch.  We also had a fun shopping trip to Cargo which I shared with you earlier this week.

For lunch we went to The Daily Cafe in the Pearl.  The Daily Cafe  has three locations – the Pearl at 902 SW 13th Ave., Rejuvenation at 1100 SE Grand Ave. and one on South Waterfront at 3355 NW Bond Ave.

The Daily Cafe has a wonderful selection of salads, soups and sandwiches featuring local, fresh and organic ingredients and a nice selection of daily specials.   You order at the counter and your food is delivered to your table.  Service is friendly and fast.

The Daily Cafe has a casual, relaxed atmosphere and a reasonably priced menu.  Lunch prices vary from $5.00-$7.00.

We had heard they made a pretty great burger so two of us gave it a try.  It was delicious and the french fries were cooked just the way I like them – crisp!

Hannah, our grilled cheese connoisseur, gave their grilled cheese on a brioche bread two thumbs up!

I opted for one of their daily specials, a pork tenderloin sandwich with caramelized onions and delicious aioli.

They have an impressive dessert case and we couldn’t pass up a piece of lemon butter lemon cake – yum!

The Daily Cafe is located in the heart of the Pearl at 13th and Kearney and is open for lunch and  breakfast seven days a week.  I think we will be back to give breakfast a try!  They are also open for dinner Wednesday through Saturday.

We headed down to the Pearl District of Portland for a girl’s lunch.

After lunch (check out the blog on Friday for where we ate lunch) we headed over to Cargo.  None of us had ever been there before but the outside was so intriguing and interesting we had to go in!  Cargo is located at 380 NW 13th Ave. in Portland and is open 7 days a week from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Cargo describes themself as an importer of antiques and artifacts for the home and garden.

The selection is amazing at Cargo and it is huge!  You could wander for a long time and still not see everything.

Cargo imports from all over the world but there is a strong asian influence as seen in these beautiful votives.

and other Asian themed items.

If you have ever wondered where to find Chinese Chess pieces Cargo is the place!

Or if you are looking for something a little more French – they have a great selection of Eiffel Towers too!

Wondering what to do with those boxes and boxes of old slides you have? Cargo has the answer! How about a lampshade?

We had so much fun exploring and Cargo is definitely the kind of store you explore! There are treasures to be discovered around every corner!

I found a fun little book on eating and shopping in London that I picked up for my upcoming trip and Tessa and Hannah found spy glasses!  You never know what you’ll find at Cargo!

When I checked out they asked me if I wanted a bag and being the good Oregonian that I am I said “no”.  But when I saw how great their bags were I went back in and asked for one.  They are hand made for them in Indonesia.

Whether you are looking for a fun sunny day or rainy day activity a trip to Cargo is sure to please!

Located at 3957 N. Mississippi Avenue, Gravy, has a nice neighborly, laid back kind of feeling. 

Not only do they use fresh local and organic ingredients but they have also decorated with some fun, funky, cartoon like local art.

Portions are large at Gravy so just embrace it.  My husband opted for their ground on the premises, fresh, corn beef hash and I had an egg scramble.  Not to be missed are their amazing, cooked to perfection hash browns.  I don’t eat potatoes unless they are crisp so I enjoyed picking off the top layer of the potatoes – yum.

My egg scramble had a little too much spinach in it for my liking but I loved the sundried tomatoes they added for their Greek scramble.  Our favorite thing to do while we wait for our order is to watch other people’s food arrive at their table.  I don’t even like oatmeal but I must admit their Creme Brulee Oatmeal looked divine.  Crispy and crunchy on the outside thanks to a nice layer of sugar, it also has a layer of fresh fruit hiding on the bottom.  The french toast also looked out of this world.  A reason to go back!  I am sure their biscuits and gravy are to die for too – they are named for it after all!

Remember to go hungry or plan on sharing because the portions are large.  We arrived at 8:30 a.m. amd were seated right away but by the time we left close to 9:30 a.m. there was a bit of a wait.

Gravy’s is open 7 days a week from 8 – 3 p.m. and also serves lunch.

You can find Moonstruck Chocolate Cafes at 2 downtown locations, one on NW 23rd, Lake Oswego Village, Beaverton Town Square and St. Johns.

You can sip a gourmet beverage or indulge in an amazingly decadent dessert or just enjoy a piece of chocolate. 

This time of year there are plenty of pretty valentine gift ideas to choose from too!  For those of you not lucky enough to leave nearby you can order your favorite chocolate online just by visiting their website.

So if you are looking for a lovely valentine for that special someone head on over to the closest Moonstruck Chocolate Cafe – there is plenty to choose from and they will even give you a free sample!

Located on the East side of the Willamette, OMSI was founded in 1944 and is one of the world’s leading science museums.  It is also home of the Pacific Northwest’s largest planetarium.  With 219,000 square feet of science at your fingertips the museum offers educational fun for the whole family.  Something I am embarrassed to admit I didn’t know about OMSI is that they are completely non-profit.  Committed to educating the public about science and technology, and completely dependent on financial support from you and me!  I hope you’ll put the family in the van on a rainy day this season and show your support for this amazing institution.  For more information on purchasing a membership, hours and exhibits please visit them here.

This week we headed back downtown to the Bijou Cafe.  Jim was at a conference all day so it was just us two girls.

The Bijou Cafe is located at 132 SW Third Avenue and is open for breakfast and lunch Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. 

Breakfast is served all day.  Their specialities are Oyster Hash and their omelets although we tried neither.

We opted for some carb loading and went for their oatmeal pancakes which were huge, filling and oh so yummy!  My daughter chose the brioche french toast which she said was like eating cake – yum!!

I loved the fresh look of the blue and white checked tablecloths and the light coming in through the windows made for a nice cheery place to enjoy breakfast.

We arrived at 9 a.m. and were shown right to a table.  There was a bit of a line when we left about 45 minutes later. Service was friendly and fast.

I was eyeing the omelets as they were delivered to the neighboring tables so I think another trip to the Bijou Cafe is in order so that we can give one a try!

We’d love to hear about your favorite breakfast place in the Portland metro area!

Just over a year later they opened a retail establishment in the NW 23rd area of Portland at  2309 Kearney St., 503-312-9522.  They are closed on Monday but open Tuesday – Saturday 10:30 - 7 p.m. and Sunday from 12 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

The cookie menu changes on a regular basis rotating through 50 different recipes!

The day we visited we enjoyed a yummy lemon crumb bar, a L’il Mama which was like a homemade oreo,

…a S’mores cookie made with a yummy gingersnap, filled with homemade marshmellow and tipped in chocolate,

and a cream filled peanut butter sandwich cookie!  Yum!!  They were all lovely and delish!

The finishing details on the cookies are wonderful whether it be a  sprinkling of sea salt or  a drizzle of chocolate.

They don’t just pay attention to details with the baking at Two Tarts Bakery.  They have a special area set up for their bite size visitors too.

Not only do the cookies come in bite size but so do their little, tiny cute hot chocolate mugs!!

A baker’s dozen ($7.50) makes a perfect gift and they will even tie it up with a pretty bow for you.

So if you need some sweet treats for your sweetheart pay a visit to Two Tarts Bakery – you won’t be disappointed!

Screen Door is open for dinner seven days a week but only open for brunch on the weekend.

They don’t open until 9 a.m. as they technically serve brunch not breakfast.  When we arrived at 9 a.m. this is what greeted us – a line half way around the block.  I took this as a good sign.

By the time the doors opened and the first seating was full we were in the lobby area.  I asked a couple of regulars what the trick was and they said in order to make the first seating you need to arrive no later than 8:15 a.m.

We waited for almost an hour but I had brought a book so I didn’t mind.  It gave us plenty of time to look over the menu too.   In addition to their regular menu  they have daily specials which feature local and organic.

They are known for their biscuits and gravy and other Southern fare such as grits but we opted for just a plain biscuit which was buttery and flaky, just like a biscuit should be.

Jim ordered the egg scramble and I had a wonderful Praline Bacon Waffle – yummm!!  It was amazing!!

Probably their most famous item on the menu though is the fried chicken and sweet potato waffle.  We didn’t order it but couldn’t resist taking a photo.  The photo is not great because I had to go up to a complete stranger’s table and ask to take a photo of their food so I was in a hurry.  They were very gracious and didn’t think I was too crazy. 

Three large fried chicken breasts on a waffle – amazing!!

Service was friendly and prompt and once we were seated we had our food within 15 minutes.

The Screen Door serves a great breakfast and it is definitely worth the wait!  It is going to be a top contender for the Best Breakfast in Portland I think!  I can’t wait to try it for dinner.