Our Portland AirBnB

When we were in Portland last July, there were several conventions and events happening city-wide so we couldn’t find any affordable hotel rooms. Enter Airbnb! We had used the site once in the past, when we stayed in Denver, so we knew it was easy to book a stylish, comfortable place.

The place we stayed in was a basement-level apartment north of the Alberta Arts district. I like the idea of an Airbnb most when the rental is within or attached to (but still separate) from someone’s home. This place, called Peaceful Retreat, was just that. Very peaceful with a monochromatic color scheme. The couple that owns the home are both designers, and you can tell.

Portland AirBnB

Portland AirBnB

I loved the cozy accessories. If we were there longer I would have liked to take better advantage of the sound system, games, and kitchen.

Portland AirBnB

Portland AirBnBl

Portland AirBnB

We weren’t downtown like we were last time, but since we had always intended on renting a car anyway, it was nice to be in a quiet part of town. I like taking advantage of Airbnb especially to check out cool neighborhoods in big cities that don’t really have a large hotel presence. If you have a trip coming up, possibly during the holidays, keep one of these vacation rentals in mind especially as hotels may have filled up! If you haven’t joined Airbnb yet, here’s my referral link, which will give me a little somethin’ somethin’ for recommending you. ;)

Disclosure: I was not asked by Airbnb to write this review (they have no idea who I am), but if you use my code to join, I get a credit to my account. 

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Denver!

After a brief two days in Colorado Springs we spent two half-days in Denver (evening, then morning).

Hotels in the interesting part of Denver are expensive, y’all! Much more so than I expected. Therefore we made our first foray into airbnb territory. We stayed the night in the Mulberry Cottage; very cute! There were a couple of cute cottages in a little clump set back on a large property (city lot). The hosts lived in one and listed the others on airbnb. This would have been even cooler if we’d stayed for a couple of days and gotten to know the others better.

Denver airbnb

Denver airbnb

Every time I visit a space like this, very small with just the necessities, I feel like someday I’d like to own a little cabin or something, and outfit it just right, like this one. Perhaps someday my vintage airstream will become a reality? Design*Sponge is no help of course… they featured two really cute trailer upgrades yesterday. C’mon guys! ;-)

Now, I don’t have any photos of the wedding because honestly I have taken so many photos at friends’ weddings that I never even look at again. I mean, people pay big money to hire a professional photog, and I’m going to let that person do their job and leave my camera in the trunk. I do wish I had gotten a couple of shots with some of our college friends, but my memories of the wedding, food, and playing games in the parking lot outside the church are more vivid than photos anyway.

The next morning we grabbed coffee at the VERY cute Black Eye Coffee, and I took a bunch of photos while my coffee got cold. You know, regular blogger behavior.  I just love craft coffee shops!

Black Eye

Black Eye

Black Eye Coffee

Black Eye Coffee

Black Eye Coffee

A vegan muffin– something I can get behind in theory but they just aren’t the same… you know? So dense!

Black Eye Coffee

Black Eye Coffee

Next, after a crazy brunch with a server I’m pretty sure was high (didn’t write anything down, took an hour to bring our food… I wonder if he still has a job?) we strolled around LoHi, the area our cottage was located in, and stopped into a few shops. After that we drove across the bridge to downtown Denver which was a mistake since the Rockies were playing. Parking was really expensive and the streets were packed! It was cool to walk around though, and I got to go into my first REI, which was very exciting but seeing all that super-specific gear reminded me how non-outdoorsy I am (although I wish I was)!

We got back to the airport with plenty time to spare but not enough time to make an alternate flight to San Diego… our flight had been delayed 3 hours(!) and the alternative one was taking off just as we rushed to the ticket counter. Cut to crying on the airport floor (I was so tired) and arriving at San Diego at 3:00 AM. Needless to say the following day went in to work around lunch time. Counting my blessings for a job that actually has PTO!

Aside from the bummer of an ending, our trip to Colorado was awesome and I just wish we had spent more time there! Definitely wanting to go back!!

For more travel, be sure to check out my On The Road posts.

Need a recommendation for where to stay? Check out my Your Turn section.