When we planned a quick two-day trip to Portland with our toddler, Sage, shopping wasn’t necessarily at the top of our itinerary. But between revisiting favorite neighborhoods from our years living in the city and stumbling upon a few unexpected gems, we found ourselves discovering some wonderful local boutiques along the way. Since my husband and I both lived in Portland at different points in our lives, it was fun to revisit neighborhoods we loved while creating new memories together as a family.

Pistils Nursery

One of our first stops was the Mississippi neighborhood, which has always been one of our favorite areas in Portland. While exploring, we visited Pistils Nursery, a plant shop that feels like a dream for fellow plant lovers. My husband and I both love plants, so we could easily spend hours browsing the beautiful houseplants, unique pots, and endless greenery that fill the space.

Goodbye Horses Vintage

Later that afternoon, we were driving through the Laurelhurst neighborhood while Sage napped in the car when I spotted Goodbye Horses and asked my husband if I could jump out to take a look. The vintage shop was full of cute, well-curated pieces at surprisingly reasonable prices. I even met one of the owners and learned that the shop is named after the song “Goodbye Horses” from The Silence of the Lambs soundtrack, which made us laugh because it had been on our road trip playlist earlier that day.

Zig Zag Vintage

At the end of the day, we found ourselves in the Alberta Arts District waiting for our reservation at Terra Mae and stopped into Zig Zag Vintage. It was actually a shop I used to visit when I lived in Portland in 2019, so it was fun to see it still thriving years later. Like Goodbye Horses, the shop had a great selection of vintage clothing at reasonable prices, plus an adorable shop dog who immediately gravitated toward my husband, Andrew.

One thing I love about Portland is how often the best discoveries happen by accident. Even with only a couple of days in the city, some of our favorite moments came from wandering through neighborhoods and popping into places we hadn’t planned on visiting. Whether you’re a plant enthusiast, a vintage lover, or simply someone who enjoys exploring local neighborhoods, these three boutiques are worth adding to your Portland itinerary. Each shop felt uniquely Portland—creative, welcoming, and full of character. Looking back, our day was less about shopping and more about revisiting a city we both loved while making new memories together as a family.

XOXO