Back to Eden

Back to Eden Bakery

This small Portland based bakery is great for those who have food sensitivities. Back to Eden Bakery is the place for you and your spouse that might suffer from gluten, soy, dairy, or sugar sensitivities. They strive to make sure they have great tasting food and desserts for those who don’t have many options!

Back to Eden Bakery

Back to Eden Bakery has worked hard to make sure all of their foods are vegan and 100% plant-based. But they don’t stop there, all of their food is also gluten-free! You would think that with the limitations that these bring the food would be horrible and taste SO bland. But they do not skimp out on flavor! They offer great delicious flavors of soups, milkshakes, cheesecakes, and more! You probably wouldn’t even be able to tell it was vegan and gluten-free!

Back to Eden Bakery

They also have nut-free items, but do say that they work with them in the bakery. This is to inform you that there could be cross-contamination.

Back to Eden Bakery

They offer a full lunch, pastry, and dessert menu! From salads, smoothies, bagels, chili, cornbread, pies, sundaes, doughnuts, to cookies they seriously have everything that you have been wanting and needing!

Back to Eden Bakery

Here on some great reviews that have been said about the bakery on Facebook:

"I'm pretty sure I just died and went to vegan/gluten free heaven."

"Love this place. I bought five items just for me because everything looked so good!"

"I seriously do not know how you do it. I have been eating your cupcakes for a long time and I have never had one that was even slightly less then perfect. Not too sweet, light and fluffy, moist and tasty. It really blows my mind the level of consistency you deliver."

Back to Eden Bakery

They are located in two different locations, one in the NE and the other in the SE.

Hours

Alberta

Daily 8am – 10pm

Division Cart

10am – 10pm Daily

Relationship Tip! Ask your spouse one thing that made them smile today. Listen to what they say. Brainstorm things that you can do every day that could make them smile.

Lardo

Lardo

You should really check out Lardo if you or your spouse are sandwich junkies. Lardo first started out as a food cart making and selling sandwiches in 2010. Their food is so delicious that you might find yourself wanting more!

Lardo

Lardo’s menu is packed with flavor and meat! Also, they have their bread sourced from an actual bakery! They have over ten sandwiches to choose from. The Korean Pork Shoulder sandwich is a big hit and so is the Bronx Bomber. Some even say the sandwiches could be shared and is enough for two people. Perfect for date night!

Lardo

They also have an array of sides and salads too. These include their salads, soups, and their dirty fries that have pork, peppers, herbs, and cheese! A meal within itself! Hopefully you’re not too hungry now!

You will get your money’s worth out of this place. Their service is great. The atmosphere is friendly. And their food is spectacular!

Lardo

People are raving about this restaurant! See here from Yelp:

“The menu is extensive and eclectic with some seriously off the wall choices. Had the Pho'Rench Dip which is a take on the classic French dip crossed with a Korean beef sub. It's unlike anything I've ever tried and is amazing. The portions are generous.”

“I got the Korean pork shoulder sandwich and it was actually really flavorful and had a good kick of spice to it! Very good and solid sandwich! Service was quick and efficient as well!”

“I will defiantly be a Lardo if I keep eating like this! I had the Korean BBQ sandwich, fantastic let me tell ya! Had the fries as well and oh man perfection! Definitely shareable portions! Beautiful layout as well!”

Lardo

They are located in two different areas of Portland! They are in Portland East, and West!

Hours

West location: 

Daily 11 am - 10 pm

East location: 

Sun - Thurs 11 am - 10 pm

Fri - Sat 11 am - 11 pm

Relationship Tip! Sharing is caring! Share your food, or split the same sandwich with your spouse! Get connected and put down your phones during your meal. Talk and discuss like, what are your plans for the weekend?

Kennady Soaking Pool

Kennady Soaking Pool

School might be out, but that doesn’t mean you still can’t go! McMenamin’s school isn’t the typical school, they know how to have fun! This school turned hotel is a great place for locals to go to swimming. They have a nice soaking pool that is open to the public!

Kennady Soaking Pool

The pool is outside, but is surrounded by nice trees and foliage. If you get there during the day make sure to bring some sunscreen if needed!

Kennady Soaking Pool is open to the public for a small fee. It is $5 an hour, per person. They are open from 10 am to 8 pm for non-guests. It’s a nice cheap date that you probably don’t do that often! All you two have to do is bring your valid IDs, payment, swimsuits, and towels!

They have changing stalls but it is recommended going in your suits as there are only a few. Also, wait times are known to happen so make sure to go early to get on the wait list. Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays are the busiest and have the longest wait times.

Kennady Soaking Pool

Children are also permitted until 6 pm. This means that if you don’t want to be around children try going from 6 pm to 8 pm. But remember to get there a little bit earlier to get on the list.

Here are the rules for the pool. The Soaking Pool closes the first and third Tuesdays every month for cleaning and maintenance. They have also scheduled maintenance from July 10-28, 2017, so the pool will be closed during this time.

Hours

Non-guests Daily 10 am – 8 pm

Relationship Tip! This is will be so relaxing for you and your spouse. Plan this around a time where you just need to get a way for a little while and just soak.

Mmmm.. Doughnuts...

Voodoo Doughnuts

Voodoo Doughnuts is the place that has some of the most unique looking and tasting doughnuts! If you and your spouse love a good doughnut, you will not be disappointed with this little shop in Portland. They have a wide variety of doughnutty goodness, so you have quite the choice to make when you get there!

Voodoo Doughnuts

Voodoo Doughnuts has over 60 options to choose from! First off they have their raised yeast doughnuts. These are basically the regular kind, but they are Voodoo’s creation. If you’re looking for more of a dense doughnut, they have their cake doughnuts which are also richer in taste. They also have vegan doughnuts to accommodate those with that diet as well!

Voodoo Doughnuts

Now with that being said, the raised yeast doughnuts and the cake doughnuts both have over 25 different toppings. So that means, there are already 50 doughnuts that you have try out, not even including the vegan options! Some of their most popular include the Marshal Mathers which you can probably guess has M&M’s® topped on it. They also the Voodoo Bubble with bubble gum dust and a piece of double bubble on top. And of course, the Bacon Maple Bar©, which everyone seems to love. And, if you aren’t into these different flavors, they offer plain glazed and simple chocolate frosting doughnuts too!

Voodoo Doughnuts

Before you run right over, make sure to bring cash as this is the only thing they accept. They have ATMS there for your convenience if you forget.

Voodoo Doughnuts

They have three different locations in Portland! One is in downtown Portland, one in the NE of Portland, and one in SE Portland which is a food cart. Check out their hours, they are great! If you decide to go to the downtown location you can head across the street to the "Keep Portland Weird" mural and take a picture with your weird doughnut!

Hours

Downtown location 24/7

NE Portland 24/7

SE Portland (food cart)

Mon – Thurs 10:30 am – 4:00 pm

Fri – Sun 10:30 am – 10:00 pm

Relationship Tip! Voodoo Doughnuts makes it really easy for you to get out of your comfort zone! Try something new with your spouse and share it! Talk about what you want to start doing or hope to accomplish in the future!

Afternoon Tea at Fortnum & Mason

An experience in London would not be complete without taking the time to sit and enjoy afternoon tea at Fortnum and Mason in the Diamond Jubilee Tea Salon.

For a great date while touring London, take the time to stop in at one of the most famous food emporiums in London, Fortnum and Mason. Fortnum and Mason has been around, selling and sourcing tea for 300 years and is now one of London’s most famous and elegant shops.

Sit down, and enjoy a delicious afternoon tea, complete with the most extravagant finger sandwiches, scones, cakes and fancies.

Tea time at Fortnum and Mason is guaranteed to give you the full and quintessentially English experience, so don’t miss out!

Relationship Tip: Take time out of your busy schedules and plans to sit and enjoy quality time together.

Image Source and my own personal photos.

Portland Escape Rooms

Portland Escape Room

If you and your spouse are looking for some thrill, Portland Escape Rooms can give you exactly that! This place gives 60 minutes of intense fun in a mysterious room! You have to find hidden clues, solve puzzles, and crack the code to get out in time!

Portland Escape Room

There are two rooms that you two can choose from for date night! The first room is called Kidnapped! This room is about trying to escape from someone who kidnapped you. Find clues on how to get before they get back!

Portland Escape Room

The second room that you can go to is Madame Neptune’s Voodoo Curse. This room is about spirits, fortune telling, and spells! Madame Neptune’s cabin is yours to explore. You and your spouse have to work together to break the spell!

Portland Escape Room

There are two locations, so depending on which room you choose you'll have to see which one to go to. You can find them both here. You can also reserve your spot here!

Here are some reviews that people have said who visited:

“We had such a good time, that was SO satisfying to solve!”

“Great set design and performance, especially in the Voodoo Curse room! Puzzles were fun and fair. Try it, you’ll love it.”

“Exciting Date Night!”

“This is some of the most fun I’ve had in a long time and I already want to go back and check out their second room.”

Relationship Tip! Spend some time trying to solve something with your spouse! It will feel great when you accomplish something tricky together!