The Portland, Michigan Travel Guide
Whether you’re looking for a cute small town to explore or you’re just passing through on your way to a big city, Portland is the perfect stop! Set between Lansing and Grand Rapids is the lovely little town of Portland, MI. Portland has many things to do and enjoy while being family friendly, so next time you’re driving by on I-96, stop by and check out some of what it offers.
What to do:
RIVER TRAIL– Portland has a beautiful way to escape and become one with nature. The river trail is 8 miles long and runs along the Looking Glass and Grand Rivers. It connects many parks, schools, downtown and much more. It also includes the use of 3 historical old railroad bridges with beautiful features. No matter the time of day, you’re sure to see people enjoying this wonderful feature throughout the city! Unwind from a long day with a walk, run or bike ride through the beautiful scenery through the woodsy part of town, or use it to get across the river to your favorite ice cream shop. Visit this website for a map of the current trails.
ESCAPE PORTLAND, MI – If you haven’t tried an escape room, you definitely should! The timer is set for 60 minutes and you have to find clues and connect “the dots” in a way to figure out how to solve your puzzle and “escape”. We’ve actually done three different rooms/puzzles here at Escape Rooms Portland, MI – The Bunker, Egyptian themed Pharaoh’s Tomb and the newest Captured theme. Having been to many escape rooms on our travels, I’m very impressed with the themes and props used. You are really transported into the scenario! Do you have what it takes to escape? Whether it’s just a couple of you or a larger group, an escape room puts your brain to the test and you can really have fun with it. Check out their website for rooms and times available, plus use this link to get a discount 🙂
PORTLAND PLAYHOUSE – The Portland Civic Players proudly puts on multiple shows each year. Founded in 1955, the PCP offers the town of Portland musicals, holiday themed performances, summer theater for kids and more! They’ve performed Joseph and the Technicolor Dreamcoat, Annie, Little Shop of Horrors, Cinderella, Music Man and so many more!! With so much to offer, there is something for everyone at least once a year! We were thrilled to be able to catch a performance of a Summer Theater play with our niece, Elle, in it! She’s the cute little red head 😉
RED MILL – The Red Mill , formerly a train depot used since the late 1800s, has become a staple throughout Portland. Having closed it doors to the original operation in 1991, nearly 100 years after opening, it sat empty for several years. A local couple headed up the project of renovating the red mill in the late 90’s. With the project completed in 2001, the mill became a local hot spot for events throughout the year. Every Saturday morning in the summer, the farmer’s market has grown every year. Another popular attraction every October is the Haunted Mill, which is a fundraiser that helps keep events going at the Red Mill. In 2017, a nice pavilion was completed on the same property to bring additional space for events! If you’d like to read more about the renovation, check this out.
Where to eat:
FABIANO’S RIVER HOUSE GRILL – This family name has been a part of Portland’s history for a long time. Having a well established restaurant in downtown Portland in the 90’s, the Fabiano family has done it again. Now located at the corner of Kent St and Grand River Ave, Fabiano’s River House Grill is “where the rivers and friends meet”. Enjoy a drink, live music and time with friends on their open air patio or step inside year round for some delicious pizza and many other goodies!
CHOCOLATE MOOSE – Opened by a local family in the late 90’s, this ice cream shop features handmade ice cream, made right there in the shop! Having delicious and unique flavors, you’ll be transported back to your younger days trying to decide what to pick at the candy store. 🙂 Just a heads up though, if you stop by on a hot day there will likely be a line. But don’t worry, it’s worth the wait. Recently, they’ve added breakfast and lunch options too, so whether you’re looking for a sandwich or some fresh homemade soup… they have something that is sure to please! Joel’s favorite is Caramel Apple Pie. I try something new every time, so I don’t have a favorite. It’s all yummy! 🙂
PORTLAND PARTY STORE – As a staple in the city of Portland, the Party Store has been known for their pizza for decades! Survey the residents and you’re likely to find a large number of them recommend the Portland Party Store! As a party store, they offer so much more than just pizza, but they also offer other treats as well. Every day you can find fresh made donuts in a variety of flavors, crispitos, pizza by the slice, a fully stocked convenience store and more! Recently they’ve opened an ice cream parlor named Cree Mee as a tribute to a past ice cream parlor located in Portland with the same name (read more about it’s history here).
J DUB’S SUBS – A fairly new establishment in Portland, this sub shop knows what it takes to make a good sub. Offering fresh baked bread and meat sliced to order, these subs go back to the roots of sandwich making for a delicious fresh sub anyone will love! We almost always get full sized subs specifically so we can have leftovers 🙂 I got the Ham and Turkey with provolone and Joel got the Super Grand Slam which was loaded with every type of meat they offer! Yum! You won’t be disappointed.
Where to stay:
AMERICAN HERITAGE INN – As the only hotel in Portland, the American Heritage Inn has an advantage but they definitely strive to provide good service and clean rooms. I was really impressed at the rate we got and the quality of the room. (They offer a AAA discount if you are a member.) We booked a king room and upon walking in, noticed that the room also had a couch and coffee table making it feel like a a mini apartment. The room and bathroom were very clean. In the morning, they have a hot breakfast buffet. The morning we were there, they offered biscuits and gravy, waffles, bagels and toast, cereal and more! They also have a pool and just outside, behind the hotel is the Portland River Trail if you’d like to get in a leisure walk (or even exercise). This is definitely a hotel I recommend whether you’re visiting Portland or if you’re passing through (since it’s right by the highway).
If you’re looking for other cities to explore, check out these posts from our recent trip to West Michigan… Holland, Vacation, Lansing (link coming soon) , Grand Rapids (link coming soon).
If you’ve had the chance to enjoy any of these places, I’d love to hear your thoughts below…