What I love about reading books is that sometimes their literary essence lingers with you beyond the final page. I just hold the book against my chest, breathe and think about what I just exposed my soul to. Another life, another character’s hopes, dreams, problems, and fears. Simply beautiful. That’s when I started looking into literary tours. I wanted to invoke the feelings the chapters brought out in me again and again.

Juliet Takes a Breath is one of those books for me. Knowing I could walk the streets of Portland and feel a bit of Juliet’s uncertainty, confusion, and wanting as she learns about accepting her queer identity seemed like a trip I’d like to take. So I made an itinerary of a weekend in Portland based on the novel and of course, in a perfect world that visit would be in June during Pride.

One of the first things Juliet does as she begins her summer is noticed the moon, or lack thereof, during her ride to Harlowe’s. So I say the first thing on the list as one enters the city, is to gaze up at the sky and take in the stars, the moon, and the city itself.

A close second on Juliet’s list of things to do is light up. It makes sense that while Juliet goes to Portland, thanks to her connection to Harlowe’s book Raging Flower, she in fact partakes in smoking copious amounts of flower. So here is a list of four Black, Native, and Latinx Portland dispensaries to support during your visit.

• The People’s Dispensary
• Green Box Cannabis Delivery
• Natural Wonders Dispensary
• Green Muse Dispensary

Juliet’s internship with “the pussy lady” leads her to the Multnomah Library and eventually a summer fling with a very adorable and woke motorcycle riding junior librarian. I suggest taking a visit to get to know the local literati experts, if not for puppy love, then at least to find out if The Ladies’ Gallery is available to checkout so you can learn about the political acts of disobedience by Lolita Lebrón that history books left out.

Another spot to expand the mind is Powell’s Books. There are several locations within the city so I suggest checking online to see if there are any events scheduled and maybe you’ll run into that cute junior librarian also scoping out a reading circle. Don’t forget to pick up a used copy of A People’s History Of The United States, it’s everything they didn’t teach in school but should have.

All that knowledge you pick up can come in handy when you meet new friends at Blend Coffee discussing the U.S.’s role in the disenfranchisement of minorities and women and how it continues today. Nothing pairs better with a hot cup of coffee than a woke discussion on feminism and intersectionality. It’s been a long first day and while you don’t get to stay in the attic of a local author, I think a night at The Crystal Hotel would be entertaining enough. The hotel is situated in a neighborhood surrounded by food trucks and not far from the Portland Art Museum.

For day two, I say join your new friends on a trip to the Sandy River. Maybe you don’t end up hugging trees or taking part in a cleansing like Juliet, but tubing down the river seems like a meditative thing to do. Get your chakras in order as you become one with the rushing waters, sandy banks, and that person on a raft with a six-pack of beer from a local brewery. Sharing is caring.

After a day of drifting along, making friends, travel back down to Portland where you celebrate Pride by catching an outdoor movie and maybe the eye of the fierce Blend barista with the septum piercing.

The night’s coming to an end and it’s just about time to head home but, before you head to the airport you realize that you can’t travel on an empty stomach and Juliet really did sell that bacon double cheeseburger. Hit up Guero Tortas and try their hamburguesa which is described as a Mexican street burger. Yeah, Juliet was a proud Puerto Rican but she’s also down with supporting her fellow Latinx business owners, so make sure to order fries and a coke.

Alright, that’s it. Your 48 hours are up. Yet, as you are walking to your gate at the Portland Airport, you run into another Powell’s Books. Why not stop in for another book and see where your next read will take you? Pa’lante!