Portland earned its CNN-recognized title of "home to the world's best street food" thanks to a unique phenomenon: the "food cart pods." These clusters of food trucks and stalls, which enjoy semi-permanent locations and often feature shared dining areas with tables and seats, offer a diverse array of cuisines. With several hundred food carts, you can find everything from classic Americana burgers to Korean-style tacos. Notable food cart pods include those on Fifth and Third Avenues in downtown Portland, as well as the Portland State University campus. Other popular pods are Cartopia and Cartlandia in Southeast Portland, Prost Marketplace in the Northeast, and Killingsworth Station, among several others.

Every January, Bulabog beach is abuzz with locals and visitors who come to see or even take part in the Boracay International Funboard Cup Competition. Windsurfing and kite-surfing are popular activities all year round. There are several companies across the island that offer classes and courses for beginners and advanced surfers.

Arguably, the most authentic dishes come not from a professional chef, but from people who cook for their families every day, right in their home kitchen. Learn to whip up three of the Parma's finest dishes from scratch in the home of a local cooking enthusiast. Of course, you get to enjoy your delicious creations with excellent wine. As a souvenir, you will get an apron and, of course, new cooking skills. Prepare to impress your friends back home.

Perched over the Damsterdiep canal, these hanging kitchens are quirky extensions to brick-walled houses that trace back to mediaeval times. Designed to provide extra room and water access to households, these unique structures make for a charming sight when strolling through the city of Appingedam. Visit Aan Tafel café across from these houses and enjoy your high tea or snack with a view of these architectural gems.