Whether you’re looking for party favors or a special treat, Portland’s got some of the best candy stores and chocolate shops around

If you’ve got kids, you know candy is part of deal. And not just because it’s a requirement for many holidays and special occasions (we’re looking at you, Halloween). With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, we thought you might be on the hunt for some special sweets for your kids or your partner in parenting. That’s why we did the hard work of heading out in search of the best candy stores and chocolate shops in town. And boy, did we find more than a few that will satisfy your sweet tooth. So the next time you need a little extra sugar in your day, be sure to visit one of these spots.

The Best Candy Stores in Portland

1. Moonstruck Chocolate

Moonstruck? More like heart-struck by how insanely good these truffles are. Seriously, if you are a chocolate lover then you have to check out Moonstruck's array of truffles, caramels, bars, and bundles. Own your preferences because Moonstruck has it all, not to mention all their products are ethically sourced and handcrafted with local ingredients.

17905 N.E. Sandy Blvd.
Portland
Online: moonstruckchocolate.com

Related: Holy Cacao! Where to Score the Best Hot Chocolate in Portland

2. Rocket Fizz

This sugar-filled store has it all—wildly-flavored sodas, retro candies, and saltwater taffy in every flavor imaginable. Packed with chocolates, candies, and hilarious gift items, the Portland location of Rocket Fizz is an explosion of fun. You can thrill your kids when you hit up this candy store where you'll find classic candies like Reeses, Mars Bars, and Pez—and adults are sure to love the retro-candy selection. Rocket Fizz has something for every kind of sweet tooth, so be sure to stop by if you're looking for a little bit of inspiration.

535 S.W. 6th Ave.
Portland
Online: rocketfizz.com

3. The Candy Basket

This factory outlet is in an unassuming building in east Portland, but it hides a fun stop for buckets of candy. Don’t miss the crowning glory at the entrance—a 40-foot chocolate waterfall. While you can’t dip a cup in and taste, it does make a great photo op. In the gift shop you can pick up salt water taffy, truffles, chocolate covered gummy bears, and more. Shop online for delivery, as well.

1924 N.E. 181st Ave.
Portland
Online: candybasketinc.com

4. Lolli & Pops

You'll feel like you've just stepped into a storybook at this adorable candy store just outside the city. With a color scheme that rivals the best-tasting cotton candy, and a vast inventory that's sure to please everyone that walks through the doors, this spot exudes charm. No matter what you're looking for, you'll find it here. Imported candy that's hard to get? They've got it. Bulk candy you can stock up on? Check. Seasonal sweets for every occasion? Absolutely. In fact, you don't even need a special occasion to stop in here. 

Insider Tip: Lolli & Pops ins't the only candy store you'll find here. You can also pick up sweets at Candy Tyme and See's.

Clackamas Town Center
12000 S.E. 82nd Ave.
Happy Valley, OR
Online: lolliandpops.com

5. Creo Chocolate

Don't call it repetitive advertising, call it the truth: give the gift of love with chocolate. Why kid ourselves? The gift of love, when it all boils down, will always be those sweet, tiny morsels. Vegan? Creo believes everyone should enjoy chocolate all the same and has two customizable plant-based options. Their normal selections of chocolate bars, truffles, and caramels are available, too. Drooling yet? Good, jump in the car and get your sugar a little sugar—and get yourself something while you're at it.

122 N.E. Broadway
Portland
Online: creochocolate.com

Related: Best Donut Shops in Portland

6. Azar Indulgences

Chocolate this, dairy that, gluten here, gluten there—how in the heck is someone who has a restricted diet supposed to indulge in the deliciousness of sweets with all this run-of-the-mill chocolate? Never fear, Azar Indulgences in SW Portland has a variety of chocolates that are dairy-free, vegan, and gluten-free. Don't miss out on a day plied with chocolate without having some yourself. Head to Azar to swoop up these restriction-friendly delights ASAP. Azar sells boxes, bars, and individual chocolates, depending on how big that sweet tooth of yours is.

712 S.W. Salmon St.
Portland
Online: chocolate.azarindulgences.com

7. The Meadow

Here's a quick head's up: you will go to one of The Meadow's four locations for chocolate, but you might leave with more than just sugar. If you love to browse, this store is the place for you. Who knows, perhaps your hunt for an amazing chocolate shop will land you with a new salt block, a bouquet of flowers, bitters, or any of The Meadow's other wonderful gifts. Think of it as a two-for-one opportunity. Their chocolate selection has seasonal arrivals, dark, milk, and white chocolate, as well as flavored chocolate options and packaged drinking chocolates. Plus, some of The Meadow's flowers or a bottle of their wine wouldn't be a terrible addition to your bag on the trip.

Locations in Nob Hill, North Portland, Southeast Portland & Nolita/Soho
Online: themeadow.com

Related: The Coolest Ice Cream Shops You Can Visit Now

8. Betty Rose's Chocolate & Coffee

Formerly Fleur Chocolatte & Wine, this Portland candy store, just over the border, is under new ownership as of the first of the year and has a new name—Betty Rose's Chocolate & Coffee. But don't worry, its strong suit—truffles—is still the same. From Butter Pecan to Almond Coconut, Betty Rose's has flavors that will appease any palate. Into minty freshness? Traditional flavors or novel ones, any of these little treats will have your kids asking why you didn't buy a second box. Try a sampler pack in case decision paralysis takes over. Or if you know exactly what you want, mix and match any truffles for the ultimate flavor experience. 

1304 Main St.
Vancouver, WA
Online: fleur-chocolatte.com

It happened just today. I woke up fine. It was a beautiful day and I was ready to conquer it!

Breakfast. Check. Water flowers. Check. Get out deck furniture. Check. Laundry washed. Check. Check. Check. Make lunch. Check. Shower and get ready. Check. Read a self-help book. Check. And then the paralysis snuck in.

Somewhere between being exhausted and overwhelmed with all I “should” be doing was me—pinned between the two emotions so suddenly I couldn’t move. I was angry. Frustrated. And as time passed, the shame settled in.

The kids were watching a movie on a beautiful summer day. Bad Mom.

I have a million things that need to be organized and cleaned. Lazy.

I could be reading or writing or learning something. Weak. Apply something you’ve learned! I kept shouting in my head. But I wasn’t sure what I had learned. Have I learned anything to help me deal with this? What is this? Anxiety? The depression? Did I let the bad thoughts in? I was supposed to control those. Should I call someone? How could I bother anyone? Who would I call? Everyone is working. Everyone is busy. And I’m not. I’m lying here—pinned.

I’m doing nothing. Lazy. Weak. Bad. And here I am. Beginning. All. Over. Again. I was reminded of how fragile I am. It was OK to be fragile a couple of months ago when I finally started seeing a therapist after episodes that included suicidal thoughts and self-harm. I was fighting for my life then; I was fighting for my family. I had to be gentle with myself. Forgiving.

It was OK that I didn’t cook dinner, that I did nothing but breathe all day long. It was OK to take a nap and let the kids watch too much TV. It was OK that we ate Hot Pockets too often and spent money we didn’t have on fast food. It was OK that the house was a constant mess. It was OK.

But somehow since then, as I slowly started to clean more, slowly began to make meals instead of heating them up, slowly started to do a little more than just breathe, I fell back into being a perfectionist. I began expecting more of myself. I began thinking I was OK because I was doing more.

But Brene Brown emphasizes that perfectionism isn’t the same thing as striving for excellence. “Perfectionism is not about healthy achievement and growth. Perfectionism is a defensive move. It’s the belief that if we do things perfectly and look perfect, we can minimize or avoid the pain of blame, judgment, and shame,” she says. “Perfectionism is a 20-ton shield that we lug around, thinking it will protect us, when in fact it’s the thing that’s really preventing us from being seen.”

I can’t even express how well this describes me! I don’t want to be weak, lazy or bad, not to mention all the other unkind shaming thoughts that race through my mind. So I use the little strength I have left to lift that giant shield up to cover the fragile me. The shield of having a perfectly clean house. The shield of making breakfast, lunch and dinner all in one day. The shield of having the laundry done and put away. The shield of devouring self-help books that give an illusion of healing. The shield of being organized. On and on. The shield is heavy. No wonder I become exhausted so quickly.

No wonder I am pinned down and frustrated with my own weakness and fragility.

I can’t hold it up for long anymore. And trying to has made me weaker and weaker. You see, I have been on this journey of growth for over a year now. I started writing almost every day and I read books by the best on becoming whole, better, happier. I became more organized with Marie Kondo and started a bullet journal to track and remember everything. I set goals and accomplished them. I spent time serving, being with family and with friends.

My journey and the understanding I gained are documented through these beautiful books and methods and habits, but I was missing something vital. I had unknowingly used all the wonderful things I had learned and added them to my shield. And oh, how it grew.

My shield was big, shiny, and clean. Witty and nice. It was helpful and willing. It showed up for everything, said yes, agreed, allowed. Performed. Damn. It was like Captain Freaking America’s shield. And oh how well I carried that shield. But under it was me. Just me. Amy. And Amy, although master at yielding fancy shields, was deeply tired. She was small.

The shield did its job well. She wasn’t seen; she wasn’t heard. People admired that shield. They enjoyed it. They loved it. So she believed she needed it, that they wouldn’t love and admire her without it. She had put so much work into creating it, but one day she was so exhausted that it came down. And frightened, fragile Amy couldn’t lift it back up.

There was nowhere to go. Nowhere to hide. And the shame and the pain swarmed. And there I was, beginning, again. And today, as I set that pretty shield back down on the ground, I am beginning, again. It is time for me—not my shield—to grow.

*If you think you may hurt yourself or attempt suicide, get help right away by calling your mental health specialist or by calling the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-TALK (800-273-8255) to reach a trained counselor.

Originally published June 2020. This post originally appeared on My Peace Project.

RELATED LINKS
I Know Why You’re Exhausted
I Gave Everything I Had to My Kids—and It Was Too Much
Why I Stopped Overcompensating for My Kids’ Absent Dad

Amy is a creator and believes everyone else is too. She strives to be artistic in all areas of life but writing is her passion and her family is her masterpiece. She uses her blog to address the joys and struggles of motherhood and is currently writing her first novel.

Note: My husband’s name has been changed for privacy.

I haven’t told many people about this story. But I don’t want to forget—that we love our daughter no matter what.

My cell phone rang one evening. It was my doctor’s number. My doctor calling me at home usually meant one thing – nothing good.

“The results from your baby’s genetic screen came back with an abnormal result. It was positive for spina bifida.”

Oh no. I stood there, stunned, unable to focus on her remaining words. My doctor kept talking, but my brain only heard the words “abnormal” and “spina bifida.” My mind stalled at the thought of telling my husband, of what this would mean for our family.

My background is in molecular microbiology. Because I spent years in a university laboratory, I am familiar with the benefits and drawbacks of modern medical research. This knowledge led my husband and me to agree to every genetic screen that my doctor recommended for our children. Both of our older children, a handsome son, and a lovely daughter, had completely standard genetic screens. We were expecting nothing different for our third child. Of course, our baby would be perfectly healthy and “normal,” wouldn’t she?

“I have scheduled your appointment with a specialist,” my doctor was telling me, “Her next available appointment is one month from now. I know that is a long time.” She paused, “Try not to worry.”

Seriously? All I can feel is worry.

I vaguely remember agreeing to the appointment with the specialist, thanking my doctor for calling me, and pushing the red button to hang up. Finally, the tears began to well in my eyes as thoughts surged through my mind.

Spina bifida? That is serious. I recalled from my college classes that this condition involved the spinal cord not forming properly. Side effects of the condition ranged from limited mobility, to paralysis, to brain deformations, to death. What will we do? How will Carl and I parent a special needs child? He would be home from work soon.

I have to pray about this, I thought. This pregnancy began with so much prayer. This baby has always belonged to you, Lord, as have all our children. Everything belongs to You. You are not surprised by this. I just have to talk to You.

As I prayed, I asked all the questions: What would this diagnosis mean for our older children? What would it mean for Carl and me – for our jobs, our marriage, our faith? These questions were only followed by more. Why had God allowed this to happen? Why had He answered our prayers for a baby only to subject this child and our family to such a harsh existence?

One thought emerged with vivid clarity—I love this little baby, no matter what. And I know Carl will too. And I know God does too.

The morning of my appointment with the specialist dawned bright and clear. Autumn was coming to the South, bringing a tinge of cooler air, a smattering of brightly colored leaves, and the ever-present scent of burning wood. Carl and I rode in silence to the appointment. He had asked for time off from work to hold my hand during the sonogram and ask questions of the specialist.

“How are you feeling?” Carl asked me, while we waited in the stark office of the specialist.

“Nervous,” I replied, glancing around. At least the photos of beautiful babies on the wall filled me with a little hope. But that hope was tinged with sadness. What if our baby was not ‘all right’?

The sonogram technician called our names and led us down a clean, bright hallway to an ultrasound room. The ultrasound gel was cold on my rounded tummy, even though someone had tried to warm it slightly. The specialist breezed in, introducing herself quickly, then turned to the ultrasound screen while deftly handling the wand. The room was utterly quiet; neither Carl nor I could breathe deeply – our breaths came in short bursts. We saw our baby’s head, arms, legs, abdomen, and finally, the spinal cord. With each pause of the specialist, I held my breath, expecting to hear “that does not look right.” But every time, she exclaimed, “Head looks fine. Arms are strong and healthy. Good sized abdomen. Two long legs. The spinal cord looks normal.”

“Well,” she finally sat back in her exam chair after fifteen minutes of measuring and documenting and probing, “I suppose this is an example of a false positive genetic screen. Everything looks exactly like a standard pregnancy. Congratulations.”

Carl and I stared at her, stunned. False-positive? Was this common? All of the worry, the tension, the anxiety of the past month, swept away. We both took deep breaths for the first time in months.

“I still want to see you every week to ensure that all is developing properly. See you next Friday.” She left the room. Her abrupt exit was a stark ending to the weeks of waiting—wondering and worrying. Carl and I gave each other a big hug and wondered, how many others had felt this way? Our joy was tinged with guilt and relief. We both felt so many feelings.

Each month of my pregnancy ticked by, tracked by a weekly visit to my specialist. The doctor and I joked that this baby enjoyed the spotlight because she had already been photographed so many times. And every week, I marveled at her continued growth and development, which was right on target. Our beautiful daughter was born exactly on her due date—in early February. As we held her in our arms, we ran our fingers down her spine and gave thanks. We vowed never to take her for granted or to forget that we loved this little girl—no matter what.

Scientist by training, lover of books and writing and learning by nature. Wife to a talented husband, mom of three children. Proud to call the Rocket City home (Huntsville, Alabama). Pursuing my love of creative writing by writing about everything from school buses to the latest in pandemic schooling.

I’m a clinical psychologist. I’m also the mother of twelve-year-old twins, so the anxiety of back-to-school unknowns in this time of COVID-19 is hitting me both in my office and my home—which has been located under the same roof for months. When my patients connect with me remotely, they ask me the same question I’ve been asking myself: With all of the stress and uncertainty that the pandemic is causing about starting school, how can I sort it out and make the best decision for my children, and for our family? Parents everywhere concur that the options are far from ideal and for many, they are also guilt-inducing on so many levels. The truth is there are no easy answers in this situation. We have to work with the information we have moment-to-moment and make the best decisions we can.

The Road to Stress is Sometimes Paved with the Best Intentions

There are more than 80 million American families out there struggling with how to best manage the looming back-to-school questions. Lots of parents are conflicted by what to do about their children going back to school or college. There’s got to be an answer for us, given the common stresses we’re all feeling about the school bell ringing.

The stressors—the constantly changing plans of school calendars and classroom logistics; the adherence to public health protocols; the risk of viral exposure to our children; the effects of months of social isolation and distance learning; and, for some, the stigma of having been sick with COVID or lost loved ones to the virus—have stacked up so high they feel like they’re eclipsing the light of day we need to make clear and confident choices.

In the past, I would talk with patients about moving stressors to the horizon, but COVID feels different, because it’s so present, all around us in our communities and in the media, that we can’t see the horizon. Thus, our approach to working through the stressors needs to be different, too. Psychologically, we’re up against uncertainty. The fear that at the end of the day, nobody knows what will happen. So what can parents do to cope through the moments?

5 Tools for Coping Through the Moments

1.  Develop your own relaxation response: Come up with a word or phrase that is soothing to you—water, wind, your child’s smile. Focus on it as you breathe in and out for up to 10 minutes in the morning and again later in the day. Ten minutes sounds like a long time for us parents. Start with one or two minutes, then work up to longer. You’ll build a foundation for what it’s like to be in a stress-managed space, so when you do face a stressor, you can manage it proactively to prevent it from spiking.

2.  Move forward: Harder than it sounds, I’m sure, but it’s vital to get to a place where you feel like you can put one foot in front of the other towards your goal of making a decision. Our minds are wired to go to the negative more easily than the positive, but there’s a technique to overcome this. At the end of the day, jot down three-to-five things that went well today. Consciously focusing on the good things will help give you the balance you need to take the first steps forward. Finally, focus on what you can control and what you can do instead of what you can’t.

3. Create a plan: The absence of normal routines and calendars during the pandemic has caused people to feel dislocated from the foundations that ground their lives. Consider all the options presented to you by your child’s school, your employer, and the other cornerstones in your life. Chart a plan with actions, dates, and outcomes for the various options. The act of consciously working out pathways to the future will give you a sense of preparation to help guide your ultimate decision.

4. Understand that things will change: The circumstances of the pandemic are so fluid that it’s impossible to hold a school or any other institution to their best intentions — they’re trying to fly the plane while they’re building it. So, knowing that things will change, consider how pieces from the plans you created (#3) will help you feel ready for whatever is thrown at you. Create a plan A, then a plan B and C. The final version will be somewhere in between all three.

5. Talk to peers—then go with your gut: The other people in your situation are likely facing the same stressors and ambiguities and walking the tightrope of their own decisions. Sharing your thoughts will enable you to articulate your instincts, and receive the feedback and views of people who know you and can be honest about your concerns. Listen to what’s working for them, but in the end, make the decision that’s best for you and your unique situation. And remember there are no easy answers in this scenario. Doing your best is the best you can do.

In the weeks between now and the start of school, practicing these techniques can help you move out of the paralysis of not knowing what to do and making the best decision you can in your situation. Keep in mind that it won’t be ideal, but if you can do your best to consider all of the options presented to you, then you’ve served yourself and your children well. And you won’t be alone. I’ll be trying to do the same.

I am a licensed clinical psychologist of 15 years, peak performance coach, best-selling author and TEDx speaker. My specialized training in medical psychology includes world-renowned Shriners Burn Hospital, Massachusetts General Hospital, and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Centers, all of which are affiliated with Harvard Medical School.

Finding brilliant life hacks to make things easier is awesome. But, what about the hacks that don’t always go as planned? We’ve compiled an epic list of some of the most ridiculous hacks out there, all of them designed to give every parent a good laugh. From the time consuming to the downright dangerous, scroll down to see 18 life hacks you’ll never use.

Baby Mop

Amazon

Whether you have a specialized mop-onesie for your kiddo or just a Swiffer attached to a normal onesie, this hack is pretty wacky. We promise, using an actual Swiffer will clean your floors so much better!

Laundry Basket Sled

Larry Koester via flickr

Just because you use it to cart your kids (and dirty laundry) up and down the stairs, doesn’t mean your laundry basket should double as a sled on a snowy day. Especially when a simple saucer sled works ten times better than a clunky plastic basket ever will.

Swing on a String

Skitterphoto via Pexels

Every parent knows swings are a childhood fave. But trying to get out of your play duties by attaching a string or rope to the swing and using it to push (really pull) your child is bonkers.

Crib Turned Desk

Jennifer Morris

We’re calling the bluff on this ambitious DIY project that involves transforming your crib into a cute workstation/desk for your kids. Hey, putting it together in the first place was complicated enough!

Vacuum Ponytail

Jon Rawlinson via flickr

We have to admit, this hack sounds really cool. Using the suction of a vacuum to gather your little one's hair seems quick and easy. But do you really want to get all of the dust, dirt and crumbs in your vacuum all over your kiddo’s hair?

Toilet Paper Roll Hack

Allison Sutcliffe

Sure, your tots love to roll the toilet paper out onto the floor at every chance they get. But, we’re not persuaded that securing it with a rubber band is any easier than closing the door to mitigate the mess.

Cardboard Box Slide

The Contemplative Creative

Dangerous life hack alert! We can see how kiddies might think this is a good idea, but any form of a makeshift slide is a recipe for a trip to the hospital.

Dental Floss Cutting

Sean T Evans via flickr

We’re putting money on the fact that if you’ve got cake, you’ve got a knife to cut it with. And since knives seem to make quick work slicing up that birthday cake you made to celebrate your kid’s big day, why fix it if it ain’t broke?

Rattlesnake Venom Wrinkle Repair

Adam Baker via Flickr

We know wrinkles are annoying, but getting bit by a rattlesnake and risking paralysis or death in the name of smooth skin is definitely not the answer.

Iron to Heat Your Crockpot

Your Best Digs via flickr

We honestly can’t think of a time where you would have a crockpot and electricity but decided to place a hot iron under the crockpot to heat your food instead of the appliance itself.

Batter in Ketchup Bottle

wikiHow

The trouble with using a small ketchup bottle to pour pancake batter is that the transfer process takes forever. Plus, there's always a chance that you might end up with an extra dash of condiment in your breakfast. But if you’re up to the challenge, check out this how-to on wikiHow.

Marshmallow Ice Pack

Bryan Ochalla via flickr

We’re not saying this hack won’t work, but why would you waste all of those scrumptious marshmallows just to make an ice pack?

Easy Peanut Butter Spreading

Katherine Hitt via flickr

If you count “torn bread” as a legit parent concern, then this peanut butter hack dreamed up by food blogger Bev Weidner is for you. But if other worries top your list, we invite you to chuckle alongside thousands of parents in the Twitterverse, as they grapple with the necessity of this questionable time saver.

Keyboard Coat Hanger

Marco Antonio Islas Cruz via flickr

All we have to say is, no! If you have extra keyboards laying around, wrapping the cord around your closet rung and using the keyboard as a hanger is beyond a ridiculous idea.

Nail Wine Opener

Anders Illum via flickr

What parent doesn’t want a glass of wine at the end of a long day? If you don’t have a wine opener and are planning to use a hammer and nail instead, just think of how sad you’ll be if you accidentally break the bottle or hurt yourself with a rouge hammer.

Plastic Egg Sucker Saver

Jay Weidenbach via flickr

We’re not convinced saving a dime store sucker is worth the time it takes to make this hack happen. It requires parents to drill a hole in a leftover plastic egg, and then keep it handy for those moments when your kids decide to cast off their half-eaten sucker.

Tape Roll Cup Holder

HireAHelper via flickr

We swear, holding your drink in your hand or leaving it behind is a much better choice than using a roll of tape as a cup holder. Taping the end of the roll to your dashboard is almost guaranteed to end in a major slip.

Cling Film Bib

Family Chic

Having to wash clothes for your little artists is a pain, but we’re not so sure adding cling film to the equation is the best idea. If you want to try this hack for yourself, visit Family Chic for all the details.

—Natasha Davis & Allison Sutcliffe

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Will Reeves, son of Christopher Reeves, and former football player Eric LeGrand didn’t want parents, grandparents, and other close relatives suffering from paralysis to watch their children play; they wanted them to be involved in the experience. Will recently launched a funding campaign for Adaptoys, toys configured to allow people with paralysis to operate them. This way, those paralyzed can still pitch a ball, or race with remote control cars with their loved ones. Watch the video below to learn more about the amazing gadgets.

 

Photo & video courtesy of Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation via YouTube

Know someone who will benefit from this? Tell us in the comments below!