Ever ready to reinvent and improve itself, Portland has been experiencing revitalization in recent years. Being touted by some as the best big city in the country, Portland has much to offer from the natural beauty of the area to the trendy, bustling atmosphere of the city and its many renovated neighborhoods. You might think with all this praise that the Portlanders would be a haughty bunch, but Portland has maintained its laid back charm. The unpretentious city continues making aggressive strides as one of the greenest, most pleasant cities in the country.
Portland tends to be a haven for the young and ambitious who are looking for an active business climate. The movers and shakers of Portland know how to get things done, but then they also know how to balance. You won't see anyone indoors on a weekend! With more brewpubs than burger joints and a myriad of restaurants and eateries, Portland natives know how to live, work, and eat.
NEIGHBORHOODS
Here is a brief overview of some of Portland's most charming neighborhoods:
Old Town
In the 1890s, Old Town was the undisputed center of town. Today it is the site of a number of restaurants, shops, and galleries. Unlike some of Portland's other neighborhoods, it refuses to submit to stratification and homeless shelters coexist peacefully with the neighborhood's chic attractions. Located in Old Town, Union Station is one of Portland's landmarks with its expansive design and marble walls. Also check out the Portland Saturday Market (open Sunday as well). This is the nation's largest open-air crafts market and prides itself on having goods displayed and sold by the people who made them.
Chinatown
Almost without realizing you're leaving Old Town, it's possible to wander into neighboring Chinatown. A presence in Portland since the 1880s, Chinatown features a stunning array of Chinese restaurants, Asian groceries, and extensive gift shops. Stop by the Classical Chinese Garden, the largest of its type outside China itself. The result of a friendship project with Portland's sister city, Suzhou, the garden is an oasis of peace and serenity in the urban environment.
The Pearl District
What used to be the old warehouse and light industrial area of Portland is now one of the trendiest spots to be, with the highest concentration of art galleries in the city. The scents of creative cuisine waft through the streets as curious or dedicated shoppers explore a plethora of antiques, furniture, clothing, and more. The Pearl has become the premier shopping destination in the city. With over 100 shops, restaurants, and galleries open year-round, 7 days a week, people flock there. And it's only a short walk or streetcar ride from downtown Portland.
Hawthorne District
For some serious Portland personality, visit the funkiest district in the city. With a selection of fantastic brewpubs, ethnic restaurants, delis, bookstores, and more, this Southeast neighborhood draws the city's politically progressive population. People come to discuss, to debate, and to be. Everyone from buskers to the neighborhood dogs crowd the streets. And nowhere else in the city will you find such an eclectic or existential mix.
East Side
Home to much of Portland's legendary green, the East Side contains a number of beautiful parks and gardens. One of the most notable is Mt Tabor Park, which has the unique claim of being an extinct volcano as well as a city park. Other landmarks include Laurelhurst Park, the Crystal Springs Lake, and the Grotto. The Streamside Leach Botanical Garden is a 5-acre estate that the city maintains due to its collection of rare plants.
ATTRACTIONS
And here are just a few of the fascinating things to do in Portland:
International Rose Test Garden
Portland is home to three public rose gardens. The largest and oldest of these is Portland's main claim to the name, "City of Roses". The garden serves as the testing grounds for the American Rose Society and All-American Rose selections. The garden contains over 400 types of roses including a number of old or rare varieties.
Kennedy School
No one in Portland can stand to have a building abandoned and unused, and apparently former school buildings are no exception. McMenamins renovated the former Kennedy School into a bed and breakfast. The school's classrooms now serve as guest rooms complete with original chalkboards. The website quips that you are now welcome to fall asleep in school but just don't let the principal know about the brewery. Complete with a restaurant, several bars, movie theater, and a pool, it's no wonder that going to school has never been so much fun!
Powell's Books
While you may not think that a bookstore should rank on the list of 'attractions,' this company is the largest independent bookstore in the nation. Today they have seven store locations in the Portland area as well as a thriving 'dot.com'. The store's success was built on the foundation of knowledgeable employees who were booklovers. The store was arranged with the unique idea of having new and used, paper and hardback books all on the same shelf. This innovative concept drove growth and makes it worth a stop, at least for those book-loving fanatics among us!
Portland Building
The most well known downtown building was created by architect Michael Graves and is notable as the first major building in the postmodern style. The supposed city patron, Portlandia, crowns this impressive structure. The Goddess of Commerce is the second largest hammered copper statue in the world, following only the Statue of Liberty.
Tom McCall Waterfront Park
This two-mile stretch formerly served as a freeway. In classic Portlandian style, the freeway was torn apart and replaced with grassy park, bubbling fountains and cheerful times. Now the park is home to an assortment of joggers, walkers, skaters, and other outdoor folk rather than speeding cars and honking trucks. One point of note includes the Salmon Springs Fountain that changes its displays based on the activity level of the city (pre-programmed of course). Another worthwhile stop is the Japanese American Historical Plaza, which was created as a memorial to those Japanese Americans who were interred during WWII by the U.S. government.
Sources:
( http://www.lonelyplanet.com ) (Accessed July 20, 2004)
( http://www.travelportland.com ) (Accessed July 20, 2004)
(
http://www.mcmenamins.com
) (Accessed August 18, 2004)