Hi readers!
I realized the 90-day visa I was on has now officially expired – which also means that I am currently in the process of becoming a permanent resident. I spent almost a year in Portland so far, although not consecutive. To celebrate this little milestone, I am bringing you another blog: Here’s 10 things I love about Portland!
Nr. 1: Everything is possible
Portland has a reputation of being weird. I can tell you that they really do stay true to that reputation. There is no judgment here; you can wear whatever you like, look however you want to look, and say whatever you want to say. There is this unspoken rule that nothing it too weird. What I love about this is that Portland never gets boring. If you think you are just going out for a normal walk, minding your own business, you’ll be in for a surprise. I can guarantee you will see something that will fit the description of ”weird”. Either it’s strange architecture, a unique sign, some really catchy graffiti, or -if you are lucky- the Unipiper (see image above). Portland is a very liberal city, and they hold many events that reflect their sense of freedom. From friendly protests, to naked bike-rides, to typical Portland festivals that makes this city so enjoyable during summer.
Nr. 2: You can go anywhere from portland!
Portland’s location makes it the perfect hub to explore all the beautiful surrounding landscapes Oregon has to offer. From Portland you can get absolutely anywhere, whether it’s a snowy mountain, desert lands, a tropical rain forest or a nice beach: It is all no more than a two hour drive from Portland city. If you, for some reason, do get bored of Portland, you have many places to go. The nice thing is, is that it is all possible to do in a day. You don’t have to spend the extra time and money to stay somewhere for a weekend, unless you want to of course. Feeling like chilling on the beach? In about 2 hours you will get to Seaside, a picturesque small beach town that marks the end of the famous Oregon Trail. Want to sniff some local culture in a place that looks nothing like Portland? You can go to the charming town of Astoria that has many famous landmarks and interesting musea, while enjoying a ride on its unique trolley. Are Portland summers too hot for you and are you craving some snow? Mount Hood -Oregon’s most popular mountain- is 1.5 hours away from Portland and has everlasting snow.
Nr. 3: portland is a green city
If you are a small town girl like me, a big city such as Portland can be quite overwhelming. If you want to get away from it all, breathe in some fresh air and hear nothing but nature around you, you don’t even have to leave the city! One thing Portland did really well is its green infrastructure. Most neighborhoods enjoy big trees that cover the streets with a roof of leaves in summer. Portland also has a lot of parks, from Laurelhurst Park with a beautiful lake in the middle, to Mount Tabor, which is an extinct volcano surrounded by several big water reservoirs. From Multnomah Falls (see image above), to the Waterfront Park that serves as an oasis of green in the middle of the city. There are also plenty of small beaches in and around Portland city, where you can even swim during summer.
nr. 4 summers are filled with endless possibilities
Add up everything that I mentioned above and you’ll have the perfect recipe for an unforgettable summer in the Pacific Northwest. There are may festivals held at the Waterfront Park, such as the famous Blues Festival (see picture above). With all of its parks, hiking trails and places to swim, Portland is a great place to enjoy sunny weather. But the entire Pacific Northwest is known for its adventurous summers, and Portland makes the perfect hub for exploring! From kayaking on the Willamette river that runs through Portland, to white-water rafting outside of Portland. From floating down a river for a couple of hours with nothing but nature around you, to setting up base right next to some breathtaking waterfalls. From a picnic and a movie in the park, to silent disco’s at night in the heart of Portland. Portland really comes alive in summer, mainly due to its climate; It rains a whole lot down here, but the summers are sunny and comfortably warm.
nr. 5 The Food culture is amazing
Portland has been crowned the city with the best food culture in the US many times now, and it is well deserved. Besides the many amazing local restaurants Portland has to offer, the food-truck culture is really big here as well (there’s over 600 food trucks all over Portland!). You will find many designated food cart areas with anything from sushi burritos, to freshly made Indian curries, and from fat American burgers, to home-brewed ciders and beer. In summer, these food cart areas are insanely popular, but even in winter they accommodate their guests with campfires and heated chairs. Another great thing about these food carts is that they are usually open till late at night, and the ones downtown are open till early morning (in case you crave food at 2 a.m.). Not feeling eating outside? I have yet to discover a food culture that is not represented in Portland. You name it, they have it! The food quality is also comparatively better than many other cities in the US, since they tend to have a higher standard when it comes to preparing and serving their food.
nr. 6 Portland is a bikeable city
Okay, this might not mean much to Dutch people, ’cause it will never be as bike-friendly as in The Netherlands… But: They have done a pretty good job in making this city bikeable! The bright orange bike you see in the picture above is a BikeTown bike, which is part of a bike program launched by Nike. You will see ”hubs” of BikeTown bikes all over Portland, and with an account you will have access to all of these bikes. The only rule is to always bring the bikes back to their hub, or you will have to pay a little extra. They are very easy to use and a great opportunity for tourists that like biking as much as the average Dutchie does. The most bike-friendly route is also the prettiest. It will take you from the Eastbank Esplanade (a path on the water), all the way to downtown when you cross the bike-only bridge ”Tilikum Crossing”. Bike lanes are quite obvious, but downtown they often share a lane with cars, or even with trams. The many one-way streets in Portland make biking a little confusing from time to time, but let me tell you: It is always better than driving. Portland has terrible traffic congestions and rush hour is an absolute nightmare. A 15-minute bike ride can turn into an hour car ride if you’re unlucky.
Nr. 7: Every neighborhood has a unique vibe
Portland has a lot of different neighborhoods. To name a view: Hollywood, Laurelhurst, Irvington and Alberta. Each neighborhood has its own vibe to it, which means that they are all very different from one another. This is visible in architecture, parks, local stores and even the people who you frequently see in said neighborhoods. In the pictures above you see two typical American movie theaters, both with a very different look. The Hollywood theatre is a historical theatre in the middle of the Hollywood district, built in a chique European way. The Bagdad theatre is located in the vibrant Hawthorne district, and used to be a opera theatre, but now functions as a cinema – all of the interior of the opera remains intact. The Laurelhurst district is characterized by the Laurelhurst Park and Oak Street that -as the name suggests- is home to some of the most beautiful old Oak trees in all of Portland. Irvington district is a calm and homey neighborhood where you can peacefully walk through and find lots of kids and dogs playing outside. The Alberta district has Alberta street, which hosts some of the best restaurants and bars of Portland. It is also considered the art district, and when you walk down Alberta street you’ll find out why (see the picture above). Small local art stores, lots of unique street art, and the ”schoolbus food cart” and ”tiny house hotel” are located here. It is a nice neighborhood to walk around in during the day as well as at night. Downtown is obviously the most vibrant part of Portland, that never really slows down (well, I guess it has in this current pandemic).
Nr. 8: powell’s book store
You don’t have to be a book lover to enjoy a visit to Powell’s book store. The largest independent bookstore of all of the US is located in the heart of Portland city. It is much more than just a bookstore. It is a place to sniff up some Portland culture, to enjoy the variety of people as much as the variety of books, and a great place to catch up with a friend while enjoying the best cappuccino you’ll ever have (my mom said so, so it must be true). You can wander for hours in this three-story ”city of books”, and I can guarantee that you will feel like a different person when you get out. Besides books, this store also offers anything you can think of for the creative mind. Want to organize your life with one of their amazing journals, get inspired by some of their quotes, or heck, why not start writing your own book! You will feel like you can do anything while inside of this amazing store, so if you have a chance to go to Portland, go to Powell’s!
Nr. 9: portlanders are active people
With that many great places to bike, run, hike, or peddle, it is no surprise that Portlanders love being active. This is not a stereotypical American city where ”everything is big”. Since people who have lived in Portland for a while know exactly how depressing the weather can get, even rain won’t stop them from enjoying outdoor activities. The hills and the river make for a great active environment and so I feel like being active has become part of the city. I guess it’s what you have to do when you’re constantly being tempted by their amazing food!
Nr. 10: portland in oregon is the ”real portland”
Okay, this is an inside joke. There are two Portland’s in the US: One on the West Coast in Oregon, and one on the East Coast in Maine. When Sam and I were on vacation in New York, we met some people who asked where we were from. When we said ”Portland”, they asked ”Portland Oregon?” and we replied with a yes. Then the guy said ”Good, f* Portland Maine!” Apparently Portland in Maine is not all that great. But, we have never been, so I can’t tell you whether that’s true or not. However, now that you know there are two Portland’s: Make sure you book your trip to the Portland you actually want to go to! Also, if I have a quick look on Google, Portland Maine does look pretty cool. It’s a small city with a lot of European influences, while Portland Oregon is a big city that is fairly industrialized. They might share the same name, but they look completely different. I know where my next trip is going to be to.. How fun to have ”Portland to Portland” written on your airline ticket!
That’s my list of 10 things I love about Portland!
I hope you enjoyed it, found is useful , or even recognized some of the things I mentioned. I definitely recommend visiting Portland in spring or summer, so you can really enjoy the green and nature that this city has to offer. Winter here get pretty depressing, but I will save that for a future blog about the 10 things I don’t like about Portland. See you next time!
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