Ten Reasons to Visit Portland

Nov 9

Here are just a few of the reasons why we enjoyed our two day visit to Portland, Oregon.

1 – Airfare – You can get great deals and direct flights into Portland International Airport which is why our Pacific Northwest adventure began in Portland, the largest city in the state of Oregon.

2 – The People – The slogan “Keep Portland Weird” seems fitting as you stroll through the city – it’s a great place to people watch! What was really cool was how friendly and engaging people were. They seemed so present, looked you in the eye, smiled, said hi, and anytime we were the least bit confused about directions or how the transit system worked, there was always someone quickly asking if they could help. There are a lot of homeless in Portland who are cared for by the people in the community. It was not unusual to see someone giving a hot meal to someone in need. There are many funded services to provide shelter and meals. Some thoughts are that because of the care they receive in Portland, it’s an easy place to be homeless. Whatever the reason it is hard to accept seeing people living on the streets, no matter the reason for their situation. I did appreciate the compassion of the people of Portland.

3 – History – The area that is now Portland was once inhabited by two bands of Upper Chinook Indians. In the 1800s American Pioneers began arriving. The town was a major port town for much of the 19th century, and developed a reputation as hard-edged and gritty. It housed a large number of saloons, bordellos, gambling dens and boardinghouses during the California Gold Rush. There was an influx of hippie subculture during the 1960s and the technology industry began to emerge in the 1990s. It is considered a popular city for young people and is one of the “coolest” cities I’ve visited.

Statue of Pioneer family arriving in Oregon

4 – Architecture – There is some beautiful architecture in Portland including older buildings that have been restored and re-used.

5 – Shopping – There are a wide variety of shopping choices from big retail stores, local boutiques, and renowned national and international shops. Our personal favorite on this trip was a stop at REI for some much needed hiking shoes. Their customer service and helpful employees are amazing.

6 – The Art – We didn’t have time to visit any art museums, but just walking into hotels, restaurants, and through the streets you get a filled for the “artsiness” of Portland.

7 – The food – We enjoyed every meal. A couple of our favorites were Tasty n Alder, Jake’s Famous Crawfish, and Southpark Seafood

8 – A Park in the City – We spent most of our second day enjoying the hiking trails in Washington Park. This 159.70 acre park has the most beautiful trails and trees you’ll completely forget you’re in the city. The Portland Zoo, Japanese Gardens and Rose Garden are also part of Washington Park.

Within the park is Hoyt Arboretum, 189 acres and 12 miles of beautiful hiking trails.

The Vietnam Veterans Living Memorial and Garden of Solace within the park pays tribute to Oregonians who served in the Vietnam War. Those who died and who remain missing in action.

“So long as we are not forgotten we do not die. And thus this garden is a place of life.”

9 – Roses – The climate is ideal for growing roses and Portland has been known as the “City of Roses”, or “Rose City”, since 1888. We had planned to visit the Japanese Gardens but since it was closed for renovation, we headed over to the International Rose Test Garden. The rain shower and hints of sun on the beautiful roses was beyond description. What made the day even better was all of this was free – the Park and the Rose Garden.