Filed under Portland Living on August 21st, 2008:
A Neighborhood Guide To Portland Oregon
There are plenty of unique little streets and neighborhoods in the City of Portland, but if you look for neighborhood information in any city guide, it will probably break it down to you in this way: SW, NW, N, NE, SE. Each geographical area on the map has a different atmosphere and different crowd that it caters to. When they come together though, they all make Portland one of the best places to live in America.
Southeast
This neighborhood can be found downtown with all of its glorious skyscrapers and buildings. You’ll find most of Portland’s fancier restaurants here, along with its museums and beautiful park blocks. Tour a portion of the Southeast area for free around the ‘fareless square’ in a streetcar that operates downtown. Finally, take a walk through Tom McCall Waterfront Park to really feel like you’re in the center of Portland. Some highlights to check out in southeast Portland include:
Northwest
Beautiful neighborhoods with old Victorian homes are one sign you’ve entered the Northwest district. You’ll find many upscale retailers hiding out in the Northwest district. Northwest is also home to Powell’s Bookstore, one of the largest books stores in the nation. And, don’t forget to check out the Pearl District, known for its happy hour scene and some of the more expensive of Portland apartments. Some other places worth visiting in the northweat neighborhood are:
North
The north of Portland is home to a diverse crowd of young and old residents. The University of Portland can be found in the north as well as the quaint St. Johns area with its beautiful bridge and tasty restaurants. You might also want to stop by a few of these places:
Northeast
This area of Portland is known for its cultural diversity. Northeast is home to some great restaurants, family run grocery stores and a happening bar scene. Check out the last Thursday of every month in Northeast for what could be the most exciting monthly event to hit Portland ever. Some other places to to visit include:
Southwest
This large area extending out towards the east side has long since been a place for bohemian residents with its cafés, coffee shops, and bar life. Now, new development in the form of condos and stores are going up adding a little new with the old. The main drags are all of the streets running east to west including Belmont, Hawthorne, and Burnside. You’ll find a lot of cyclists in this part of Portland and a lot of neat old Victorian houses next door to a few new condo developments. Check out the following places when you’re in the southwest neighborhood: