Filed under Portland Living on August 22nd, 2008:
Capture The Best of Portland In Photo Tour
So you are new to the City of Portland and you want to hit the sites right away? Take your camera please, because Portland is as photogenic of a city as they come. From downtown Portland to the neighborhoods of Southeast and beyond, this is a city that begs to be captured on camera.
Your guide to taking 7 of the best pictures of Portland Oregon:
1. Pioneer Square
It’s not called the cities living room for nothing. Pioneer Square is a living, breathing part of Portland. Located in the center of Southwest Portland, the square was opened in 1983 as a central gathering place for city dwellers and out-of-towners alike. Stand in the Northeast corner of the square to capture the most iconic photograph.
2. The Many Bridges
Living in Portland, Oregon is all about the bridge life. With more than 8 bridges lined up right next to each other downtown it can be hard to decide which one to head across sometimes. From North to South the following bridges span the Willamette: Freemont Bridge, Broadway Bridge, Steel Bridge, Burnside Bridge, Morrison Bridge, Hawthorne Bride, Marquam Bridge and Ross Island Bridge. For the best photo ops of these bridges, walk the length of Waterfront Park and each of them in their glory. While these bridges are a necessity for city commutes and transportation, they also are a piece of the historic architecture and cultural landmarks of this city.
3. Portlandia Statue:
Take a picture of the second largest copper repoussé statue in United States (the first is the statue of liberty. Sculptor Raymond Kaskey created it in 1985. The statue resides in front of the Portland Building on SW 5th Ave.
4. The Made In Oregon Sign:
This trademark Portland sign is located in downtown Portland in Old China town. The building now belongs to the University of Oregon, but the sign remains. For the best picture, walk across the Burnside Bridge after dusk to get a shot of it all lit up.
5. The Portland City Grill:
If you don’t feel like dropping a lot of cash on dinner but want to grab a great picture, sneak into the grill during happy hour and take some pictures. It’s located on the 30th floor of the US Bank building and offerings stunning views of the downtown area.
6. The OMSI Submarine:
The Oregon Museum of Science and Industry has the retired USS Blueback on display at all times on its dock on the Willamette River. Take the tour and get some cool shots of the submarine hanging out near downtown.
7. The Portland Aerial Tram:
The recently completed tram connects the OHSU campuses in SW Portland. Ride the tram for a reasonable $4 round trip and glide over a number of houses and apartments in Portland. The view is amazing!