Keeping it Weird in Portland
The City of Roses, Stumptown, Rip City, Bridgetown, PDX – whichever you prefer to call it, they all stand for one magical place: Portland!
Being from Southern California, it is a special experience to be able to stop and enjoy the rain…and the downpour that will happen just long enough to wet the streets and dirty a car doesn’t count! Real rain – soft, consistent and refreshing while standing in the middle of an urban forest is the kind I am referring to. This rain is Pacific Northwest rain, and it was in abundance during my brief hiatus to the city of Portland, Oregon.
I have a fond memory as I stood in the middle of the city’s renowned International Rose Test Garden (from which the city garnered one of its numerous nicknames) in Washington Park with muddy shoes and a soaked jacket. All noise was gone for a few seconds as I looked up and let the water hit my face, and I couldn’t help but smile as I embraced the beauty of Mother Nature that Portland is famous for! It was moments such as these that made my visit to Portland different than any other trip I have been on, where I had the chance to fully appreciate all this city had to offer, weather and all.
Portland is unique, and its resident’s eccentricities truly showcase the official slogan of the city – Keep Portland Weird. Not afraid of being one of a kind, Portlanders are possibly the kindest denizens of any city I have ever been, and much like the rain, it was revitalizing to be in a place where judgement is snubbed and inclusion and oddities are embraced, as long as you add to the WEIRD!
Located ideally at the congregation of the Willamette and Columbia Rivers on the border of Oregon and Washington, Portland is often overlooked for it’s northern neighbor of Seattle, but for those who travel to this bold and intrepid city, you will not regret it. Are you searching for the perfect craft brew, gourmet cup of coffee, or unique culinary combination? If so, you have hit the jackpot as Portland has more cafes and microbreweries per capita than any large city in America as well as being known as the food truck mecca of the country. Waterfalls and nature hikes your thing? Portland has numerous city parks and forests for nature enthusiasts along with an incredible number of waterfalls along the Columbia River Gorge scenic byway, where sightseers can snap a photo without even leaving their vehicle due to the fall’s close proximity to the road. If arts and literature are your passion, Portland boasts a burgeoning number of galleries and music venues showcasing immense local talent. Along with these quirky displays, no trip to Portland would be complete without an afternoon spent perusing the miles of shelves at Powell’s City of Books (encompassing an entire downtown block), a bookworm’s dream! There is truly no way to describe such a distinctive city, but below are just a few reasons why Portland is so exceptional:
Pittock Mansion – Tucked away within the trees above the city of Portland in the western hills is an incredible French style chateau that will transport you back into another era the moment you enter its grounds. Impeccably preserved after almost being destroyed midway through the 20th century, the once private estate of the Pittock family turned museum has become an architectural wonder in PDX as well as perhaps the best locale for stunning views of the city of Portland. Take a remarkable tour through the 46 room mansion and after admiring the interior, wander outside through the gardens and have your camera prepared for the sweeping sights of Stumptown and beyond. Bonus: try your best to go on a clear day and you may have an unobstructed vantage point to relish in the iconic Mount Hood as a dramatic background for your photo.
Pearl District – The crown jewel of Portland is actually a pearl, and the district with that namesake is a must see in Portland! Filled to the brim with trendy coffee shops and creative craft breweries concealed in beautifully restored brick buildings intermixed with modern lofts and warehouses along tree-lined streets in close proximity to downtown makes for the perfect location to stay in Portland. Quaint squares filled with gardens and water features adjacent to eclectic art galleries and vintage concert venues represent how wonderful it is to stroll through this neighborhood and really get lost in the creative side of Portland while enjoying innovative treats with a pint of some of Portland’s famous craft beer.
The Bridges – Yet another nickname for Portland is the City of Bridges, and as the multitude of traverses cross the two rivers that PDX is home to, you can see why it has achieved this moniker. Over 10 bridges alone cross the Willamette, and they are a sight to behold during both sunrises and sunsets due to the incomparable view of the silhouetted bridge towers and cotton candy clouds reflected in the water. My personal favorite is also the most “Portland” of the bridges in PDX, called Tilikum Crossing. It opened just a year ago in 2015, but it has already become an unmatched symbol of the city with its flying cables reaching toward the sky (which light up with multi-colored light display at night – not to be missed) and the cool fact that it is exclusive to pedestrian and public transit only. Tilikum Crossing has wide walkways for runners or joggers, a separate lane for bicyclists and the middle reserved for the light rail and city buses which creates a perfect incentive for more people to take public transportation or to become more active in their lifestyle, a winning combination for a healthy and environment-conscious city such as Portland!
Get Outside
Washington Park: Rose Garden and Japanese Garden – Portland is GREEN, and one of my favorite aspects of the city was the amount of parks it contains, and these “parks” aren’t your average green spaces. Portland’s are closer in description to small forests, with the most prominent being Washington Park, where hidden treasures exist such as the aromatic International Rose Test Garden and the serene Japanese Garden. Adjacent to each other in Washington Park’s hundreds of acres, Portland’s climate is ideal for roses, and the test garden harbors over 500 varieties that are free for visitors and their noses to enjoy. Once you have received your floral fill, the zen of the Japanese Garden awaits just a short stroll away with its koi ponds, trickling streams, rock gardens, peaceful pagodas and Japanese maples that blaze orange and red in the fall, so plan your visit accordingly.
Forest Park – One of Portland’s greatest treasures is this vast, forested escape woven directly into the city. It truly is fascinating that this swath of woodland will make you feel as if you’ve been transported hours outside of the city, where miles of winding trails pass beneath towering evergreens, moss-covered branches, and fern lined creeks. However, despite its size and wildness, it is simply a short drive from the hustle and bustle of downtown Portland, but it is a wonderful escape from the city that feels utterly feels peaceful and intimate, offering quiet moments just steps from urban life. Don’t forget to uncovers one of the park’s most intriguing features…the Witch’s Castle! This unique structure includes ivy-covered stone ruins hidden deep in the woods that will have you wondering if you are in your own storybook.
Columbia River Gorge – I have been privileged to travel pretty extensively so far in my life, and there have been a small number of places that I will always remember for taking my breath away, and one of the places that stands out on that list is the Columbia River Gorge. From audibly saying “WOW” as I soaked in the panoramic view of the Columbia River in all of its glory from atop the gorge at the Crown Point Vista House to standing just steps away from the pool in which Latourell Falls plunges 250 feet into, the Columbia River Gorge and its scenic byway through emerald forests may have been the most naturally beautiful locale I have visited. Any time you mark an item off of your bucket list, that particular location will always hold a special value to you, and I was fortunate enough to experience this first hand on my trip to the PNW after I visited the famous Multnomah Falls. This insanely gorgeous two-tiered waterfall situated just 30 minutes east of the city is the most visited attraction in Oregon and truly cannot be skipped if you are in Portland. Once you lay eyes on this beauty, it is difficult to fathom the picture-perfect views that abound as you walk from the base of the falls and across the Benson Footbridge to feel the rush of the spray of millions of gallons of water as they drop over half a thousand feet to the awe of its spectators. In order to make the most of your trip along the Columbia River, visit https://www.grayline.com/tours/portland to peruse different Columbia River Gorge tours which I would recommend as they give you better access at stops along the scenic byway and more freedom to enjoy the surroundings and views as they pass outside the window.
There is a special way the moss hugs a tree or the manner in which the wispy clouds cling to mountain tops as if they don’t ever want to leave such a beautiful place: that is exactly how I felt about leaving Portland. A part of me wanted to stay rooted in the beauty of such a naturally diverse and quirky city, and I believe my experiences in PDX have left a part of me there with every smell of a rose or traverse of its numerous bridges. I will be back for you, City of Nicknames!
