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Portland, Oregon from A to Z: map, hotels, attractions, restaurants, entertainment. Shopping, shops. Photos, videos and reviews of Portland, Oregon.

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One of two American Portlands, this city is as different from its namesake in Maine as the West Coast of the United States is different from the East Coast. One of the greenest cities in America, it is also a vibrant, modern metropolis full of movement. Portlanders, who number about 600,000, are proud of their skytrain and the half-dozen colloquial names by which the city is known around the country: Beer Heaven (Beerwana), the City of Roses, the City of Bridges, the City of English Football and even Little Beirut.

Portland's food scene has exploded in recent decades, and the city has been named best in the world by CNN for its street food.

Getting to Portland, Oregon

Portland has international Airport, but there are no direct flights from Russia here yet. Rail connections connect the city with Los Angeles and Chicago.

Find flights to Portland, Oregon

A little history

The area was once inhabited by Indians, and non-Native Americans only arrived here in the 19th century. First significant land plot was purchased as a couple by two colonists, natives of Boston and Portland in Maine. Both wanted to name the settlement after their homeland, and the outcome of the dispute was decided by a coin. This happened in 1845. Portland's excellent location on two navigable rivers near the ocean gave impetus to the rapid growth and development of its port: it remained the largest on the coast until the end of the century, when Seattle took over the baton.

The coin that determined the name of the future city is on display as an exhibit at the Oregon Historical Society Museum under the name "Portland Penny."

4 things to do in Portland

1. Visit the International Rose Research Park and other rose gardens in the city. Portland's climate is perfect for growing these flowers.
2. Ride all types of city trains: the fast light rail MAX, the more traditional Streetcar, the West Side WES, or the aerial tram from the South Shore to University Health at Mt. Riding is especially pleasant if you are in the free travel zone in the city center. And sometimes real steam locomotives (the only ones operating in the USA) travel around the city.
3. Check out the food courts: have a bagel breakfast at the Branch Boke on Fifth Avenue, have a mahi-mahi lunch at the Frying Scotsman in Alder, have a Norwegian lefse dinner at Viking Soul in Good Food.
4. Be sure to find the iconic Voodoo Donut, the most famous along the coast and in all of America. Donuts with monstrous additives (for example, bacon) and the most mind-blowing shapes (for example, phallus donuts) are baked here, you can officially get married here, and the President of the United States himself orders donuts here.

Popular hotels in Portland

Activities and Attractions in Portland, Oregon

For obvious reasons, you can't see buildings over a hundred years old in this Portland. But when planning it, they carefully took into account the natural features of the landscape, trying not to disturb the natural harmony. This is how the eastern esplanade appeared on the Willamette Bank, diving under picturesque bridges. By the way, bridges are an important part of the city panorama and obligatory objects, if not for visiting, then at least for photography. These are primarily the St. John Suspension Bridge, recognizable by its pair of sharp pier spiers, and the Hawthorne Bridge, which provides easy access to the science museum. Both bridges have walkways.

Portland, Oregon

The oldest city district is located on the West Side, and its center is the large marble Italiante station building, built in 1890. An Italian quarter with many eateries has also formed nearby. Nearby stands perhaps the most famous building in the city - the Portland Building with the Portlandia statue installed on it. This is a huge copper sculpture, second in size only to the Statue of Liberty among all North American ones. The height of a crouched woman with a trident is 10 m (and if the woman stood up, she would be 15 meters high). The sculpture was made in parts near Washington and only then brought to the city and assembled here in 1985.

The Portland Art Museum is one of the 25 largest museums in the country, and annually exhibits temporary exhibitions from other museums. Many art galleries are located downtown in the Pearl District and Alberta Arts areas. And on the banks of the Willamette there is an interesting museum of science and industry, where you can study objects on display that had real use in these industries. The museum includes halls of earth and life sciences, a turbine hall, a planetarium and a hall of temporary, frequently updated exhibitions. Also interesting is Powell's City of Books, a huge multi-story bookstore that occupies a block on the corner of Burnside. In addition, Portland has a maritime museum where you can get a closer look at the lives of fishermen. It's also a bit of a fun little hat museum.

In the heart of Downtown, near Chinatown, there is Akeni Plaza, where a market is held on Saturdays. Also on the square is the bronze and granite Skidmore Fountain, which appeared here in 1888 and today is considered one of the oldest pieces of public art. The white Old Church on 11th Avenue is very beautiful, a Presbyterian church built in 1883 in the Victorian style. Its interior retains many carefully executed wooden carved details, vaulted ceilings and columns of the Corinthian order. Today, events and concerts are held within the walls of the church, and the concert on Wednesdays at noon is free.

While walking around the city, it is worth looking into the southern areas - built up with Victorian houses Sellwood and Hawthorne, where there are many shops. Be sure to visit the Grotto in the northeast - this is a modern Catholic chapel, which was built near the grotto of the Sorrowful Mother. The chapel is surrounded by beautiful sculptures, and the area around is picturesque and quiet. Botanical Garden with wonderful views of Mount St. Helens. And not far from the Hawthorne Bridge in the southwest there are two central squares of the city - Lawnsdale and Chapman. Initially, in 1900, the first of them was intended for men, and the second for women and children, so the squares are officially separated from each other. There is a figure of a white elk standing here - the unofficial emblem of the city, and in the heat it is shady and cool.

Portland is full of small breweries: about 40. That's more than any other city in the world.

In the “greenest city” you cannot ignore the city gardens and parks. For example, Tom McCall Park by the water with a 3 km long walking area or the famous Washington Park in the West Hills. On the territory of this park there is a forest center, a zoo, a Japanese garden and an arboretum. In addition, the city has a classic Chinese garden in the Suzhou style. The old wooded Laurelhurst Park in the city center is beautiful. And near Lake Crystal Springs in the park there is a rhododendron garden with two thousand plants. In Hillside Park West, in the hills, you can explore the beautiful Pittock Mansion, which today houses a museum. Moreover, Portland in Oregon is one of three North American cities that stand on extinct volcanoes (not counting island territories). In Portland, this is Mount Tabor, on which is located natural Park with amazing views.

The city also has the tiniest park in the world - Mill Ends. The park is located on the corner of Taylor Street and Southwest Front Avenue. Honestly, it's just a flowerbed with one small Christmas tree.

Portland's food scene has exploded in recent decades, and the city has been named best in the world by CNN for its street food. There are already more than 600 small eateries with or without their own kitchens in the city. And these are by no means some crappy eateries in the Russian imagination: sanitary standards are strictly observed here, and the food prepared even in the tiniest kitchens is very tasty and not at all simple dishes. Food courts are grouped by area; the largest is Alder, near Powell's bookstore. Those interested can even take part in one of the various (themed) group food court tours with a guide.

It is believed that Portlanders are complete coffee lovers.

Every year, Portland hosts the June Rose Festival with a host of events as part of its program, including a carnival. And Portland's Hollywood Theater hosts a regular festival of films based on Lovecraft's books.

KEEP PORTLAND WEIRD! It just so happened that by the will of fate I was brought to Portland. Before this, the state of Oregon, and even more so a town with a population like, for example, Irkutsk, Barnaul or Izhevsk, interested me little and there was no particular desire to visit these places. But it turned out that it was all in vain. A couple of days after meeting you, this city begins to be incredibly inviting. It is impossible to single out individual components here: the architecture of the city, some landmark or striking historical facts. But there is something special about the atmosphere, it’s comfortable and cozy. Well, for hipsters this is clearly the best haven.

I was an extremely unprepared tourist and did not know some facts about the city. For example, the city’s motto is the phrase “Keep Portland weird!”, and the city’s residents cope with this task: here you can see passers-by in strange costumes, blue beards, naked bike rides and so on, so on, so on.

This is, rather, an atypical American town with a great love for beer (there are about 70 breweries), coffee (there are an incredible number of different coffee shops in Portland), cycling (despite rainy weather 8 months a year, Portland managed to become the city with the largest percentage of cyclists in the world). country).

So, welcome to Portland!

How to get there

By plane

Clue:

Portland - the time is now

Hour difference:

Moscow 10

Kazan 10

Samara 11

Ekaterinburg 12

Novosibirsk 14

Vladivostok 17

How to get there

If you are, let's say, outside, then, of course, the most convenient way to get to Portland is by plane.

East Side It’s quite possible to get around in a few hours, seeing downtown with old and modern buildings.

West side

West side- These are American residential areas, the business part of the city called Lloyd ditrict with an exhibition center and a stadium. I didn’t limit myself to walking only around downtown and walked through the residential areas of Boise, Alberta, and Irvington. At the same time, at times it felt like the city had died out, and only me and a couple of avid amateur runners remained. But you can enjoy a typical one-story America with parked retro cars.

On the west side, as far as I know, there are significantly fewer hotels and they are all scattered in different areas, the closest to the center is in the Lloyd district business area. The price tag for hotels is not much different from the east side, and the distance to the center increases.

For a budget holiday, you should look at motels or hotels in the suburbs: Hillsboro, Beaverton and others. The cost at the motel will be about 65–80 USD per night. The key is to choose a location along the MAX train route for easy access to the city center and other attractions.

You can compare hotel prices from different sites.

Renting private apartments is a more affordable option. The price of a private room per night can be about 60 USD, all prices can be viewed. The nuance is that most of the options are offered on the West Side, but there is the opportunity to live in an American house, like in the movies.

Portland at night

I'm in two minds about Portland at night. I wouldn’t risk walking alone around the city late in the evening, as you might run into freaks or homeless people, or not quite adequate people. You get the same impression from Old Town Chinatown even during the daytime: there are few passers-by, there are a lot of homeless people.

Long term accommodation

I came to Portland with a purpose permanent residence and immediately settled into rented apartments on a long-term basis. To buy or rent housing for the long term, they use the zillow resource.

What are the prices for holidays?

The standard of living in Oregon is quite high, the crime rate is low. Not the most follow from here low prices for housing and food:

• Renting an apartment in the city center will cost 1,000 USD on average.
• For example, morning coffee costs me 4 USD, lunch in a cafe costs 15 USD, and dinner in a restaurant costs 20–35 USD.

Unlike the locals who love to refuel by eating out, I am a stickler for home-cooked food. Supermarkets with an average price category include WallMart, Winco Foods, Fred Meyer, and Cotsco. Markets that are more compact and have better service, but also with a higher price tag: Trader Joe's, Whole Food.

Organic fans with deep pockets head to New Seasons, where there is a concentration of organic products, for which you have to be prepared to pay 2-3 times more than in a regular supermarket.

But there is good news for tourists: there is no sales tax. That is, the buyer pays the price indicated on the price tag (unlike other states).

By the way, I recommend downloading the Yelp app. This is a more popular topic here than Foursquare, but the principle is the same.

Oddly enough, when Portland is mentioned, symbolic buildings or landmarks that would immediately be associated with the city do not come to mind. There is a complete image of the city with its atmosphere and impressions of it. I tried to highlight a few of the main must-see places that make Portland unique.

Top 5 (Top Attractions)

Beaches. Which ones are better

Oregon may be a northern state, but it is located on the Pacific Coast, which means you need to go to the beach! An hour's drive from Portland took me to a small town. Cannon beach, which is recognized as one of the most beautiful coastal cities by ABC News, and in 2013 named one of the 100 most beautiful cities by National Geographic. beautiful places in the world. There is a beach of the same name Cannon beach. It was not a mistake to take warm clothes when going there (it was in October), since the wind can interfere with a walk along a fairly long coastline.

Another thing worth noting is the road to the beach: the dense green northern forests in the haze of fog are breathtaking.

Museums. Which ones are worth visiting?

Portland clearly doesn't claim to be the museum capital. Large museums can be counted on the fingers of one hand, but the city is replete with small art galleries. But there are 2 museums that I would recommend visiting.

Portland Art Museum

Do not neglect one of the oldest museums in the country - Portland Art Museum. In addition to displaying the permanent collection, interesting exhibitions are often held here, which you should first find out about on the museum’s website. For example, I had the opportunity to visit an exhibition of the private collection of Andy Warhol.

The museum is located in the city center. Admission costs 20 USD, closed on Mondays, and free on the first Thursday of every month from 5 to 8 pm. Address: 1219 SW Park Avenue.

Pittock Mansion

If you would like to know a little about past life Portland, in particular for wealthy modern businessmen, you can visit the Pittock Mansion, stroll around beautiful garden and enjoy the views. The pleasure will cost 10 USD.

Located at 3229 NW Pittock Drive. From September to December and from February to June the museum is open from 11 to 4 pm, from July to September from 10 to 5 pm, and in January the museum is closed. And How nice bonus – best view over the city, so I recommend planning your visit to the museum on a clear day.

Parks

Portland is one of the greenest cities in the world, so the parks are great. The harmony between nature and the skyscrapers rushing upward amazes me: every untouched corner is planted with plants, the urban environment is as comfortable as possible.

The park I spent the least amount of time looking at – Mill Ends Park, the smallest park in the world, included in the Guinness Book of Records. Its area is 0.292 sq.m. The entrance is free:).

And here Washington park, on the contrary, will amaze with its scope. There is a zoo, Portland Japanese Garden, and International rose Test Garden here. It’s worth visiting the parks’ website to find out about ongoing events. For example, in the Japanese Garden in November there was a tasting of sake and national cuisine.

In addition to just hiking in Washington Park, you can practice archery, and if you have tennis rackets, play tennis by renting a court (phone number listed).

I really like the embankment near downtown (within walking distance) – Tom McCall Waterfront Park.

It offers an excellent view of the city’s bridges, and in sunny weather it’s nice to have a picnic here, after purchasing food from nearby food trucks or going for a bike ride.

Tourist streets

There are 2 beautiful streets that should never be ignored. I couldn’t call them touristy, because they are located in residential areas and both locals and tourists hang out there, and the attractions are cafes and shops.

Alberta street stretched out in Northeast Portland, among residential buildings. The entire street is made up of small galleries, shops with clothes and shoes made from eco-materials, coffee shops, bars, and restaurants.

It's better to be there on a sunny day to drink beer on a bench near a food truck, looking at the graffiti on the walls and Portlanders passing by in interesting attire.

I really love small galleries where you have the opportunity to acquire an outlandish painting by a local artist, an old book, vintage photographs and other utensils dear to your heart. To complete these tasks, it is worth looking into: Monograph Bookwerks, Ampersand Gallery & Fine Books, Guardino Gallery, Antler, Close Knit. Here, by the way, you can buy souvenirs as a gift.

After visiting the establishments on Alberta street, I decided to turn onto one of the intersecting streets to see the residential area itself. So I accidentally came across a super cute tree with wishes. As I later found out, the exact address of the tree is: 2954 NE 7th Ave.

Second street - Mississippi avenue. Conceptually, it is no different from Alberta street: cute cafes and bars, barbershops, galleries. Located in a different area, but also on the west side. There is a wonderful vintage store that I love - Flutter, 3948 N Mississippi Ave. Vintage photos, dresses, boxes, postcards, suitcases, perfumes and creams, decorated in vintage style. In general, it was love at first sight.

So I met two handsome men with Khokhloma painting a la from Russia with love for 6 USD each.

Main attractions. What to see

Food. What to try

Imagine my surprise to discover a wide variety of gastronomic options in Portland. Here you can taste cuisine for every taste: Korean, Japanese, Indian, Moroccan, American, Russian, Peruvian, Mexican and so on.

But you need to remember the 3 main components of a gastro trip to Portland: coffee, beer and food trucks. This is what the city is famous and proud of.

Here I will leave a few places that I really like. But I recommend wandering around the city, going in and trying it. And of course best sign quality - the number of people at the tables and even queues.

Known not only in Portland, but throughout the world Stumptown Coffee Roasters. Naturally, the beans are roasted themselves, the interior is minimalist, and behind the counter (what else can you expect) are hipsters. A cappuccino, for example, costs about 4 USD. There are several establishments in the city, the largest coffee shop is located in the center: 128 SW 3rd Avenue, you can enjoy and cheer up from 6 am to 7 pm.

My favorite coffee shop so far is Courier coffee roasters at 923 SW Oak, downtown. The interior is the most minimalistic, but the cappuccino, in my opinion, is the most delicious. Open from 7 am to 6 pm.

Frequently seen pink boxes in the hands of passers-by are the most famous Voodoo Donut, something of a local gastronomic landmark. There are just donuts, vegetarian donuts, and even donuts with bacon. You need to line up at 22 SW 3rd Ave, from 12 noon to 12 midnight. The price tag is more than humane - about 1 USD per donut.

Another opportunity to stand in line presented itself to me in Salt and Straw. Delicious ice cream with incredible flavors. You have to be prepared for the fact that you will have to stand for 15 minutes, or maybe even 30, but it’s worth it. A cone with a generous scoop of ice cream will cost about 5 USD. You can enjoy your meal from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. at several locations: 838 NW 23rd Ave; 3345 SE Division St, 2035 NE Alberta St.

Another place that I remember is Pine street market at 126 SW 2ND avenue. The beauty is that under one roof there are several places with different cuisines: Israeli street food, Korean street food, Japanese cuisine, American hot dogs, Spanish cuisine, pizza, and the aforementioned ice cream. There are tables in the center of the hall, the atmosphere is relaxed and noisy. The price tag is average - about 15 USD per dish.

I think it's worth mentioning the restaurant here Le Pigeon, ranked #1 in the 2016 Portland Restaurant Review. The restaurant is located at 738 E Burnside St., open every day from 5 to 10 pm. Main courses cost about 35–40 USD. So, on the advice of one of the compilers of the rating, it is worth taking beef bourguignon (35 USD) or justifiably hyped burger (18 USD). His quote: “Best in town!”

Food. What to try

Things to do

Portland is not a big city and sometimes bar hopping can get boring. One evening we decided to diversify our leisure time and went to Ground Control Classic Arcade at 511 NW Couch St in Old Town – Chinatown. It's a room full of old-school slot machines for every taste and color and with a small bar where you can sip a Portland beer. I was very pleased with the DJ playing old school music that matched the machines.

The establishment is quite affordable: entrance costs 3 USD, and playing on the machine costs from 25 to 75 cents. This entertainment establishment is open from 12 to 2 am, but after 5 pm entry is only for those over 21 years of age. And don't forget your identification document!

On Saturday evening we ran into a queue that took about 25 minutes, but it was worth it.

If you are in Portland from May to October, then you should take the opportunity and go to !free! tour of Portland - Secrets of Portlandia. It is run by local resident Erik Kennon, who works for tips. Tours are held every day, meeting at 11 am at Pioneer square. This is a good opportunity to see Portland's secret places and learn interesting historical facts in an informal and fun atmosphere. Depending on the season, something in the schedule may change, so it’s better to track the information on.

If you happen to find clear weather in Portland, I recommend taking a ride on the cable car - Portland Aerial Tram. This funicular is a full-fledged mode of transport that connects South Waterfront and Marquam Hill. The fact is that Marquam Hill is home to Oregon Health & Science University's main campus, which is visited by about 20,000 people a day, and there is also a residential area and a park. To connect Marquam Hill and downtown, it was decided to build a cable car. The advantage for tourists will be beautiful views to the city.

The trip takes 4 minutes each way and costs 5 USD. On weekdays the funicular operates from 5.30 am to 9.30 pm, on Saturday from 9 am to 5 pm, and is closed on Sunday. On weekdays, in order to avoid queues, it is better to come from 10 to 3 pm or from 6 to 9 pm. At the South Waterfront terminal (lower terminal), the machine only accepts cards; cash payments are possible at Lovejoy Bakers (a nearby bakery across the street from the terminal, where I would suggest grabbing a coffee in addition to your ticket).

Things to do

How to get around the city

Luckily for me, there was no aisle when I got acquainted with Portland public transport: everything is simple and as convenient as possible. There are 3 types of transport in the city: MAX Light Rail (Trimet), buses and the Portland streetcar tram. All of them actively ply around the city. By the way, Trimet also goes to the Portland suburbs.

For Trimet, we buy a ticket from the machine located at the bus stop. As I wrote earlier, you can purchase a ticket for 2.5 hours for 2.5 USD and for the whole day for 5 USD. The most convenient thing is that this ticket can also be used on the bus and in the Portland street car. Trains operate on five lines, with time intervals between trains varying depending on the day and time, but averaging 15 minutes. If I need to create a detailed route with a schedule, I use the website.

When boarding the bus, you must show your ticket to the driver. In case you don’t have a ticket, but you need to use the bus, I advise you to immediately prepare the exact amount for travel (2.5 USD for trips of 2.5 hours or 5 USD for the whole day), since the money is accepted not by the bus driver, but by the machine, and Accordingly, it does not issue change.

The Portland Streetcar allows you to travel between downtown, Pearl Distrist and Northwest Portland. A ticket can be purchased upon boarding the tram: a 2.5 hour ticket will cost 2 USD and will only be valid for Streetcar.

Transport rental

Well, where would a civilized society be without carsharing? This service did not bypass Portland either. It's called Zipcar and allows you to rent a car for a short time and at a lower cost than, for example, from a car rental company. It all depends on the seriousness of your intentions. But overall, it’s a pretty convenient thing if you suddenly want to explore hard-to-reach corners near Portland or go shopping at an outlet.

The company's website presents different service packages, as well as car models. Prices start at 7.75 USD per hour and 74 USD per day. But there is a small nuance of 25 USD - something like a one-time membership fee. Insurance and gas up to 180 miles per day included.

To use this service, you must first register on the site. I recommend downloading an app where you can see available cars and make reservations, and use the app as a key.

You can also see car options and prices.

How to get around the city

Portland (Oregon) - holidays with children

I can’t say for sure, since I haven’t had my own offspring yet, but I think that Portland is perfect place for spending time with children. There is at least Fresh air, countless parks, locally produced organic products, a relaxed pace of life. Regarding children's leisure, Portland can offer:

• Oregon Zoo, located in Washington park. The zoo is open every day except December 25th. From March 1 to September 30, a ticket for adults will cost 14.95 USD, for children from 3 to 11 years old - 9.95 USD. In the off-season from October 1 to February 28, the ticket price for all categories is reduced by 5 USD. Opening hours vary depending on the season: from 28.05 to 05.09. The zoo is open from 9.30 am to 6 pm, at other times until 4 pm.
• Portland Children's Museum. The museum hosts various exhibitions, events and classes for children under 12 years of age. The schedule of exhibitions and classes is updated on the museum website. Ticket costs 10.75 USD, tickets are available for purchase online. The museum is located in Washington park at 4015 SW Canyon Rd. There is no clearly established opening schedule for the museum, as it changes depending on exhibitions and weather conditions. It is better to keep track of the information on the website.

I can’t help but start with the view of Mount Hood (+ Air Tram goes up the hill):

I decided to go to Portland for two days so that history would not repeat itself, when we lived for many years in Pittsburgh and never went to neighboring Cleveland. After living in Seattle for a year and a half, there was no reason to visit Portland, so we decided to go just like that. The days are long, the weather is good.

We got there by Amtrak Cascades train. It's more expensive and longer than by bus ($35 versus $17 per person, 4 hours versus 3.5 hours) but it's some variety. Both Seattle and Portland have preserved old station buildings. Here's Portland's Union Station:

Seattle also has a Union Station, but it is no longer used for sending passengers.

Trains depart from nearby King Street Station. On the first day the weather was cloudy, and we mostly walked in Downtown and along the Willamette River, over which there are a huge number of bridges:

This was a view from the Broadway Bridge to the Steel Bridge. The bridges are drawable, the central part of the Steel Bridge rises, but we never saw this process. The pylons on the left are the Oregon Convention Center, next to which our hotel was. Next is the elevator (they write that Portland is the largest grain export port in the United States). In the foreground is someone's swimming pool.

The newest bridge, Tilikum Crossing, opened in 2015. It is unique in that it is closed to private vehicles - passage is only for buses, but also for pedestrians, cyclists, city trams and light metro. In the foreground is the USS Blueback submarine of the local science museum, but we did not visit the museums:

My main goal was to see all the volcanoes, without which I would consider the trip to Portland a failure. To my joy, on the second day the sky cleared of clouds, and in addition to Hood, who is in the first photo, we saw Mount St. Helens (and behind her on the left is not Mount Rainier?):

St. Helens, by the way, erupted in 1980. I don't know what it looked like from Portland, but a lot of people were probably scared. And the white stripe in the center in the next photo is the top of Mount Adams (+ bridge for I-5 over Willamette).

In addition to these snow-capped mountains on the Portland skyline, there are several extinct volcanoes, the tallest of which is Mount Tabor. We climbed it, but the top is so wooded that everything beautiful views hidden behind the fir trees. Plus there is a monument to a certain local figure, whom I mistook for Pushkin from behind;)

Perhaps the most beautiful part of Mount Tabor are the tanks where the drinking water for the city. It's a pity that they were ordered to be covered with lids for sanitary reasons. But we managed to see them open:

If on the first day we walked exclusively, then on the second we bought tickets for the whole day ($5) and traveled by light metro and trams. And they weren’t even greedy to pay $4.55 for the ride on the Air Tram:

This thing belongs to the OHSU (Oregon Health & Science University) hospital and since 2006 connects the old campus on the hill with the new one by the river. University employees can ride it for free. We just happened to be at a time when everyone was leaving work and going downstairs, filling the cabin to capacity (and then they’ll ride bikes, yes):

Theoretically (and we had a ticket for the whole day) we could go up the hill by bus and go back down on the Air Tram for free. If they had known that they didn’t require a ticket to descend, maybe they would have done so. We didn’t go around the OHSU campus itself; I didn’t read that there was anything interesting there other than views of the city. But before that we went to Reed College:

A small college that I heard about because Steve Jobs studied there for a year before he dropped everything and went to India to seek wisdom. And the college itself is very cozy, wooded, with a pond and a river in the middle.

We actually spent the entire second day traveling. We also took the subway to Washington Park. I say “metro”, but in fact the local light rail has only one underground station, but the deepest in the USA (79 meters), because it’s in a tunnel under a hill. They decorated it with soil samples from all depths and various instructive information about what happened here N million years ago:

We didn't go far into the park itself. There is a Vietnam Veterans Memorial near the station:

But if I were to get to Portland again, I would go to Washington Park to study it better. But so far there is no reason or desire to return. The city is pleasant - green, hipster, with numerous homeless people, new residential multi-storey buildings(note the wind turbines on the roof):

We could live there. But Portland is not strong in either classical music or higher education (Oregon's two main universities are located in small towns to the south). I'm afraid that I would get bored there, despite the parks and trams (Tanner Springs Park):

Yes, there is no sales tax in Oregon. In restaurants, if it says $11 for dishes, then it will be $11, not ($11 + tax) (Persian restaurant where we went on the first day):

But this is outweighed by the state income tax, which is very hefty (9-10%). It is better to pay the same sales tax on some things than income tax on all income. After this, Portland doesn’t attract me because of any cheap housing compared to Seattle:

In Seattle, it’s simply more interesting to walk the streets, along the water, and have more famous sights. What have you heard about Portland? No, there are nice places there. Here's Ira Keller Fountain (1970):

Or The Fields Park:

But in terms of urban sculpture, Portland is inferior even to Dallas and Houston. I was trying to find something interesting. Well, there is this gilded “The Dreamer” (Manuel Izquierdo, 1979):

Or Pod (Pete Beeman, 2002):

For fans of bronze realism, there's Animals in the Pool (1986):

And even Chinese elephants Da Tung & Xi’an Bao Bao (2002):

But there is also the terrible Portland Building (architect Michael Graves, 1982) with a huge bronze Portlandia (Raymond Kaskey, 1985) - a lady with a trident, which seems to be the second largest bronze sculpture in the USA after the Statue of Liberty:

I don’t want to live in ultra-liberal cities and states that quickly slide into corruption and start spending general money on various nonsense. So with the postmodern Portland Building, which is terrible to look at and uncomfortable from the inside, they are considering whether to demolish it or renovate it for hundreds of millions of dollars. By the way, opposite it, the Edith Green - Wendell Wyatt Federal Building (1975, renovated 2002) was very well renovated, turning a typical box into modern architecture:

Of the buildings, I also liked the Weatherly Building (1927):

And let there be the gates of the old Chinatown (now homeless town?):

We rode back on BoltBus - an advanced division of Greyhound, operating on the MegaBus principle - tickets can only be bought online, there is no bus station, which immediately reduces prices and gets rid of fellow passengers who do not know how to use the Internet:

My verdict: Seattle is more interesting than Portland. $331.06 spent on the trip. We walked 32 miles in two days (18+14).

Portland is the “city of roses”, one of the greenest and most environmentally friendly cities. This city is the largest in Oregon and the third largest city on the coast. Pacific Ocean in the northwest of the country, after Seattle and Vancouver (Washington State, USA). Portland is located 124 kilometers east of the Pacific Coast of the United States on the northern border of Oregon.

The city is very famous for its scenic beauty and big amount flower beds. 80 kilometers east of the city is the majestic volcano Mount Hood.

Portland is not as industrially developed as San Francisco or Seattle, which are also close to the Pacific Ocean, but it is calmer and safer, with one of the lowest crime rates in the United States. The city has a wonderful mix of old and modern architecture, from small one-story private houses to skyscrapers. Portland is not a million-dollar city; its population is 580 thousand people; it is a very compact city - the distance from its center to its suburbs is only 24 kilometers. Portland's population has grown from 2,870 people in 1860 to 580,000 in 2014. The city has very well developed environmental methods of waste production and recycling.

History of the founding and development of the city of Portland

The first Americans to reach the modern city of Portland were Lewis and Clark. These American travelers, on instructions from President Thomas Jefferson himself, crossed the North American continent from St. Louis to the Pacific coast. Their expedition sailed the Columbia River north of Portland in 1804. After their return and the publication of expedition reports, many Americans decided to try their luck in these parts - in the west modern USA. The city of Portland was founded on February 8, 1851. Its proximity to rivers determined its specialization as a fish, lumber, and agricultural processing town. The city began to grow. Built Railway in the 1880s connected Portland with the eastern United States by rail system. During the Gold Rush and the arrival of railroad service in Washington State and the city of Seattle, Portland's importance diminished somewhat. Despite this, it continues to remain an important center for processing forestry products for several decades.

In the 1970s Portland is gaining a reputation for progressive urban policies; new parks are being built, this gives impetus to the development of the city’s recreational resources and dacha construction. Also in the 1970s and 80s. Portland was the center of many subcultures: punks, indie rock music, etc. In the 1990s The dot-com boom—companies whose activities are related to the Internet—and the influx of modern enterprises began to emerge and gain strength. This economic bubble soon burst in the early 2000s. Soon communities of environmentalists, political activists, and urban designers began to move into Portland to continue the city's continued growth and metropolitan area. Since that time, the modern “green” appearance of the city with a large number of trees and shrubs began to take shape.

Portland Climate

Portland, like other cities on the western Pacific coast of the United States, experiences heavy rainfall in the fall, winter, and spring due to its proximity to the Pacific Ocean. The most common precipitation types are rain and drizzle. Fog is also common. Sunny days can be few and far between during the rainy season, and Portlanders have an unusual habit of putting on shorts and flip-flops the minute the sun comes out, even if the temperature outside is barely above zero Celsius. Winters in Portland are very rainy and there is usually very little snowfall. It's a good idea to have an umbrella with you during this time if you're in Portland between October and June. However, most Portlanders prefer hoods and raincoats instead of umbrellas. Rainy and cloudy weather usually lasts 9 months - from the end of September to the end of June, and then suddenly it becomes hot, sunny and clear. The average temperature during these 9 months is 9 degrees Celsius which is rainy and the remaining 3 months are 29 degrees Celsius and sunny. Tourists in the city should keep in mind that summer in Portland, although short, is very pleasant - from July to September the chance of rain is about 10%, temperatures can sometimes exceed 29 degrees. At this time, you can buy a lot of fruits and berries at local markets, for example, fresh cherries, which are one of the best berries in the world. The hottest months are July and August; temperatures at this time of year can rise to 38 degrees Celsius and above.

Portland Sights.

Of the main attractions of Portland, 3 can be distinguished: the International Rose Research Garden, where roses brought from different parts of the globe are grown, the Portland Trail Blazers - an NBA basketball team club and the smallest park on Earth - Mill Ends Park, which has an area of ​​​​only 3000 square meters centimeters (0.3 square meters).

Portland residents are big coffee lovers.
- Portland is one of the cleanest and greenest cities in the USA
- not far from Portland there is an extinct volcano - Mount Hood
- located in the city a large number of breweries, and one of Portland's nicknames is “Beer City.”
- Portland is the 3rd safest city in the United States
- the most common name of the city is “the city of roses”, it is home to the International Rose Research Garden
- another name for Portland, a city in the USA

Situated on the banks of the two largest rivers, the Willamette and Columbia, Portland, Oregon, is the state's largest city and the third largest on the northwest coast of America, after Seattle and Vancouver, Canada. Portland is the capital city of Greater Portland, which includes seven counties: Clackamas, Columbia, Multnomah, Washington, and Yamhill in Oregon; Clark and Skamenia in Washington State. Portland also represents Multnomah County.

City of Roses

Soft maritime climate With dry, warm summers and frost-free but wet winters, Portland is favorable for growing roses. About 10,000 rose bushes are grown at the International Rose Garden in Washington Park and thousands throughout the city. No wonder Portland's second official name is The City of Roses.

Since 1907, the grand Rose Festival has been held every year from late May to mid-June. In terms of scale and grandeur, the Portland festival is recognized as the second in the United States, after the Rose Parade in California.

City of Bridges

Another name for the city is the city of bridges. Greater Portland has 13 bridges over the Willamette River and two over the Columbia. Oldest bridges, built before the First World War: Hawthorne Bridge (1910), Steel Bridge (1912) and Broadway Bridge (1913), are located in downtown. Most bridges have pedestrian and bicycle paths. The exceptions are the Fremont Bridge, which carries I-405 and US-30, and the Marquam Bridge, which carries the I-5 freeway.

Portland differs from many modern metropolises in that it combines urban infrastructure with an urban lifestyle and, untouched by civilization, pristine wilderness within the city's borders. One such place is a huge forested area, including Washington Park and Forest Park in the Eastern Hills, located in close proximity to the city center. It's home to the famous Oregon Zoo, a rose garden, a Japanese garden, museums and dozens of miles of hiking trails.

To explore the city center in the best possible way transportation is a walking tour. At the Portland Visitor Information Center in Pioneer Courthouse Square, pick up a free map that includes all interesting places Portland. Also, free cards can be viewed or printed from the Travel Portland website.

A tourist route called the Big Pink Tram runs around the city, which takes you to all the main attractions of the city center.