Portland, OR

The immediate core of downtown Portland sucks and never recovered from COVID. There and Old Town are, for a visitor, the only areas that aren't worth being in with their encampments. Chances are, you'll never come across the other large encampments. That's fine, though - you'd rather spend your time exploring neighborhoods. Protests you see on the news are so far removed from where you'll be, as well. There's quite literally no point worrying about that.

In general, I love Portland - Nob Hill, Slabtown, and Pearl District are bunched together and loaded with shops, restaurants, bars / cocktail bars, and breweries. If you cross the river into Buckman, also a great collection of restaurants and cocktail bars. Plenty of recommendations for all if you'd like.

If you make a trip out of it, highly recommend going to the coast. Cannon Beach and/or Astoria are probably the right calls if it's your first time. I've only been to Cannon Beach, so can also give you some recommendations there.

quote:

---

In general, I love Portland - Nob Hill, Slabtown, and Pearl District are bunched together and loaded with shops, restaurants, bars / cocktail bars, and breweries. If you cross the river into Buckman, also a great collection of restaurants and cocktail bars. Plenty of recommendations for all if you'd like.

---

I spent some time in Sellwood in September and it was lovely as well.


Also spent a good amount of time in Astoria and along the coast and loved it. I was with a friend who grew up there and we skipped Cannon Beach for some less touristy areas. There's natural beauty everywhere

Portland is maybe my favorite city in the US. You will see homeless but it's been like that for as long as I've been going there, 20 years or so. But they aren't aggressive and my wife and I have literally walked thru encampment s on either side of a walkway and stepped over about 100 sleeping on the Burnside bridge with no Issue. Downtown area is the worst but even 20 years ago downtown wasn't my favorite area. The hoods on the east side of the Willamette river (rhymes with Godamnit) are my favorite. Hawthorne ,.Alberta, Division are full of brewpubs, diners, restaurants, etc..Nob Hill on the west side is nice.But too bougie for me but it's nice to walk the length of the main street and.pop in to places that look interesting. Astoria and Cannon Beach on the coast are beautiful.

The Witch's Castle is a really fun hike. Lots of giant trees and other cool things. It's part of a longer trail so you can go as far as you want. If you go to the castle and back it's about 2 miles.

quote:

---

What are some easy to intermediate hiking trails that offer good scenery?

---

Angels Rest in the Gorge. I think it has the best view of the gorge at the top.

Mobile Link

Or, Horsetail Falls which is closer to Multnomah Falls. A short hike in and you see Ponytail Falls which is a great picture.

Travel along Historic Columbia River Highway and see many falls from the road.

You can combine this with a trip to Hood River which has lots of restaurants and drink options and is one hour East of Portland.

quote:

---

You can combine this with a trip to Hood River

---

Definitely go to Hood River. Was a very cool side-trip.

quote:

---

Definitely go to Hood River. Was a very cool side-trip.

---

pFriem has a great brewery right on the river (on the river side of the interstate, opposite the downtown area. Great food and better beer.

I always tell people to cross over into Washington State on The Bridge of the Gods when driving to Hood River. The view from the Washington State side of the Columbia is amazing, because you can see Mt Hood as the backdrop as you cross the bridge back to Hood River on the Oregon side. You can't see Mt Hood from the Oregon side because the foothills and trees get in the way. The view from across the river is absolutely spectacular. If the weather is clear...