Heaven on earth
-
5/14/2008
Portland, OR is a dream - no, it's not the most exciting place in the country. No, it's not the sunniest place in the country, though the temperate climate sure beats a lot of other places.
But what Portland does have makes it incredible.
-Portland is gorgeous. Clean air, little traffic and good city maintenance make nearly every other city look disgusting.
-Fantastic culture. Portland definitely has its own flavor - very indie and alternative without the pretentious, you must conform to non-conformity vibe. Anything goes in Portland.
-The people here are VERY NICE. Not fake, not wanting anything from you (with the exception of the many homeless youth, which is unfortunately a large issue in Portland), it is an extraordinarily genuine city. If I could pick one word to describe it, it would be just that - genuine.
-Great music (considering the size, a ton of bands are birthed out of Portland, etc) and art scene. See above and below.
-Great for young people. While it's a wonderful city for older people too, it's becoming much more conducive to a younger crowd, especially an off-beat eccentric one.
-Portland is extraordinarily liberal. It pairs up nicely with the rest of the cities vibe. Decide if that's for you. Many conservatives still love it here.
-Good use of public transportation. Many people take the MAX (the "bus on train tracks") to get around the city, including commuting to and from work and leisure. People also bike a lot in Portland, and use their good 'ol pair of legs.
-Distance from the beach and the mountains. The beach is about an hour and a half away, the mountains are about an hour or so. No, Oregon beaches are not for sunbathing and boogie-boarding, but they're gorgeous as all get-out and there are some really fun beach towns. There are some great mountains, including Mt. Hood, Mt. Bachelor and more, and many people snowboard and ski.
-Cost of living. It's much better than in most cities. You don't get charged up the wazoo for much of anything. There are, like in any city, expensive and inexpensive places to live. If you're young in this city you can get away with anything, if you have a family there will obviously be more to take into account but it is certainly not expensive as larger cities go.
No matter what exciting city I visit for any length of time, I am always happy to return to Portland, Oregon. This city is like a sigh of relief.
Brittany | Eugene, OR