The Pearl

The Pearl without a doubt is one of Portland's trendiest neighborhoods...if not thee most trendiest with its high dollar shopping and even higher real estate. The Pearl is also ranked as the number one neighborhood for walking in...with so much to see and do this is not a big surprise to me...not to mention I've walked it...I find it amazing that there is so much to see and do and if you love to window shop ( I do) there is no small amount of fantastic shop windows to peer into. Make sure you are dressed for the weather with a nice and stylish Northface jacket, and have on your most comfortable pair of walking shoes...no need for a day pack to pack a snack or water...the city will provide...with the dozen plus coffee shops, cafes, restaurants, and eateries along the way there is something for everyone's taste buds in the Pearl, and if you wander into some of the shops along the way you're sure to find whatever treasure you are searching for. Walking the Pearl makes for a wonderful afternoon of sightseeing and shopping, and if you grow tired hop on the streetcar and see some of the city's sights that way.

St. Johns Neighborhood

St. Johns is a quaint little neighborhood that is on the fast track to rejuvenation... even so this sleepy little hamlet makes a great afternoon outing for the urban hiker with friendly folks along the way. There is plenty to see and do along the main street through St. Johns. The street is lined with inviting store fronts... a cozy coffee shop, mouth watering pastry shop, quaint cafes, movie house, and a outdoor beer garden at the local pub. Slip into some good walking shoes, and grab up a reusable shopping bag...I'm pretty sure you will find something you can't live with out...or stop into one of the local eateries get something to go and finish your walk down at Cathedral Park located at the West end of St. John and directly under the St. Johns Bridge...and if you think you have seen all this before you might have...St. Johns was featured in the movie " Mr. Hollands Opus" and in the movie "The Hunted" cinema magic blew up the St. Johns Bridge. If you want to make this outing even more festive wait until September and the Pirates Festival at Cathedral Park and all the swashbuckling fun you can handle.

Mt. Tabor Park

Mt. Tabor is located at the eastern end of the Hawthorne District, and is actually an extinct volcanic cinder cone...key word here is extinct...Mt. Tabor Park is definitely on the must do list in the city. There is something for everyone at Mt. Tabor Park...tennis courts, basketball courts, amphitheater, BBQ areas, and miles of trails used by urban hikers, bicyclists, joggers, and many dog walkers...take the kids, wife, grab the hounds and their leashes...put on your lightweight hiking shoes (for me it's my Northface lightweight hikers), day pack filled with a yummy picnic lunch and water and head on out to explore this wonderful woodsy park...Don't worry you will get in your exercise for the day with the miles of trails winding through tall trees and landscaped areas...not to mention the stairs...ugh...good for the heart. Seeing it all from the top is worth the climb with awe inspiring views on all sides... Downtown Portland, The West Hills, and Mt. Hood its really one of the best viewpoints in town...So get out and get going.