Portland: A splendid city... (Eugene: sales, loft, college)

[sdmlions]

Hello All,
I am a young travelling person who has been to many places across the USA. I have seen plenty of different areas, rural and urban, and love to study cities/areas and their livability. For me, Portland takes the cake far and away as my favorite place in the US. The following are various observations I have made in my time (3 months) in this metro area:
The urban sprawl laws, in and around the city of Portland and it's suburb cities, lead to the most aesthetically pleasing urban land I have seen. There is beautiful parkland absolutely everywhere you look and Mount Hood to the east provides a dramatic backdrop. The different 'districts' are all unique in their nature, and sometimes I even forget I am in a metro area of over 2 million people.
Other large metro areas in the US are riddled with gritty inner city areas teeming with crime. Although there are some developing areas close to downtown, I have yet to see such poverty in the Rose City. The housing market is varied and diverse, and is reasonable relative to the West Coast market. The downtown is a happening, cool area and the south waterfront high-rise development is not what you expect to see driving north on I-5.
The size of the metro area is ideal in my opinion. It allows for big city living with a small town feel. The retail in the area has plenty of variety, with many great malls and shopping districts, but it keeps away from the 'strip mall feel' of almost everywhere else I have been in the US. Plus, there is no sales tax!The Mass Transit system is admirable for smaller large metro area, particularly the MAX which is clean and efficient most of the time.
The attractions of the city lie just beneath the surface, which may help increase the charm of the place. I wasn't too aware of the Rose Garden, Mt Hood or the downtown loft scene untill after I got here, and it is a secret that I think is not well known by many americans. Outside of the city limits lie almost any type of recreation you could think of, all within a 2 hour drive. The Coast, the Gorge, the Mountain and the River are all wonderful, and offer different ways to relax on a day off. Also, the people here are so darn friendly, which can be hard to find. Everybody is keen to have a conversation about anything you can think of, which is very refreshing.
Lastly I think the valley has the most underrated climate in the lower 48. There is no real threat of any natural disaster, outside of a possible Volcano, and the summer has been perfect so far. I think alot of the animosity I heard about the 'rainy, cloudy' climate, came from Californians who are spoiled by their sunny, smoggy weather. If you compare our weather to most places east of the Cascade/Sierra mountain range, I think it would measure up quite well.
Anyway, I just wanted to congratulate Portland a wonderful, clean and varied place with plenty to offer any lifestyle!

[nancy thereader]

Sounds great to me , sdmlions ...... thanks for the information.

[diggitydot]

Spot on review, sdmlions.

[Nature Girl]

It is a great place to call home.

[gnab gib]

Thanks for the positive review, from someone who's considering a move in a few years. I just got some Portland travel guides that I ordered in the mail today ... I'm getting fired up to go see it all for myself!

[sberdrow]

Portland will not disapoint. Great climate, beauty, cleanliness, good food, lots of water to look at. MANY nearby volcanoes (if thats your thing), less rain that Seatte. It has a fantastic airport. Portland gets a little snow in the winter, enough to build a snowman. You don't have much chance to get sick of the snow as it only last 1-3 days usually. Wa State, if you can work there, has no income tax. Most drivers are curtious. B4 you attack that comment, please drive to the East Coast, or LA. I saw more middle fingers in LA than I knew what to do with. Portland is 2 hours or less from very sandy beaches, personal note, call it "the coast" while in the PNW. Portlanders get along with everbody, just as long as you pronounce the state ORGUN, not OR E GONE, or ORGONE, its Gun, not GONE. BTW its not WAR SHINGTON, its WA shington.

[oldtintype]

Originally Posted by sberdrow

Portland will not disapoint. Great climate, beauty, cleanliness, good food, lots of water to look at.

I agree--the area is so gorgeous in so many forms from the bridges, the waterfalls, the hills, the waterfront, the parks, all the trees, the coast, etc. It's extremely easy to get around the city, a great place to walk, mostly people get along, we have amazing libraries and bookstores, etc. When people come on here to complain about how awful Portland is I'm always just floored as this is one of the best designed cities in the world, and the quality of life is great. Whenever I leave the state or travel elsewhere I'm always reminded of how great things really are here. Even if you only look at it from a city planning aspect--very few places can beat it and I've been to a lot of cities around the country/world!

[5chevin5]

Originally Posted by sberdrow

Portland will not disapoint. Great climate, beauty, cleanliness, good food, lots of water to look at. MANY nearby volcanoes (if thats your thing), less rain that Seatte. It has a fantastic airport. Portland gets a little snow in the winter, enough to build a snowman. You don't have much chance to get sick of the snow as it only last 1-3 days usually. Wa State, if you can work there, has no income tax. Most drivers are curtious. B4 you attack that comment, please drive to the East Coast, or LA. I saw more middle fingers in LA than I knew what to do with. Portland is 2 hours or less from very sandy beaches, personal note, call it "the coast" while in the PNW. Portlanders get along with everbody, just as long as you pronounce the state ORGUN, not OR E GONE, or ORGONE, its Gun, not GONE. BTW its not WAR SHINGTON, its WA shington.

And dont forget Willamette = (wuh-Lam-it) Multnohmah = (Maalt-no-Ma)

I have to agree with almost everything on these posts about how Portland really is wonderful...

[sberdrow]

Originally Posted by 5chevin5

And dont forget Willamette = (wuh-Lam-it) Multnohmah = (Maalt-no-Ma)

I have to agree with almost everything on these posts about how Portland really is wonderful...

very true and good points, I remember pronouncing it wil a mett ee when I started college in Eugene. while we are at it, sound smart. I84 is the Banfield, Vancouver Wa is "the Couve" Can anybody think of any more?

[5chevin5]

wait...I thought Vancouver was Van-tucky?? Just kidding,I did live there ..Yes "da'couve" Also

The Gorge (you know where)
The Sunset (Hwy 26)
The Pearl (Pearl District)
NoPo (north portland)
And of course the Saturday Market on a Sunday......
Just to name a few....