STP - Seattle to Portland (Beaverton, Aloha: apartments, rent, neighborhoods)

[kahulani]

Hi there, I am a late 20's native Seattlite dying to get out. I like a lot of things about Seattle, except

1. People - they seem so indifferent and sucked into their own cliques, and the crowds kill me
2. Everything is SO FAR APART!
3. EXPENSIVE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am thinking about a move to the portland area with my husband, he may have a few job opportunities down there. We will be headed down there for the weekend, so I am hoping somebody has advice as to where to visit in order to convince us that this is the right move. We don't need to live downtown (although any neat places to go on our visit would be appreciated for ...dinner/drinks?!) We want to live in a neighborhood that has the following:

1. Rent between $900 - $1100 a month
2. A semi walkable neighborhood - we have cars but it would be nice to have stores and restaurant/bars to walk to
3. A place with a yard or dog park within walking distance
4. The MAX
5. I know this is silly, but a Target store preferably (Walmart will do) within driving distance
6. Somewhere pretty new to live in (not like old dark and depressing or as some would say "vintage" apartments) I am not a yuppie transplant from Seattle, but just want a nice place to call home.

We are right at the stage where we are not quite ready to settle into suburbia, however we want somewhere out of the city but without a hassle getting into the city, with nice restaurants closeby. Am I asking for the world here? Also - I am an avid surfer/snowboarder. How far am I looking at going 1-2 hours is OK with me, but what is realistic? Thanks for your help.
Aloha and Mahalo!

[StealthRabbit]

Portland might work for your objectives.

You might want to look at housing on the east side of I-205 (or slightly west of I-205), near a park and the MAX line or Gateway station.

That will allow;
1) quick trips to downtown (Max is pretty fast along I-84 corridor, but VERY SLOW once it hits surface streets)
2) ez access to skiing ~ 45 - 60 min (Mt Hood Meadows via Hood River, or Timberline via hwy 26)
3) ez access to Columbia Gorge for hiking, scenic, wind surfing
4) very handy to Airport / Ikea / SW Washington
5) plenty of services, probably a tad short on 'trendy bars', but close enough to some 'fringe areas'
6) away from the 'high-rent-district' of Portland
7) proximity to variety of jobs
.... its a bit further to the beach (~ 10 min further or 1.2 hrs total w/o traffic)

there is a Target near Gateway Transit station (Mall 205).
Target : Store Locator : Store Details
Portland East

9800 SE Washington St
Portland , OR 97216

another one nearby
11826 NE Glisan St
Portland, OR 97220

The housing near Portland Adventist Medical Center is just south of Mall 205, adjacent and decent. Some parks and open spaces nearby too. There is a variety of housing near this area (Commonly called 'gateway' or Mall 205, Russellville, Montavilla, Mt Tabor, zip 97215 & 97216)

[kahulani]

Thanks! Anyone know of any areas like this in SW Portland? I really don't know the area very well at all - but I think SW is closer to Nike in Beaverton right? Also - what neighborhoods should we stay away from living in? I know up in Seattle here I probably wouldn't live in Capitol Hill, Central, Fed Way, Kent, Puyallup etc...similar areas in Portland?