What is the Seattle impression of Portland, OR? (Tacoma, Vancouver: appointed, live in)

[Tiger Beer]

What is the Seattle impression of Portland, OR?

I mean, not just that its smaller than Portland. But beyond that...

[shoegal111]

Originally Posted by Tiger Beer

What is the Seattle impression of Portland, OR?

I mean, not just that its smaller than Portland. But beyond that...

Portland locals are friendlier and not as passive-agressive.

[rmkiefer07]

Portland is a beautiful city and very friendly. Seattlelites in my experience have few negative comments about Portland. However, I knew people from Portland some years back, and they spent a lot of time and energy bashing Seattle. When I would ask why, they would talk about "Seattletude" (first time I heard the term) but would never be more specific. I always felt the bashing was silly and told them as much. I'm sure most Portlanders don't spend their time in such actvities, but for a while there, I really wondered.

[509]

Originally Posted by rmkiefer07

Portland is a beautiful city and very friendly. Seattlelites in my experience have few negative comments about Portland. However, I knew people from Portland some years back, and they spent a lot of time and energy bashing Seattle. When I would ask why, they would talk about "Seattletude" (first time I heard the term) but would never be more specific. I always felt the bashing was silly and told them as much. I'm sure most Portlanders don't spend their time in such actvities, but for a while there, I really wondered.

Portland is a urban center that is pedestrian and environmentally friendly city.
Seattle is an urban center built around the automobile and is quite unfriendly to pedestrians.

With the Max and the downtown in Portland I can see where Portland residents would be disappointed in Seattle. The Seattle Times a few years ago had an article on taking an urban vacation by visiting Portland or Vancouver, BC. That should be a clue.

[rmkiefer07]

Originally Posted by 509

Portland is a urban center that is pedestrian and environmentally friendly city.
Seattle is an urban center built around the automobile and is quite unfriendly to pedestrians.

With the Max and the downtown in Portland I can see where Portland residents would be disappointed in Seattle. The Seattle Times a few years ago had an article on taking an urban vacation by visiting Portland or Vancouver, BC. That should be a clue.

I can understand disappointment. I don't understand going out of one's way to bash. When I would visit, I kept an open mind about their fair city and commented on various positive attributes. I even considered relocating. But the constant negative comments about Seattle led me to reconsider. It struck me as some sort of inferiority complex that was unfounded. Keep in mind, I'm not originally from the Northwest so I was looking at both cities from a neutral position. Seattle has it's problems, I grant you, but Portland has it's share too.

[pw72]

Originally Posted by Tiger Beer

What is the Seattle impression of Portland, OR?

I mean, not just that its smaller than Portland. But beyond that...

Seattle is slightly larger in city population, but it is close. The Seattle metro area is significantly larger than Portland's, especially if you include Tacoma.

To be honest, Seattle people love going to Portland because it does offer a lot that Seattle does not, as mentioned above a pedestrian friendly downtown, and a more human scale. Beyond that, though, I think the Seattle impression of Portland is generally "little brother or sister".

[SaltyDawg]

Seattle and Portland share a lot in terms of attitude towards nature and being separate from the rest of the country. Vancouver, Seattle, and Portland are really kindred spirits, IMHO.

Seattle no doubt feels more 'urban', but Portland has a great vibe that is all its own. Both are naturally beautiful, with some subtle differences in climate and populace.

Downtown Portland is really manageable, as the blocks are much smaller than Seattle's, lending a more humanistic scale.

[tudorjason]

I've always thought of Portland and its suburbs as a smaller version of the Seattle area, but with a lot more friendly people, more of a wholesome, family environment, and more conservative. And a lot, and I mean a lot, more trees. But that's just my impression, especially from the few times I've visited there and from what my Uncle and his family say; they live in Hillsboro.

[seattlenextyear]

Ah Portland. Where using food stamps is totally hipster.

[pw72]

Originally Posted by tudorjason

I've always thought of Portland and its suburbs as a smaller version of the Seattle area, but with a lot more friendly people, more of a wholesome, family environment, and more conservative. And a lot, and I mean a lot, more trees. But that's just my impression, especially from the few times I've visited there and from what my Uncle and his family say; they live in Hillsboro.

You are correct on most of that, but more conservative? Beg to differ, Portland, (city, not suburbs), is just as liberal as Seattle.