Travel

My favorite part about living near Portland Oregon is its diversity. There is always a new area to explore or a fantastic restaurant to try. Portland is made up of many different neighborhoods that have their own distinctive vibe. Therefore, I have put together a list of 6 Fun Portland Neighborhoods:

Alberta Avenue This area is also referred to as the Alberta Arts District. It s a street lined with shops, galleries, restaurants and bars. Diverse Alberta offers food for every taste (vegan to carnivore), craving and budget. It is also known for its street fair which takes place on the last Thursday of every month.  Recommended Eateries: Enzo s Caffe Italiano, Back to Eden (Vegan Bakery)

The Pearl District This area is easily one of Portland s most desirable neighborhoods. It s located in the heart of downtown and shops and restaurants are within walking distance or a quick MAX ride away. Originally this area consisted of abandoned warehouses and railways. It has now become a chic destination that boast galleries, quality shopping and acclaimed restaurants. Recommended Eateries: Piazza Italia, Andina Restaurant

Historic Irvington Neighborhood This is one of my favorite areas to walk around. The streets look like a Norman Rockwell painting. There are stately homes along beautiful tree lined streets. This neighborhood contains the largest collection of Queen Anne, Arts and Crafts, and Colonial Revival Style residences in the state of Oregon. In the Spring they host The Irvington Home Tour in which you can buy tickets to tour some of the homes. We recently spent a night at Portland s White House which is a bed and breakfast located in this neighborhood. We loved our getaway and the breakfast was amazing! Recommended Eateries:  Blossoming Lotus (Vegan), Cadillac Cafe

Window display at Paxton Gate. It s a little too realistic!

North Mississippi Avenue This is an up and coming neighborhood. It s still somewhat undiscovered and has an eclectic feel to it. This area has undergone an extreme makeover and is now on its way to becoming a hipster hangout (it s okay for non hipsters to hang out here too!) There are a lot of interesting stores to check out along with great restaurants. On a recent visit we stepped inside Paxton Gate which takes taxidermy to a whole new level. In fact it was featured in an episode of Comedians in Cars with Jerry Seinfeld. It definitely falls under the category of Keeping Portland Weird. Recommended Eateries: Yara Lebanese Cuisine, Radar Restaurant

Sellwood This neighborhood is perhaps less hipster and chic than say, Mississippi Ave or Alberta Street but it feels very welcoming. The local grocery store is New Seasons and there are many coffee shops and restaurants which give this area a small town feel.  Sellwood is family friendly, walkable, and livable with a strong sense of community pride. Historic Oaks Amusement Park is also located here. It opened on May 5, 1930 and is one of the 10 oldest amusement parks in the country. Recommended  Eateries: Papa Haydn, Grand Central Bakery and Cafe

Mount Tabor We recently visited this park for the first time and loved the wide paved walkway up to the top as well as all the trees and open space. The path is so wide that there is plenty of room for bicyclists, walkers and skate boarders.  Mount Tabor, a volcanic cinder cone, was named by Plympton Kelly, after Mount Tabor in Israel.  In 1894, the city built two open reservoirs on the site (two other open reservoirs were built in 1911). At the crest of the park is a bronze statue of Harvey W. Scott, editor of The Oregonian  newspaper from 1865-1872 and from 1877 until his death in 1910. A gift to the city by Scott s widow, Margaret, and family. Nearby Eateries on Hawthorne Ave:  Fado (Portuguese cuisine), Apizza Scholls