What Is Portland, Oregon Like?

My husband and I lived in Portland, Oregon for 6 months when I took a contract in the city as a travel nurse. Portland is now one of our favorite cities!

Keep reading to find out why and to see if you would love Portland too.

There is a lot to cover here. Feel free to skip ahead to whichever section you’re looking for:

• Geography
• Transportation
• Weather
• Culture
• Safety
• Things to do
• Portland’s food scene

Geography of Portland

Portland is the largest city in Oregon (25th largest in the country). The city is cut in half by the Willamette River which is a branch of the larger Columbia River.

When locals talk about location in Portland, they divide the city into quadrants: Northwest Portland, Northeast Portland, Southeast Portland, and Southwest Portland. Occasionally, Northeast Portland is further divided into Northeast and North giving a total of 5 areas. The primary dividers of the city are the Willamette River (dividing east and west), and Burnside Street (dividing north and south).

Northwest Portland

Northwest Portland is comprised of the neighborhoods of Nob Hill, the Pearl District, Slabtown, Old Town (Chinatown), and Forest Park.

With the exception of parts of Old Town, this area is fairly upscale. Nob Hill and the Pearl District are urban and busy with plenty of high-end shopping and restaurants. Forest Park contrasts this with quiet wooded hills and hiking opportunities. Old Town has more of a downtown feel (it is Portland’s original downtown). Unfortunately, it also tends to have more trash on the street and a lot of homeless encampments.

Northeast Portland

Northeast Portland’s most popular neighborhoods include the Alberta Arts District, Hollywood and the LLoyd District. This is also the home of Portland’s airport, PDX (side note- you may see all of Portland also referred to as PDX). Finally, this area is known for big event centers including the Moda Center, the Veterans Memorial Coliseum, and the Oregon Convention Center.

Southeast Portland

This is the quadrant that my husband and I lived in during our time in Portland. Popular neighborhoods here include Hawthorne, East Burnside, Foster-Powell, Sellwood-Moreland and Mount Tabor.

We loved that this area has a quiet neighborhood feel to it while also having fun streets with shops, restaurants and bars. It seems to be set up to have a few streets that are residential followed by a street with fun things to do, then more residential streets and so on. This pattern is also true for much of Northeast Portland. Our favorite streets in Southeast Portland are Hawthorne, Clinton and Division.

Southwest Portland

Southwest Portland is where Portland’s true downtown is located as well as neighborhoods like Goose Hollow and Multinomah Village.

Several notable attractions can be found in this area as well including the Oregon Zoo, the International Rose Test Garden (fun fact: one of Portland’s many nicknames is “The City of Roses”), the Portland Japanese Garden, and Portland’s Aerial Tram (which runs from the riverside up to Oregon Health and Science University Hospital).

North Portland

North Portland is sometimes called Portland’s “fifth quadrant”. For a while, this area was a little sketchy, but that seems to be turning around. Notable, up and coming neighborhoods in this area are St. Johns, Mississippi, Williams, and Kenton.

North Portland is also home to one of my favorite streets- Mississippi Avenue. Mississippi Avenue has several fun restaurants and bars as well as some fun, quirky shops.

Getting around Portland / Transportation

Like any big city, Portland has it’s share of traffic congestion. Luckily, it has some great public transportation options. Portland has the MAX light rail, streetcars, and the TriMet Bus system. All of these options mean that you don’t really need a car to explore Portland. However, you may still want one for exploring some of the beautiful areas surrounding Portland.

In addition to plenty of public transit options, Portland is super bike-friendly. This is one of my favorite things about Portland. During my work contract, I rode my bike to work almost every day. This isn’t the first assignment where I biked to work, but it was the first one where I wasn’t looked at like a weirdo for doing so (not that I mind either way). Not only is biking very common in Portland, but the roads are set up well to help protect bikers.

Quick tip: If you plan to bike around Portland, look for neighborhood greenways (in addition to designated bike lanes). They are residential, slower roads that usually run parallel busy street (typically one or two streets over).

Weather in Portland

One of my biggest concerns when moving to Portland was dreary, rainy weather. My husband and I arrived in early April and left at the beginning of October. The weather was perfect! We had mostly sunny days and mostly pleasant temperatures.

I realize that I was lucky in my timing for Portland, so I asked locals for their thoughts are on the weather for the other 6 months of the year.

The general consensus is yes, it rains, but it’s not as bad as people make it out to be. I’ve also been told that the rain tends to be more of a steady drizzle, not a heavy downpour. The best tip that I heard is to still get out and do stuff outside even in the rain. Portlandians don’t let the rain stop them! I have also heard (I don’t know if this is myth or fact) that when it is cold and rainy in Portland, it’s likely nice and sunny on the coast. Seeing that the coast is only a around 1.5 hours from Portland, that’s not a bad deal.

One thing that surprised my about Portland’s weather is that it winter temperatures are mild, and it does not snow very often. If you love winter sports, you can still get your fill nearby at Mount Hood.

Living in Portland

Culture

Portland is full of outspoken rebels, quirky souls, old school hippies, modern day hipsters, activists, outdoorsy hobbyists, and everything in between. This is a place where weird is honored, and nothing is above being your authentic self. I really, really love this aspect of Portland. Coming from someone who was raised in the south- a place where you feel obligated to “fit the mold” and do as is expected- Portland feels like the opposite… and I find that refreshing.

Safety

When I first told my Mom that I was moving to Portland, Oregon for my next contract, her first response was “Ew, why?”. I am happy to say that after visiting she now has a new appreciation of the city. My point here is that Portland has received a bad rap from the media. Fortunately, it is not the as bad as they would have you believe.

The Downsides of Portland

When unraveling the question of “is Portland safe”, it is fair to address the negative aspects of the city.

The first thing you might notice when visiting is homelessness. To be clear, homelessness does not mean “bad” or “dangerous”. It is a problem, for sure, but more so for the humans living in that situation (not those simply observing their presence).

The next thing you might notice is drug abuse- primarily fentanyl and methamphetamines. Fentanyl is a very dangerous drug for the user, not so much for the person walking by. I did see plenty of people hunched over after using fentanyl when I was exploring Portland. I can’t say they ever said a word or even noticed that I was there. Meth, in my experience as an ER nurse, can be a bit more tricky. There are some users that can become very agitated and sometimes psychotic on methamphetamines. I did witness individuals on a couple of occasions that appears to be agitated and yelling a hallucinations. It’s a sad situation (and one I don’t wish to be involved in outside the safety back up of my ER team). In these cases (out in public), I suggest avoiding the individual by walking on the opposite side of the road if possible.

Like any major US city, theft is always a potential problem. Never leave anything valuable (or anything that could be perceived as such) visible in your parked vehicle. If you have a bicycle, invest in a lock that can’t be easily cut (bike theft is a big problem in Portland).

Beyond that, Portland actually ranks fairly low in terms of violent crime. I never encountered an issue or felt threatened during my time here. That said, you should always be aware of your surroundings (just like any city).

Politics

Portland is a very liberal city located in an otherwise mostly conservative state. I assume that this contrast with it’s surroundings makes Portland’s liberal voice louder. I would consider Portland to be one of the most politically outspoken cities that I’ve lived in. Political activism is common here, as well. You’re bound to pass someone on the street trying to get signatures or donations for one cause or another.

Things to Do in Portland

There are a ton of things to do in Portland. Here are some of my favorites:

• Paddle board/kayak on the Willamette River
• Bike on one of Portland’s many bike trails- better yet, join a bike ride during pedalpalooza
• Go hiking in Forest Park
• Rent a hot tub boat on the Willamette River
• Catch a free outdoor comedy show at Laurelhust Park
• Visit the Portland Zoo
• Visit the International Rose Test Garden
• Visit the Japanese Garden
• Check our Powell’s Books
• Tour Pittock Mansion
• Visit the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI)- or go to OMSI after dark for an adult-only experience
• Go to the Portland Night Market
• Go to the Portland Saturday Market

In addition to all the things to do in Portland, there are some awesome day trips near the city as well.

Portland’s Food Scene

Portland is a foodies paradise. Portland is known for food cart pods, international fusion restaurants, farm fresh produce, and quality food that is actually affordable. I made a list of places to eat (with the help of my awesome coworkers!) that are the best of the best in Portland:

• Eem- This one is my absolute favorite! It’s Thai BBQ, and I highly recommend the white curry brisket
• Los Burros Supremos- Burritos
• Xuyen- Vietnamese bakery
• Grand Fir Brewery- Get the chicken sandwich!
• Lardo on Hawthorne- Get the pork sandwiches
• Norah- Great vegan food
• Nil.- Wine bar connected to a food cart park
• Hawthrone Asylum- popular food cart park
• Bye and Bye- Vegan bar and restaurant with a big outdoor space
• Puff Coffee- This is a new coffee shop from the same creater that made Stumptown coffee (which is also famous in Portland)
• Steeplejack- an old church that was reinvented into a brewery
• Pips donuts- this is a donut shop, but know that the “best” donuts are a hotly contested topic in Portland. VooDoo Donuts is the most famous donut shop, but locals typically turn up their noses to it. Bluestar donuts are really good, but tend to be expensive. You can also try Doe Donuts for a vegan option
• Prost or Stamptisch for German food
• Jam on Hawthorne- Brunch
• Tin Shed- Brunch
• Screen Door- Brunch
• Oma’s- Upscale indonesian
• Rose VL Deli- Vietnamese restaurant whose menu varies by day
• Coquine- French
• Murata- Sushi
• Schools- Pizza
• Mediterranean Exploration Company- Mediterranean food

There are so many great places to try both food-wise and fun-wise in Portland. I hope you get a chance to explore this amazing city!