What is portland like

Anyhow, I digress. All that to say, it always feels bittersweet to leave because there will always be parts of each city that made our stay worthwhile but also parts that made it a living hell. This is the biggest con and negates any of the positives for us. Keep in mind this year was apparently not a normal year. Either way, the stats are not good. Take a look below:. More: How to Dress in Portland Oregon.

It was more surprising to find that Jacob, who is very even-keeled, started feeling lethargic on the daily. No wonder they have a huge coffee culture here.

You really need your uppers. And your Vitamin D. And your sunlamps. I managed just fine with Vitamin D and a healthy dose of anti-depressants. Well, this year, the AC would have come in very handy. It was one of the wettest rainy seasons and also one of the driest, hottest summers. That also led to some of the worst fires Oregon has ever seen. There were weeks they said the air quality was worse than Mexico City. We saw ashes flying around the city and it was eerie. Portland roads also make no sense.

Sometimes just to get to a spot that should be a mile away, it takes 20 minutes because you have to go all the way around. The roads are also very narrow and there are blind turns everywhere. It was built for walking. I just know we were disappointed almost every time we tried a place people raved about.

Every other city we visited or lived in had a handful of places we will miss. Here, I felt like I could take it or leave it. Layovers are never fun. If you ever want to feel unadventurous, move to Portland. Living here has pushed us to be more adventurous. Before moving here, hiking was a fun activity, sometimes an item off my bucket list, or what you have to do to get to an amazing photography spot.

People here actually liveoutdoors. They can get off a packrafting trip, then go on a climbing trip, then hop onto another backpacking trip.

No bigs. This was us on a backpacking trip where we bailed. We had friends visit from out of town, and they could not stop talking about the trees and the moss. The trees are beautiful, and on top of that, people really care about the environment.

Our favorite part of living in Portland was how close it was to get outdoors. A few hours in either direction takes you to vastly different landscapes. To the west, you have a dramatic and rocky coast. We could even see it from our living room window and got excited any time it decided to show itself. Even if the general vibe of the city is unwelcoming, you can always find your people. Some places you need to dig deeper.

Luckily we had a couple friends in Portland who introduced us to a church and climbing friends, which made it incredibly easy for us to make friends. Everything is 10 minutes away. We started thinking anything over 5 minutes was far away. The norm in Atlanta and LA is 30 minutes, and if you add traffic, you could be sitting out there for hours.

Even the airport makes going through checkpoints so much easier. When mid-summer came around for me too, I started thinking maybe I could give Portland another year. Well, if you can last the entire rainy season, you really earned that glorious summer. Tell me … Would you move to a city like Portland?

What are some pros and cons of where you live? Esther and Jacob are the founders of Local Adventurer, which is one of the top 5 travel blogs in the US. They believe that adventure can be found both near and far and hope to inspire others to explore locally. They explore a new city in depth every year and currently base themselves in Las Vegas. Join over , readers! Photo via thealaskabarbie. Many of the top places to visit in Portland are galleries and arts-centered events!

The Portland Art Museum is the oldest art museum in the Pacific Northwest and offers five floors of expansive permanent collections. You can always venture to Alberta Arts District for Last Thursday and check out the work of local artists. Or make your way to the Pearl District, which hosts a large concentration of local galleries with First Thursday events. Photo via tastyndaughters. Where to get the best brunch in Portland is a big debate among locals.

With an overwhelming amount of options, you may never reach a consensus! Head to Tasty n Sons or Tasty n Alder to try a little bit of everything with family-style dishes, as well as their famous cheddar biscuits. Not looking for a sit-down spot? Donuts for breakfast are a perfectly acceptable option! Famous for their pink boxes and spooky concoctions, Voodoo Donuts got its start in Rose City. People craving small batch, artisanal donuts will love Blue Star , where flavors like Blueberry Bourbon Basil or Passionfruit Cocoa Nibs can be enjoyed at one of the seven locations across the city.

Photo by friedegglove. Top-notch ingredients and fresh local produce can be enjoyed at restaurants throughout the city, thanks to largely farm-to-table dining experiences! Cooking at home? Photo by groundkontrol. Many of the best things to do are part of Portland nightlife! Themed bars make up a large portion of the one-of-a kind nightlife.

The Alibi Tiki Lounge and Chopsticks are two of the most popular places to sing your favorite songs. Photo via oregonbrewfest. Ok, that was five, but North Portland is kinda like its own area with its own rules and a completely unique vibe.

The Willamette River divides east and west, and Burnside St. Once you get your bearings, and an idea of where you are in relation to those two dividers, getting around town is a breeze. Portland also has more public transport than many U. If you have kids or are planning to have kids soon, it may be a relief to know that most of the things you can do here are kid-friendly. One particularly fun thing to do with the family is to head out earlier in the day for a hike and then head back to the city to try a new restaurant out.

There are many different family-friendly events and festivals that take place in Portland. Going to these events is a great way to support local businesses and discover new parts of Portland.

One issue for families moving to Portland is finding childcare. With the number of young families in Portland, childcare is in very high demand.

Many of the most popular daycares in the city are already booked to capacity, so finding an availability will be challenging. All of this also means that childcare in Portland is pretty expensive. For older kids, Portland has some incredible schools to choose from. One consideration for families moving to Portland is choosing a house in the right school district. You need to find the spot where you want to be. Portland is one of the best cities in the country for people who love to break bread and eat.

The Silicon Forest area is home to all sorts of tech related businesses and household name. The city is also a great place for entrepreneurs and self starters too. Now what about some of those qualities of Portland that may be considered equal pros and cons? We should definitely mention a few other things about Portland that you might be curious about.

This can be a tricky topic no matter where you live. The cannabis industry was legalized in Oregon back in , and has seen major growth throughout the state. Oregon is one of the only states in the country with no sales tax, which makes it perfect for small and large purchases alike.

However, those state funds have to come from somewhere. Which means that Oregonians also pay a slightly higher income tax to make up the difference. We have station attendants that pump it for you. As lifetime Northwesterner, Portland residents, and realtors in the area, we can help answer any questions this may have raised. First Name Email address:. If you have questions about moving to Portland, feel free to call, text, or email Jackson Wilkey or Jesse Dau. Their success is based almost exclusively on positive referrals.

They earn the respect of their clients by working tirelessly on their behalf and by always offering them candid advice. Portland Public Transporation. Portland, OR Airport. Natural Beauty of Portland. Summer in Portland. Neighborhoods of Portland.