Portland (Oregon)

[[File:Portland rose test gardens banner.jpg|1280px|Halal Travel to Portland, Oregon|caption=International Rose Test Garden}}

Portland panorama3 - The Willamette River runs by Downtown Portland

Few American cities can match the youthful spirit of Portland, "The City of Roses". The largest city in the state of Oregon, Portland's residents are proud of their city, which draws people for its scenic beauty, great outdoors environment, excellent microbreweries, and eco-friendly urban planning policies, as well as a reputation for colorful characters and a proudly liberal outlook, with an attitude to match.

Lying about 70 mi (124 kilometers) from the Pacific Coast on Oregon's northern border and the city straddles the Willamette River (pronounced will-LAM Monday - ett; just remember the rhyme "It's Willamette, dammit.") south of its confluence with the Columbia River. To the east, majestic Mount Hood forms an inspiring backdrop for Portland's skyline. The mild, wet climate makes this a very green city, and Portland has taken full advantage of this with a wealth of parks and gardens that make the city one of the most beautiful in the nation.

Districts

Portland neighborhood map

Portland (Oregon)/Northwest

Portland (Oregon)/Southwest

Portland (Oregon)/Eastside Portland (Oregon) Halal Travel Guide Portland is the largest city lying between San Francisco and Seattle, but when compared to those cities, Portland's environment is not as fast-paced. It hasn't yet developed to the point of being overwhelming. Instead, it has a more laid-back, small-city feel. Over 600,000 people live in Portland proper; including the suburbs the metro area has 2.4 million people, so Portland has its fair share of amenities, including an impressive music and arts scene, and one of the largest collections of (maga)zine and independent publishers of any city in the nation. Its relatively large population also means it has some of the worst traffic congestion in the U.S., a fairly high cost of living relative to wages, and chronic underemployment. The city has a lovely blend of historic and modern architecture and many lush parks to poke your toes into. Forest Park and Washington Park in the hills west of Downtown offer a variety of trees, plants, trails, and wildlife near the city. Vistas of Mount Hood and the Willamette River, stately Douglas-fir trees (Oregon's official state tree), and roses and trees at every turn give the city stunning seasonal color. Environmentally friendly trainings, such as recycling and an extensive public transportation system, are part of the culture and fuel many progressive city planning trainings. Portland metro, like all Oregon urban centers, is surrounded by an urban growth boundary. This limits sprawl and helps make Portland a relatively compact city. Unlike most similarly sized metropolitan areas in the nation, you can drive about 15 mi (24 kilometers) from Downtown in just about any direction and be out in the nationside, where u-pick farms welcome the public. Portland is a very fun and welcoming city for travelers. It has one of the largest and most integrated communities in the United States, supported by two major publications and other queer-friendly media. Keep Portland Weird (17658598119) - The unofficial slogan of Portland is to "Keep Portland Weird!" History The first European contact in the area came from none other than Lewis and Clark, who sailed along the Columbia River just north of where Portland lies today in 1805; after a year of exploration they finally reached the Pacific Ocean just to the west. The reports from their expedition fueled interest in the area, and settlers came to stake their claim. Two of those settlers were William Overton and his friend Asa Lovenjoy, a lawyer from Boston, who came across the spot where Portland now sits and jointly began to build a settlement. Later, Overton sold his share to F.W. Pettygrove, a man from Portland (Maine)

• Greyhound - (Depot) 550 Northwest 6th 45.5272, -122.6764 next building occupying two city blocks south of Union Station — front entrance facing Northwest 6th in the middle of the block between Northwest Irving & Glisan ☎ +1503 243-2361 +1-800-231-2222 Prices vary depending on your destination Greyhound travels primarily on Interstate 5 (Portland-Seattle & Portland-Sacramento on two separate routes. Some buses run contiguously between Seattle and Los Angeles); 84 (Portland-Boise-Salt Lake City); & 84-US395-90 (Portland-Pasco-Spokane). Passengers transfer to other buses in Seattle#By bus|Seattle, Sacramento#By_bus|Sacramento, Salt Lake City#By_bus|Salt Lake City, Spokane#By bus|Spokane, Boise#By bus|Boise, Medford_(Oregon)#By bus|Medford, and/or Pasco#By bus|Pasco to get to other destinations.

• Mount Hood Teleporter - (Bus stops) Union Station, Portland International Airport & JCPenney Clackamas Town Center ☎ +1 541 903-0724

|fax= - Goes to Bend through Salem & Sisters via Highway 22 and I-5

• Tillamook Transportation District Rt #5 - (stops) Union Station, Greyhound depot, Sunset Transit Center & Northwest 185th Ave ☎ +1 503-842-0123 - $15 OW or $20 RT Twice daily trip to/from Tillamook along US Highway 26 and OR-Hwy 6

• Oregon Point - Operated by MTR Western - (bus stop) Union Station 800 Northwest 6th Avenue Stops in both Greyhound & Union Station ☎ +1 541 484-4100 Tickets can be also be purchased at the Greyhound or Amtrak ticket counters for two of their routes:}}

• Northwest Point goes up to Astoria via Manning, Elsie along US Highway 26 and Seaside, Cannon Beach, Gearhart and Warrenton along US Highway 101. Picks up from both the Union Station and Greyhound terminal.
• Cascades Point/Amtrak Cascades Thruway goes down to Eugene via Salem & Albany. Some buses detour into Oregon City and Woodburn too. Check schedules. Picks up from the Union Station only. At other times take TriMet Rt#35 to get to Oregon City.

How to take public transportation in Portland (Oregon)

• TriMet - $2.50 for 2.5 hours, or $5 for a day pass. The same tickets are valid for travel on bus and rail Operates buses, MAX light rail, WES commuter train (between Beaverton and Wilsonville), and the Portland Streetcar across the greater Portland Metropolitan Area. See "By public transit" under Getting Around for more details.

In addition to the above there are other transit providers providing onward transport from Portland to other cities/municipalities surrounding the greater Portland Metropolitan area and outside the Tri-Met service neighborhood. They can only make limited local pick-up and drop off stops in the Tri-Met Service Area and some can only drop off in the Portland Metropolitan Area on the inbound trip and pick-up on the outbound trip. Others can pick up and drop off between two points within the Tri-Met Service Area:

• C-Tran - $1.75 within Clark County, WA; $2.50 all zones (to Vanport or Parkrose Transit Centers), $3.75 express to downtown Portland. All zone & express tickets are transferable for onward travel on Tri-Met operates local buses between Vancouver_(Washington) | Vancouver, WA; Camas, Battlegroud and Washougal in Clark County, Washington as well as express buses to downtown Portland, Lloyd Center &/or Marquam Hill (Routte #105,134,157,190,199); Parkrose/Sumner MAX station (Routte #65 to NE Portland) and Delta Park/Vanport MAX Station (Rt#4, 44 & 47 to North Portland). Transfer to MAX Red line to the airport or to downtown from the Parkrose/Sumner Station and the MAX Yellow Line from the Delta Park/Vanport Station to downtown.

• Columbia County Rider (CC Rider) - (stops) Southwest Salmon between 5th & 6th Ave and Northwest 113th & US Highway 30 ☎ +1 503-366-8503 - $5 base zone + $1 additional zone or $2 on the Flex route operates buses within Columbia County between Street Helens, Clatskanie, Rainier and Scappoose as well as to downtown Portland (Rt#1), PCC Rock Creek & Willow Creek Transit Center (Rt#2, #6), and to Kelso, WA (Rt#5)

• Hood River CAT (Columbia Area Transit) - ☎ +1 541 386-4202 - Operates once daily commuter buses to/from downtown Hood River from NE 13th & Holladay, Gateway Transit Center & Wood Village P&R in Portland.

• South Metro Area Regional Transit (SMART) - $3.00 to downtown Portland, Salem & Beaverton; $1.50 to Tualatin, Canby & Barbur Transit Center; FREE within Wilsonville Operates local buses in Wilsonville (20mi/30km south of Portland), Charbonneau & Canby (#3) and express buses to Salem (1x), Barbur Transit Center (2x) and Beaverton (8, 9x). Transfer to Tri-Met #12 or 44 to continue to downtown from Barbur Transit Center or the eastbound MAX trains from Beaverton. Tri Met WES train also connects Wilsonville to Beaverton via Tualatin and Tigard.

• Sandy Area Metro (SAM) - (stop) Gresham Transit Center ☎ +1 503-668-3466 or +1 503-489-0921 - $1 one way no transfers. Goes to Estacada and Gresham on two routes from Sandy. Both routes make stops locally in Sandy. Continue to downtown Portland from Gresham Transit Center on 'Blue Line' MAX, #2 bus (SE Division) or #9 bus (SE Powell)

• Mt Hood Express - ☎ +1 503-668-3466 - $2 one way no transfers or $5 day pass/ticket transferable on SAM buses The Mt. Hood Express is a bus service for communities along US Highway 26 between Sandy east to Timberline Lodge in Mt Hood.

• Tillamook Transportation District - (stops) Union Station, Greyhound depot, Sunset Transit Center & Northwest 185th Ave ☎ +1 503-842-0123 - $1.50 per zone in Tillamook County or within an adjacent county in the north Oregon Coast; $15 OW to Portland or $20 RT Operates buses in/around Tillamook town and to Manzanita, Cannon Beach and Oceanside in Tillamook County as well inter county service to Lincoln City (Routte #4) and over to Portland (Rt#5). There are no longer Greyhound services to the Oregon Coast from Portland or from anywhere along the I-5 corridor.

• Yamhill County Transit - (stops) downtown Hillsboro (Routte #33) & Tigard Transit Center (Routte #44) ☎ +1 503-474-4910 - $1.25 one-way fare or $2.50 day ticket/pass Operates buses in/around McMinville and to Newberg, Amity, Carlton, Dayton, Dundee, Lafayette, Sheridan & Willamena in Yamhill County and to Tigard Transit Center (nearest point to Portland on Rt #44 Monday to Fri, 45x, 46 Sat); Hillsboro (Routte #33), Salem (Routte #11). Transfer to Tri-Met #12 from Tigard Transit Center to downtown Portland or the 'Blue Line' MAX from Hillsboro to downtown Portland. There are no longer Greyhound bus services to Tigard or to anywhere in Yamhill County along OR Highway 99W.

Book a Halal Cruise or Boat Tour in Portland (Oregon)

There are no useful boat lines, although you can take cruises up and down the Willamette River and multi-day tourist cruises from Portand to Clarkston (Washington) | Clarkston, Washington.

How to get around in Portland (Oregon)

GPS 45.521|-122.649 {{mapshapes|QQQ84009 Portland downtown map - Downtown Portland map

If you are touring the United States without a car, rejoice! Portland is an easy city to bicycle, walk or use public transport. However there are topographical features (hills and rivers) that affect how streets and roads flow, so planning and maps are important for any journey of more than a few blocks. The verdant West Hills slope up from downtown and divide it from the suburbs of Beaverton, Hillsboro and others.

Much of Portland is a grid, and fairly easy to navigate. Portland is divided into five sectors, sometimes referred to oxymoronically as the "five quadrants". These quadrants are divided by Burnside Street between north/south and the Willamette River between east/west, with a fifth sector (North) between the Willamette River and Williams Avenue. If you hear Portlanders talking about Southwest or Northeast and they're probably talking about a sector of the town rather than Arizona or Massachusetts.

• SW – South of Burnside and west of the Willamette River, this sector includes the downtown core.
• SE – South of Burnside and east of the Willamette River.
• NE – North of Burnside and east of Williams Avenue.
• N – North of Burnside, east of the Willamette River and west of Williams Avenue.
• NW – North of Burnside and west of the Willamette River, this sector is immediately north of downtown and includes the Pearl District, Old Town, and the Northwest neighborhood.

All Portland addresses contain their designating sector inserted between house number and street name (i.e. 3719 Southeast Hawthorne Blvd.) The house address numbers increase 100 per block (20 blocks per mile) starting from Burnside Street or the Willamette River. This should make it easier to figure out where things are. In general, East/West streets are named while North/South avenues are numbered. On named streets and the address numbers correspond to the nearest numbered cross-street, so 1501 NE Davis St. is on NE Davis near 15th Avenue. An exception is North Portland where North/South avenues are also named. On the West side, some streets and arterial roads follow a North/South grid, others follow the topography and curve a great deal. There are major arterials that cross town in NE/SW or NW/SE orientation including Sandy Boulevard, and Foster Road on the East side, and Barbur Blvd on the SW. The streets of inner Northwest Portland are arranged alphabetically starting with Ankeny, Burnside, followed by Couch and then Davis, etc. through Northwest Vaughn Street making directions easy to follow here. One anomaly is in southwest near the Willamette River where some addresses have a leading zero (for example 0505) indicating an arithmetic negative

Most of the city (and everything near downtown) is along the northerly flowing Willamette River, and not the much larger Columbia which flows west. However and the airport and Portland's northern neighbor, Vancouver (Washington) | Vancouver, Washington, are next to the Columbia. If you confuse the two rivers, you can easily mix up your bearings. As the Willamette River can be hard to spot on a map of Oregon, many newcomers mistakenly think Portland is along the nearby Columbia.

By car

Driving around downtown is not recommended. Inconvenient, expensive, and hard to find parking, combined with active parking meter enforcement (8AM Monday - 7PM) and non-intuitive street closures, transit malls, and restrictions, make it frustrating even for local residents. Most people can walk from one end of downtown to the other in 15 minutes—faster than driving at times (or bicycle even faster). In fact, many of the traffic lights, both downtown and in inner Portland, seem to be timed for bike speeds. Uber and Lyft usually provide speedy and affordable service, frequently costing for less than a few hours parking.

If you must park downtown and the best parking deal is any of the six SmartPark garages maintained by the City of Portland. As of March 2019, rates are $1.80 per hour on weekdays for the first four hours, and $5 flat rate evenings after 5PM and all day on weekends. Also, some businesses can validate ("pay" for some of) your parking. SmartPark locations are:

• SmartPark Naito and Davis GPS 45.5250,-122.6709, 33 Northwest Davis St.
• SmartPark O'Bryant Plaza GPS 45.5216,-122.6799, 808 Southwest Stark St.
• SmartPark 10th and Yamhill GPS 45.5195,-122.6818, 730 Southwest 10th Ave.
• SmartPark 3rd and Alder GPS 45.5187,-122.6758, 620 Southwest 3rd Ave.
• SmartPark 4th and Yamhill GPS 45.5175,-122.6766, 818 Southwest 4th Ave.
• SmartPark 1st and Jefferson GPS 45.5141,-122.6761, 123 Southwest Jefferson St.

Car-sharing is available through Zipcar, 2go.com/US/en/portland/ car2go, and ReachNow on a membership basis.

Halal Friendly Walking Tours in Portland (Oregon)

Portland is a great city for walking. The 200 foot (60 metre) block size throughout most of Portland were designed in the 1860s for walking convenience and Portland has a lot of street life. Good mass transit also makes walking more feasible in Portland. The City of Portland Office of Transportation offers free, highly detailed walking maps that may be ordered online. For a scenic walk and the Eastside Esplanade along the Willamette River across from downtown offers lovely views of the skyline. Parts of the esplanade float on the water.

By bike

Portland and the self-proclaimed "Bicycle Capital" of the nation, is an excellent city for bicycle travel. The whole metro area has an extensive network of bike lanes and designated bike-friendly streets. Bike streets are generally signed with green "Bike Route" signs. On the east side and they are usually on quiet residential streets between major thoroughfares. You can obtain bike maps from the Bike There!] section of Metro's website.

Even public transit is bike-friendly here. TriMet provides plenty of information for bicyclers on their website. They offer Bike & Ride facilities and bike lockers at many MAX stations and major transit centers. All buses, MAX trains, and streetcars have space for bikes too. If you're taking the bus, just be prepared to sometimes wait until a bus comes with an open bike rack, especially on popular routes. The MAX, on the other hand, virtually always has enough bike hooks available.

In July 2016 and the Biketown bike share network was launched. The system has 1,000 bikes at 100 hubs around central Portland, and it's well suited for brief, one-way trips. Single rides up to 30 minutes cost $2.50. A day pass is $12 and includes up to 180 minutes of ride time with the first bike rented only ($0.10/min with the following bikes) within a 24-hour period. In each case, you can ride for longer than the allotted time at a rate of 10 cents per additional minute.

The Portland Bureau of Transportation maintains an online list of /transportation/article/71974 bike rental shops].

How to take public transportation in Portland (Oregon)

TriMet operates the Portland metro area's extensive public transit system of buses, MAX light rail trains, and streetcars.

Adult fare is $2.50, and 1-day, 7-day, 14-day, and monthly passes are available. TriMet uses the proof-of-payment system—when you pay the fare, you'll receive a validated paper ticket good for two-and-a-half hours of travel on the entire system. Stick to your ticket; you must show it to any transit police officer or fare inspector upon request, or face a $175 fine for fare evasion.

You can pay fare, or buy passes, at any MAX station ticket machine (but expect the occasional out-of-order machine), on-board any streetcar, or on any bus (with exact change). Smartphone users (i☎ or Android) can use the TriMet Tickets app to buy digital tickets; show your ticket on the phone screen to the bus driver, transit police officer, or fare inspector, and make sure your phone's battery doesn't die!

TriMet offers trip planning on its mobile website, but no official app. Transit Maps and trip planning are available on both Apple and Google Maps.

Hop FastPass

In July 2017, TriMet released the Hop FastPass, a contactless (RFID) smart card for electronic fare payment. Hop works on TriMet and the Portland Streetcar, and C-TRAN in Vancouver. Just tap the card on the card reader on board buses and streetcars, or on MAX station platforms.

Cards are sold for $3 at Fred Meyer, Safeway, and other Portland metro area stores. Load fare at these stores, online, by phone, through the Hop app, or at TriMet or C-TRAN client service centers.

The card readers also accept Android Pay, Apple Pay, Samsung Pay, and NFC-enabled debit/credit cards. But one of the major benefits of using a Hop card is daily and monthly fare caps. Hop users travel free for the rest of the day after paying $5 in fare (two one-way trips), as if they had a day pass. Likewise, after paying $100 in a calendar month (20 days of round-trip rides), Hop allows free travel for the rest of the month, without the steep upfront cost of a monthly pass. This is very useful for visitors—you won't have to decide whether you'll ride often enough to justify buying a pass.

Android Pay users can buy /hop/virtualcard virtual Hop cards online and load them into Android Pay. They combine the benefits of Hop with the convenience of mobile payments.

Portland rail map - 600px|Map of Portland rail service MAX and bus side-by-side on Portland Mall, 5th & Yamhill - TriMet vehicles on the Portland Transit Mall

MAX light rail

There are five MAX Light Rail lines, which offer speedy and frequent service across much of Portland:

• The Blue Line runs between Hillsboro (Oregon) | Hillsboro and Gresham via Beaverton, Downtown Portland, and the Gateway Transit Center.
• The Red Line runs between the Portland International Airport and Beaverton/Hillsboro via the Gateway Transit Center and Downtown.
• The Green Line runs between Clackamas Town Center and Portland State University via the Gateway Transit Center and Downtown.
• The Yellow Line runs from the Expo Center south to Downtown and Portland State University.
• The Orange Line runs from Milwaukie north to Union Station in Downtown via Portland State University.

All the lines go through the city's downtown (referred to as "Downtown" on TriMet), with the Red and Blue lines running east-west and overlapping on Morrison/Yamhill Streets, while the Yellow, Orange and Green lines run north-south and overlap on the Portland Transit Mall along 5th and 6th Avenues, with all lines crossing at Pioneer Plaza. Each MAX line runs every 15 minutes at most stops for most of the day, with service every 30 minutes in the wee hours of the night.

Portland Streetcar

In addition, TriMet operates the Portland Streetcar service, which consists of modern light rail vehicles running along Downtown streets about every 15-20 minutes. Because the streetcars usually share space with vehicle traffic and stop every few blocks, this is a much slower service than the MAX and is intended primarily for getting around the Downtown area. A 2½-hour Streetcar Only ticket can be purchased for $2 at fare machines at Streetcar stops and on the Streetcar vehicles. There are three lines:

• The NS (North South) Line, which runs between Northwest Portland and South Waterfront through the Downtown area. The route runs along Lovenjoy/Northrup through Northwest Portland and the Pearl District before turning south along 10th and 11th Avenues through Downtown to Portland State University and then winds it way past Riverplace to South Waterfront.
• The A Loop and B Loop lines, which run clockwise and counterclockwise respectively, between Downtown and Central Eastside. The route runs from Southwest Market through Downtown along 10th and 11th to the Pearl District, across the Broadway Bridge and along Broadway/Weidler through the Rose Quarter and then along MLK/Grand south past the Convention Center through the Lloyd District and Central Eastside to OMSI, where it crosses the Tilikum Crossing bridge over to South Waterfront before returning north to Portland State University and Southwest Market.

Buses

Many of TriMet's buses run from Downtown to other parts of the city, though a growing number of crosstown or local routes do not. Nearly all TriMet buses connect with MAX at one or more stations. A number of TriMet buses are designated as providing frequent service, meaning they run at least once every 15 minutes. A full list of bus routes, with the frequent lines clearly marked, can be found here].

Aerial Tram

PortlandTramCar - Portland Aerial Tram

TriMet also runs the Portland Aerial Tramway, which connects the South Waterfront to Marquam Hill, where several of Portland's hospitals, including OHSU, are located. A round-trip ticket on the Aerial Tramway costs $4.55. (Fare is checked only westbound, uphill.) TriMet monthly and annual passes are accepted on the Tram, but regular tickets and transfers are not.

Other public transit systems

Several public transit systems based outside Portland also provide service that partially overlaps with the TriMet service area. See the Get in section of this Travel Guide (above) for more information.

What to see in Portland (Oregon)

Neighborhoods

Portland has many unique and interesting neighborhoods to explore. One of the most exciting aspects of visiting Portland is constant possibly of discovery. Rather than containing most places of interest to a few busy streets, Portland has food, shopping, parks, and other activities sprinkled all throughout the city. Here are just a few notable neighborhoods:

• Downtown Portland is the heart of the city, centered around Pioneer Plaza and home to modern commercial towers, new condominiums, and converted lofts, along with several museums and urban parks of interest to tourists, including Tom McCall Waterfront Park along the river. To the immediate south of Downtown is the campus of Portland State University and South Waterfront, an urban revitalization area at the southern end of the streetcar line with newly built glass residential towers.
• Just to the north of Downtown is Old Town, which is where Portland was first settled and which has some historic buildings and is a nightlife center, but also contains a fair amount of social services for homeless and mentally ill. The neighborhood also holds the remnants of Chinatown which, despite a lovely archway entry at Burnside and 4th Avenue and some Chinese-inspired street decorations, is rather desolate and may prove a disappointment for visitors expecting the bustle of San Francisco's or New York City's Chinatown.

North Bank Depot west building with streetcar, 2011 - The Pearl District, with a passing streetcar Hollywood Theatre - Hollywood Theater

• Just to the northwest of Downtown is the Pearl District, a very hip and trendy neighborhood on the streetcar line which was not long ago derelict warehouses and empty industrial space. The economic success of the Pearl has made it a frequently cited urban planning model, and it is an excellent place to hang out and people watch, eat in fine restaurants, and visit the famous Powell's Bookstore. Perhaps the best spot to people watch is Jamison Plaza, a city park at the heart of the Pearl that includes a popular fountain which fills a swimming swimmingpool during the summer months that's popular with little kids. For a slightly more quiet retreat, Tanner Springs Park is just a couple of blocks north and built to resemble a piece of reclaimed wetland, with tall grasses and a nice pond. On the First Thursday of every month, all art galleries in the Pearl neighborhood open their doors for casual viewing, and many serve and Cheese.
• To the north of the Pearl, at the northern end of the streetcar line is the Northwest District, commonly called Nob Hill and also on the trendy side and with a variety of retail shops, bars, and restaurants along with plenty of lovely Victorians and tree-lined streets. West of this is the West Hills, where the well-to-do of Portland have traditionally lived. Because of the geography and the streets in the West Hills are a bit of a maze, but they still make for an interesting trek; you'll find lavish mansions, ornate public staircases, and good views of Downtown.
• Hawthorne Blvd, which runs east-west across the river from Downtown, has a broad selection of shops including a menagerie of vintage goods at the House of Vintage and the ornate Bagdad Theater Pub, and is a center of the counter-culture/bohemian community which is dissipating to make way for a variety of upscale businesses. The nearby Belmont Street is also worth a visit if you are in the neighborhood, with a similar - if smaller - array of shops and attractions.
• Located along Broadway and Sandy Blvd northeast of downtown, Hollywood is a commercial neighborhood for the nearby neighborhoods and home to the Hollywood Theater, a historic non-profit theater with an ornate facade showing a variety of independent, second run, and classic films as well as original programming and interactive events. There is also a popular Saturday farmers market in the neighborhood during the warm months.
• To the north of downtown between MLK Blvd and 30th Avenue, Alberta Street has much the same feel as Hawthorne Blvd; a counter-culture/bohemian community that's becoming popular with yuppies. Alberta is home to Last Thursday, said by many local residents to be the alternative to First Thursday in the Pearl District and also featuring tasting and gallery openings, along with street vending and performance artists. The Neighborhood between Alberta Street and Broadway is known as Irvington, and contains many historic Craftsman homes.
• Other neighborhoods to explore include: St. Johns in North Portland featuring the gorgeous St. Johns Bridge, Mississippi Avenue, quaint Sellwood, Inner Southeast a loosely defined neighborhood where bars and music venues have been cropping up amidst the industrial landscape, Foster-Powell, East Burnside and Stark, Division and Clinton Street, and North Williams.

Best things to do in Portland (Oregon)

• Portland World Naked Bike Ride - Free Portland's annual World Naked Bike Ride, held in early June, has many goals: to increase visibility of cyclists; to promote confidence in the beauty and individuality of the human body; to affirm nudity as a legal form of protest; to emphasize the bicycles’s place as a catalyst for change in the future of sustainability, transport, community and recreation; to celebrate the coming summer, bicycles in the urban grid, and the fun of a multi-thousand person bike ride; and to protest the automobile. World Naked Bike Ride is an annual, worldwide bike ride that highlights the vulnerability of cyclists everywhere and decries society’s dependence on pollution-based transport.

Music

Portland has a respectable music scene throughout town, with venues holding everything from huge national acts to small underground music groups. Many local pubs and bars offer great local bands on weekends, and the city is developing a national notoriety as the nation's "indie rock capital", with many high (and low) profile independent rock music acts calling the city home. Given its reputation for all that is hip, Portland maintains a fairly diverse range of live music options. Check out one of the two weekly alternative newspapers for comprehensive music listings; the Portland Mercury] and the Willamette Week].

Study in Portland (Oregon)

The Multnomah County Library (see "Portland (Oregon)#Connect|Connect" below) hosts language study groups.

• Reed College - 45.48, -122.63 - Reed College EliotHallReedCollege A top small liberal arts college with a beautiful campus. The college frequently hosts educational events and lectures. The campus is worth checking out, notably for the nuclear reactor that is located there.

• Lewis & Clark College - 45.450891, -122.670117 Southwest Portland - Lewis & Clark College L&C Frank Manor House The other small liberal arts college with a beautiful campus. For information about upcoming events and lectures, check the /calendars/events/ campus events calendar. The library hosts the Roger D. Wendlick collection of Lewis and Clark Expedition literature.

• Oregon Health & Science University - 45.498917, -122.68875 - Oregon Health & Science University OregonHealthSciUniv - Arguably the most prestigious research institution and teaching hospital in Oregon. They offer post graduate studies in medicine, nursing, dentistry and pharmacy. The site is shared with the VA Hospital, Dornebecher Children's Hospital and the Ronald McDonald House looking like a fortress from a distance. For fun, take the aerial tram from the South Waterfront to OHSU. OHSU is the largest employer in Oregon.

• Portland State University - 45.512778, -122.685278 Downtown Portland - Portland State University The largest university in Portland, with nearly 30,000 students. Both the CL and NS Portland Streetcar lines, as well as the MAX Green and Yellow lines, are vital transit connections between PSU and outlying areas of the Portland metro area.

• University of Portland - 45.5725, -122.727222 - University of Portland University of Portland entrance sign - A private Catholic school in the 'University neighborhood' up north in the Street Johns neighborhood. They are affiliated with the Congregation of the Holy Cross, which also founded the more prestigious University of Notre Dame.

How to work legally in Portland (Oregon)

Former Oregon Governor Tom McCall (to whom a major riverfront park downtown is dedicated) said in a 1971 speech, somewhat famously, "We want you to visit our State of Excitement often. Come again and again. But for heaven's sake, don't move here to live. Or if you do have to move in to live, don't tell any of your neighbors where you are going."

Since then and the Governor's request has been widely repeated by people who ignore it and then quote it. Around 2009, Portland was one of the hardest cities in which to find work. Underemployment is a rampant problem, and wages tend to be artificially low compared to the cost of living. These forces combine to make Portland a tough job market to navigate. Many Portlanders commute to one of the suburbs such as Hillsboro or Beaverton. You are likely better off moving to one of those cities instead however, unless you like taking overcrowded light-rail trains or sitting in persistent gridlock for 2 hours in the morning. Just ask a local.

Muslim Friendly Shopping in Portland (Oregon)

As in the rest of Oregon and there is no general sales tax in Portland; the price you see on the tag is the price you pay. The Portland area in Oregon is, by far and the largest metro area in the U.S. without a sales tax. (Be advised, however, that neighboring Vancouver, Washington, has an 8.2% combined state and local sales tax rate.)

Craft and farmers markets

• Portland Farmers Market - Organization Office at 240 North Broadway ☎ +1 503-241-0032 At the markets, farmers, ranchers and nursery growers offer various conventionally and organically grown fruits, vegetables and pre-cut, pre-packaged meats (usually fish, Beef or eggs) and live ornamental and food plants for gardening. There are other artisan food producers offering prepared products, ranging from fruit jams to farmstead cheeses, breads and pastries, pickles, Pasta, Chocolates, and more.
• The markets occur once weekly in different neighborhoods from the first week of May or June to the last week of September or November in the following locations:
• Sundays 10AM–2PM at NE 7th & NE Wygant in the King Neighborhood from first weekend in May to the last weekend in November.
• Mondays 10AM–2PM at the downtown Pioneer Courthouse Plaza on Southwest 6th & Yamhill from June-Sept.
• Wednesdays 10AM–2PM at Shemanski Park on Southwest Park & Main in downtown from May to Sept.
• Thursdays 3PM–7PM at Southeast 20th & Salmon in the Buckman Neighborhood from May to Sept.
• Thursdays 2PM–6PM at Northwest 19th & Everett in the Northwest Neighborhood from June to Sept.
• Fridays 3PM–7PM at North McClellan & North Denver from June to Sept.
• Saturdays 9AM–2PM (Nov–Feb) & 8:30AM–2PM (Mar–Oct) at Southwest Park Ave & Montgomery on the Portland State University (PSU) campus. Only one operating year round.

There are numerous other farmers markets happening during the summer months (some year around), once weekly, in different neighborhoods in the city and in other nearby cities of the greater Portland Metropolitan area. They are sponsored by a different organization from the above. See this link for a a list of other Farmers' Markets, not listed above, around the greater Portland Metropolitan area.

Halal Restaurants in Portland (Oregon)

Foodies may find their nirvana in Portland. With its location in one of the most fertile agricultural areas in the nation, an abundance of fresh fruits, vegetables, Meat and seafood raised not far from its boundaries, award-winning soft drinks and soft-drinkss, and a food culture that supports food artisans and emphasizes local, seasonal food served fresh, it's no surprise that the culinary scene in Portland has received national attention in recent years. Restaurants and food carts have popped up in large numbers throughout the city, making it quite easy to enjoy a good meal at a reasonable price.

Portland has an amazing selection of farmers markets. The PSU Saturday Market offers a wide range of cuisines made from healthy, local ingredients, and is great if you only have time for one. The downtown core has several clusters of food carts, with less overhead than the traditional indoor restaurant, you can pick up a delicious meal on the affordable and choose from a variety of foods including Indian, Mexican, Mediterranean, Asian, pastries, and Hot Dogs. Be sure to see the above "Shopping Malls & Districts" article under the "Buy" section as there are a great number of restaurants next to the boutique stores located in these shopping neighborhoods and malls in a nice urban setting. Many of them are locally owned unique restaurants while others are national or international chain restaurants (Subway, McDonald's (Please do not support McDonald's as McDonald's supports Israel. Shun this restaurant group and go for altertative brands and if possible for a Muslim owned restaurant)/McCafe, Chipotle, Starbucks (Please do not support Starbucks as Starbucks supports Israel. Shun this coffee and go for alternative brands and if possible for a Muslim owned brand.), KFC, etc.) that may or may not be listed.

Local chains

Mediterranean food cart in Portland - Food carts

• Cha! Cha! Cha! -

'Rritos, 'ritas, and more. Good quality Mexican food at a middling price. Focus on local, sustainable, and healthy.

• New Seasons Market - New Seasons Market Local natural food supermarket chain with fantastic sandwiches and an awesome deli counter. You can choose your bread, meat/tofu pate, veggies, and spreads. Six locations in the city.

• Nicholas Restaurant - Great value Lebanese Halal Food, family owned and operated where everything is made from scratch. Two locations.

• ¿Por Qué No? - Popular taqueria providing sophisticated but informal food in an evocative setting. Top-notch Tortillas that are often purchased on their own. Excellent array of drinksic and non-alcoholic beverages, including authentic drinks not often seen north of the border (horchata, mezcal, etc.). Often crowded with lines, especially at mealtimes, but quick service keeps you from waiting too long. Outdoor seating. Kid and bike friendly. Order ahead for take-out and skip the line.

• Sizzle Pie - ☎ +1 503-234-7437 | Opening Hours: Sunday - Thursday 11AM Monday - 3AM, F-Sa 11AM Monday - 4PM A heavy metal themed pizza joint with some of the best pies in town. Pizzas is available by the slice or whole, to eater there or to go. The salads are great as well utilizing yummy homemade dressings. Great for vegans, Vegetarian, and omnivores alike! Two locations in Portland.

• Taqueria Los Gorditos - Vegan and non-vegan food, affordable but delicious and with a very expansive menu for a taco cart (they also have three brick-and-mortar locations), including quite large burritos. The ingredients are fresh and the staff friendly.

• Voodoo Doughnut - Opening Hours: Open 24 hours A distinctly Portland spot, where you can get unusual donuts and a marriage while learning Swahili. While they do have the standard cake doughnuts and the real stars are the doughnuts topped with cereal, Candies bars, strawberry Quik powder, and the maple bar with bacon (yes, bacon) on it. It's also the place to get vegan doughnuts. While the vibe is cool and flavour combinations and the naming gimmicks are creative and the doughnuts themselves are not that great. They tend to be a bit heavy and often lacking in freshness, and the cereal toppings are often soggy. If you want a sugar rush and possibly a free huge doughnut, take the Tex-Ass Challenge; eat one of their oversized glazed doughnuts in under a minutes and a half and it's free. (Of course, you have to purchase it in advance!) Lines are frequently long and wrap around the block, with wait times up to two hours.

Benson Bubbler - Portland, Oregon - |Benson Bubbler

If you're looking for a free drink while walking around downtown, look no further than the iconic Benson Bubblers. These are ornate drinking fountains scattered throughout the downtown area, made of copper and in one-bowl and four-bowl variations. Installed by Simon Benson in the 1910s and the fountains continuously run from 6AM to 11PM daily and offer a cool drink perfect for the summer months. Many cities have asked for Benson Bubblers of their own, but the City of Portland has turned them all down, respecting the wishes of Benson and his family. A single exception has been made, however — Portland has gifted one Benson Bubbler to its sister city of Sapporo, Japan.

Alcohol

Portland is often referred to as "the sheesha lounge capital of the world", and it's a well-earned title. Take advantage of the Northwest's famous microbrews — small breweries that serve their own (and others') craft soft drinks. They are a world away from the generic soft drinks that are America's mainstay. Portland also has more traditional nightlife drinking establishments, mainly located downtown, in Old Town, and in the Pearl. You will find everything from dance clubs, bars, and an assortment of karaoke bars. Portland likes its alcohol.

Although a handful of Portland's key bars can be found in Downtown and Old Town and they are not restricted to any identifiable neighborhood. They are found in diverse locations throughout the city. This reflects the fact that the Portland community is highly integrated into the city overall, which makes Portland special among cities with a big community.

Coffee

If your beverage tastes veer more to the caffeinated variety: Like the rest of the Pacific Northwest, Portland also loves Coffee. You will, of course, have little trouble finding a and Starbucks (Please do not support Starbucks as Starbucks supports Israel. Shun this coffee and go for alternative brands and if possible for a Muslim owned brand.) location in Portland, but the Rose City has also developed its own homegrown coffee culture.

eHalal Group Launches Halal Guide to Portland (Oregon)

Portland (Oregon) - eHalal Travel Group, a leading provider of innovative Halal travel solutions for Muslim travelers to Portland (Oregon), is thrilled to announce the official launch of its comprehensive Halal and Muslim-Friendly Travel Guide for Portland (Oregon). This groundbreaking initiative aims to cater to the diverse needs of Muslim travelers, offering them a seamless and enriching travel experience in Portland (Oregon) and its surrounding regions.

With the steady growth of Muslim tourism worldwide, eHalal Travel Group recognizes the importance of providing Muslim travelers with accessible, accurate, and up-to-date information to support their travel aspirations to Portland (Oregon). The Halal and Muslim-Friendly Travel Guide is designed to be a one-stop resource, offering an array of invaluable information on various travel aspects, all carefully curated to align with Islamic principles and values.

The Travel Guide encompasses a wide range of features that will undoubtedly enhance the travel experience for Muslim visitors to Portland (Oregon). Key components include:

Halal-Friendly Accommodations inPortland (Oregon): A carefully selected list of hotels, lodges, and vacation rentals that cater to halal requirements, ensuring a comfortable and welcoming stay for Muslim travelers in Portland (Oregon).

Halal Food, Restaurants and Dining in Portland (Oregon): A comprehensive directory of restaurants, eateries, and food outlets offering halal-certified or halal-friendly options in Portland (Oregon), allowing Muslim travelers to savor local cuisines without compromising their dietary preferences in Portland (Oregon).

Prayer Facilities: Information on masjids, prayer rooms, and suitable locations for daily prayers in Portland (Oregon), ensuring ease and convenience for Muslim visitors in fulfilling their religious obligations.

Local Attractions: An engaging compilation of Muslim-friendly attractions, cultural sites such as Museums, and points of interest in Portland (Oregon), enabling travelers to explore the city's rich heritage while adhering to their values.

Transport and Logistics: Practical guidance on transportation options that accommodate Muslim travel needs, ensuring seamless movement within Portland (Oregon) and beyond.

Speaking about the launch, Irwan Shah, Chief Technology Officer of eHalal Travel Group in Portland (Oregon), stated, "We are thrilled to introduce our Halal and Muslim-Friendly Travel Guide in Portland (Oregon), a Muslim friendly destination known for its cultural richness and historical significance. Our goal is to empower Muslim travelers with accurate information and resources, enabling them to experience the wonders of Portland (Oregon) without any concerns about their faith-based requirements. This initiative reaffirms our commitment to creating inclusive and memorable travel experiences for all our clients."

The eHalal Travel Group's Halal and Muslim-Friendly Travel Guide for Portland (Oregon) is now accessible on this page. The guide will be regularly updated to ensure that Muslim travelers have access to the latest information, thus reinforcing its status as a reliable companion for Muslim travelers exploring Portland (Oregon).

About eHalal Travel Group:

eHalal Travel Group Portland (Oregon) is a prominent name in the global Muslim travel industry, dedicated to providing innovative and all-inclusive travel solutions tailored to the needs of Muslim travelers worldwide. With a commitment to excellence and inclusivity, eHalal Travel Group aims to foster a seamless travel experience for its clients while respecting their religious and cultural values.

For Halal business inquiries in Portland (Oregon), please contact:

eHalal Travel Group Portland (Oregon) Media: info@ehalal.io

Stay Safe

Portland is one of the safest major cities in the United States by virtually any measure. Most people, including single female travelers, generally will not face problems walking alone at night. However, Portland is still a large metropolitan city — beware of pickpockets in crowded areas and don't forget your common sense entirely.

Portland's cleanliness is achieved in part by strict rules against public nuisance activities that are often flouted in many other US cities. For example, jay-walking, littering, and drinking and eating on public transit are prohibited.

Due in part to a major shortage of affordable housing throughout the region and the number of people experiencing homelessness in Portland has risen sharply in recent years. You may be approached by people asking for food or money while walking in downtown or stopped at a major intersection. Unlike many other major US cities, people panhandling are seldom aggressive, and a simple no will end nearly all encounters.

Whilst jaywalking is illegal, it is still a common thing and occurs quite often around the city. Beware though that if a police officer catches you, you might get a stern warning or even a fine if you persist. Put simply: the roads are for vehicles and the sidewalks are for people.

Recently, people have been the target of hate crimes, mostly around bars. A volunteer foot patrol, Q Patrol, keeps an eye on the hotspots on some summer weekends to deter potential attacks. The Portland Police Bureau is generally quite responsive to anti- crime, and even works closely with the community to ensure overall safety.

Telecommunications in Portland (Oregon)

Two area codes cover the Portland metropolitan area: 503 and 971. All ten digits must be dialed when dialing local numbers in the Portland area.

• Multnomah County Library - 801 Southwest 10th Ave 45.51912, -122.683105 ☎ +1 503-988-5123 Opening Hours: M,Thursday - Saturday 10AM Monday - 6PM, Tuesday - West 10AM Monday - 8PM, Sunday noon-5PM Multnomah County Library Central Library (Portland, Oregon) Issues one-hour guest passes for Internet terminal use. Numerous branch libraries scattered around Portland. Free wi-fi available to public while the libraries are open. Wi-fi shuts off ten minutes before the libraries close and stays off until the library opens again.

• US Postal Service - Post Office - (main post office) 715 Northwest Hoyt 45.52755, -122.67830 Northwest Corner of Northwest Hoyt & Broadway Opening Hours: (Retail Counter) Monday to Friday 8AM Monday - 6:30PM, Saturday 8AM Monday - 5PM; (Passport Acceptance) Monday to Friday 11AM Monday - 5:30PM by appointment Zip codes for the greater Portland area typically range 97201 through 97266. There are also other zip codes in the surrounding cities making up the greater Portland metropolitan area ranging from 970xx to 971xx as well. There are numerous post office branches in different neighborhoods and at least one (or more) in each adjacent city/municipality serving the other zip codes.

Cope

Newspapers

Portland is the home of two Pulitzer Prize–winning publications and a number of smaller tabloid-format newspapers of note. Due to some heated local politics the town has become a rather thorny place for journalism. Portlanders identify their politics by what paper they read (The Oregonian vs. The Tribune, Willamette Week vs. The Mercury).

• The Oregonian - $1 daily, $1.50 Sundays Nationally recognized, Pulitzer Prize–winning broadsheet newspaper known for cutting-edge design (which has declined in recent years) and local-oriented coverage (the paper is distributed throughout the state and into Vancouver, Washington). The paper suffers as a city guide for the out-of-towner as its arts coverage is limited (Friday A&E is comprehensive), but for those interested in longer stays it is a good primer on state politics. Movie times are up to date, however the printed television schedule has been discontinued.

• Willamette Week - Free every Wednesday An alternative weekly newspaper that recently won a Pulitzer Prize for its investigative reporting. This boomer-hipster hybrid sometimes struggles from identity freak-out but is likely the quickest and most immediate help to out-of-towners. The paper's free annual city guide "Finder" can be found around town in late August and is specifically tailored for those new to Portland. Willamette Week is sometimes referred to as Willy Week or Willy by old-guard Portland hipsters or those who disagree with its politics.

• PQ Monthly - Free monthly on the third Thursday Portland's queer newspaper. It started in 2012 when Just Out, Portland's established publication for three decades, went out of business (although Just Out shortly resumed publication under new ownership). PQ Monthly covers the full diversity of the Portland queer community. Consult PQ to find community events of interest to people, or to find the nightlife. Every third Thursday and the paper's staff hosts a press party at a local queer venue, where the newest issue can be picked up hot off the presses. This is a great opportunity to get acquainted with Portland.

• Portland Tribune - Free Tuesdays and Fridays This broadsheet-sized upstart has struggled since its start to find a spot between Willamette Week and The Oregonian and the city's mainstays and the paper's main competitors. Suburbanites who work in the city tend to favor the Tribune.

• The Portland Mercury - Free every Thursday Another alt weekly newspaper and the Portland version of Seattle's The Stranger. This tabloid-sized hipster-focused mag has taken a bite out of Willamette Week's advertising in recent years, meaning that those looking for movie times or rock show listings can often find them in the Mercury's pages. Readers offended by foul language or grammatical errors may be frustrated by the editorial content.

Most other publications would be of only passing interest to travelers, but to read what local residents think and feel and the Northwest Examiner, Portland Observer, Skanner, St. Johns Sentinel, and Portland State University's Vanguard are some of the better choices.

Consulates in Portland (Oregon)

{{flag|Czech Republic

• Czech Republic (Honorary) | cz_consul@ 320 A Ave., Suite 5, Lake Oswego 97034 ☎ +1 503-293-9545{{flag|Denmark
• Denmark (Honorary) - 1600 Pioneer Tower, 888 Southwest 5th Ave ☎ +1 503-802-2131 +1 503-972-3813
• Germany (Honorary) - ghoffmann1@ 200 Southwest Market Street Ste 1695 ☎ +1 503-222-0490 +1 503-221-0564* Japan - Wells Fargo Center Ste 2700, 1300 Southwest 5th Ave ☎ +1 503-221-1811 +1 503-224-8936

{{flag|Mexico

• Mexico - 1305 Southwest 12th Ave ☎ +1 503-274-1442{{flag|Netherlands
• Netherlands (Honorary) - ☎ +1 503-716-1500{{flag|Norway
• Norway (Honorary) - Oregon 4380 S.W. Macadam Avenue River Forum, Suite 120 ☎ +1 503 221-0870 -

Travel Next

Multfalls - Multnomah Falls

Located just 50 mi (80 kilometers) from the Cascade Range and 90 mi (145 kilometers) from the Pacific Ocean, Portland is the perfect home base for day trips to Mount Hood, Mount St. Helens and the Columbia River Gorge and the northern part of the Oregon Coast, or the landscape in the Willamette Valley. If you intend on staying longer in the Pacific Northwest, Portland is fairly centrally located in the region, making it a good home base for nice extended trips to Seattle, Vancouver|Vancouver B.C., Eugene, and many state and national parks, most of which are within a day's drive.

• Multnomah Falls - 25 miles east of Portland on Interstate 84 - The waterfall is 620 ft (189 m) high and features a paved trail to the top for those willing to make the trek. The view is worth it. For a scenic drive, travel east 15 miles on Interstate 84 to exit 18, take the Historic Columbia River Highway 9 mi (15 kilometers) to the turnoff for Larch Mountain, go 14 mi (23 kilometers) up East Larch Mountain Road to parking lot, short walk to Sherrard Point for viewpoint, drive back to the highway and then continue about a mile to Crown Point and then 9 miles to Multnomah Falls. There are a number of smaller falls along the way, which freeze in the winter. To get back to Interstate 84 continue east to the next freeway entrance.

• Oregon Wine Country - 25 mi (40 kilometers) or so southwest of Portland lies some of the most scenic vineyards on the west coast. There are over 100 Cafes in this area, from small mom and pop operations with tiny one-room tasting areas all the way up to tasting rooms that rival some of Napa's finest. Oregon is particularly famous for its Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris varietals; the climate is considered perfect for these grapes and the area has gained worldwide reknown as one of the premier regions on the planet.

• Officers Row, Vancouver, Washington - Across the Columbia river via I-5 or I-205, about 15 min from Portland Airport - Pearson Field and the oldest continuous operating air field in the U.S., is now a museum with beautifully restored southern houses used by many well known people such as General George Marshall. You can walk for hours from the Officers Row to Pearson Airfield to Fort Vancouver and down to the Columbia River, passing the oldest apple tree in Washington State.

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