Stopped by the troll bridge on the way back to Portland from visiting the coast. Not a far drive…read morefrom the main highway. It is a small curvy road so not much space to park. Very interesting place. Spent some time looking at all the neat stuff posted here.

Very cute experience. There really isn't any parking, but if you go up the road a bit past the…read morebridge, there's a turnout to make a u turn. You can theoretically pull over and walk down for photos. It's free and cute. Kids would love it.

According to the Mental Floss website:…read more Portland's newest and most fashionable neighborhood was nothing but warehouses and industrial buildings until the mid-1980s, when it started to get the urban renewal (and gentrification) treatment. Formerly known as the Northwest Industrial Triangle, it was given its new name in 1985 by a gallery owner named Thomas Augustine, who told a magazine writer that the neighborhood's artists, toiling away in old, crusty buildings, were like pearls inside oysters. But it had a double meaning: Augustine had already taken to calling it "Pearl's district," after his friend Pearl Marie Amhara, an Ethiopian Christian polyglot who traveled the world raising money for the poor. The Pearl District is the number one most walkable neighborhood in the city. Most residents don't need a car for day to day errands. Beautiful sights, trendy restaurants and shops. Anthropologie, West Elm, Free People, Williams and Sonoma and so much more. We loved walking around here! A must see place to stay and visit while in Portland, Oregon.

The Pearl District is just amazing... Nice shops including…read morethe Powell book store which encompasses probably a block!

Another Portland landmark when it comes to signage. This is an iconic sign and you see it in films…read moreand tv shows and such when the setting is in this particular city. Portland is indeed a weird place and that is one of the reasons that I love it so much. It's quirkiness and art oriented drive is the "weirdness" I am referring to which makes this sign highly relatable to me. Anything that can make you lovably eccentric. Of course there is the weird element where it can delve into creepy but most people can flesh out as to what is purposeful and with intent as opposed to the opposite. I consider myself to be a weirdo and people have accused me of just that throughout my life and it's something I learned pretty early on that it's a thing to be embraced rather than treating our uniqueness and eccentricities ( the harmless kind) as a crutch, burden or handicap. I remember when I was a fairly new transplant to the Pacific Northwest there was a friendly rivalry that I would hear off and on as to what was the weirdest city in America. Austin, Texas and Portland were neck to neck and from what I heard Portland won out but of course I haven't been to Austin in a very long time and before I ever heard of the rivalry so maybe down there they say they are the victors. I may find out when I go there later this Spring. But for me seeing this sign whenever I come across it is an enduring thing and I feel like I am with my tribe... both in Portland and the Pacific Northwest.

This is located right across the street from Voo Doo Donuts. The sign is pretty cool. There's…read morealways cars parked there so not sure how some folks get photos without any cars. Still, worth checking out when you're in downtown.

On the Eastside Esplanade by the river is this lovely, large ship. This reminds me of one of the…read moreships from a child's story book in the Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe series by C. S. Lewis. Very unique. This is just north of the Morrison bridge on the walking/ running/ bike path on the East Bank of the Willamette. It is one of the highlights of the walk, in my opinion.

Our family watches a few episodes of Grimm every Halloween, so visiting some of the filming spots…read morein Portland was a real treat! Our little one was so excited to see the house in person. Nick and Juliet's home is in a charming Portland neighborhood lined with beautiful chestnut trees. It's been repainted since Grimm filmed--maybe to move past its Grimm history--which is a little bittersweet, but it's still absolutely worth a stop for any fan of the show.

I might've tracked this house down in my recent trip to Portland!! Eeeek!! If you've watched the…read moreshow, Grimm...you'll understand! :)

The eight story Morgan Building, built in 1912 is designated as a Historical Building. This…read morebuilding is gorgeous people. Crafted from red brick, marble floors and with fancy pants brass facade just adds to the glory of the building. The real charm for me is Morgan's Alley. It reminds me of those magical little avenues in old Europe with darling shops. Morgan's alley has gone through several incarnations over the years. Today's refined shops are quite a departure from the 1960's when this is where you would come to find a head shop. Some of the current tenants include Derek's Shoe Repair which has been there for what seems like forever. The European Master Tailor, Adorn a unique jewelry shop, R-Crew Beauty Salon, Teuscher Cafe and Chocolates of Switzerland, and what kind of alley would this be without booze. Oregon Wine on Broadway is one of the first places you will see as you enter which is a great spot to people watch. The iconic Hunan Chinese Restaurant (RIP) was there for 35 years. Take stroll through this delightful little piece of Portland history and see for yourself how enchanting it is. 2015 - Review # 33

Such a great, hip neighborhood! Genuinely enjoyed walking around 23rd street with my friend on a…read morebeautiful summer day. Tons of cool shops, restaurants, and cafes. Would definitely return to explore further.

I'm from Southern California, visiting Vancouver but insisting on seeing what's become of Portland…read more I convinced my crew to take me to the Pearl District, remembering how vibrant it used to be, just five years ago. Now, the zombies crouch and the small businesses are gone. We moved on to the Alphabet district and found the charming pubs, restaurants, shops and businesses I had come to see. The best store is Paxton Gate--treasures and oddities. A wonderful restaurant is Fireside. So relieved that there's a sign of life after all the troubles. It's worth defending, Portlandia.

I think this is my favorite Thomas Dambo troll yet. Part of the Way of the Bird King series, this…read moreguy is located at a Nordic cultural center where you can take a class on trolls, get a bite to eat and purchase a traditional troll doll. Parking on two sides of the cultural center with a path leading from each lot to the troll. It is located on a busy road so look for the 'sandwich board' that says "Ole Bolle Troll" to help locate the entrance to the lot. Great fun for adults and children.

If you are into finding something unique, like a massive troll, this is the spot to check out!…read more It's a quick spot that can be found using this Yelp address. There's a post that tells you a little about the location of the other troll sculptures, each with its own name as well! I found this pretty interesting and was on the hunt to find maybe a couple of them along my journey! The sculpture is really magnificent and so cool! I would say it is very worth it!

Peacock Lane reminded me why the holidays used to feel magical…read more The last few years have been weary since COVID, and it's easy to forget what community actually feels like. Walking Peacock Lane this season brought that feeling rushing back. Neighbors, families, couples, kids, all moving slowly side by side, bundled up, sharing space, sharing smiles, sharing the moment. House after house was lit beautifully, each one with its own personality. My favorite this year was the Home Alone house, playful, nostalgic, and impossible not to smile at. But what made the night truly special was hearing live music from neighbors, joining in caroling with complete strangers, watching families take photos in front of glowing homes, and realizing how rare and meaningful that kind of togetherness feels now. Peacock Lane is a reminder of what the season is supposed to be about. I left feeling happier and genuinely grateful. If you need a reason to believe in the holiday spirit again, this is it.

Night one for the pedestrian-only walk this year was packed with carolers and visitors (as…read moreexpected) but Peaceful for us- year 3! Although we drove around looking for parking for some time we eventually found one. We wore light up gear but husband still couldn't find us when we happened to split up lol We noticed there's a school lot a couple blocks away charging $10/car. Good to now for next time. Thanks to this Starkwood neighborhood for keeping the holiday spirit going, since 1932!?!

The Unipiper is amazing! I feel so much lightness and fun in the Unipiper's presence. What would…read morePortland be without the Unipiper? I appreciate all the great work with helping highlight our weird community. Long live the Unipiper!

A pedal by birthday-gram anyone?…read more In lieu of an full blown 7th birthday party, our little educational pod was treated to a Starwars Themed Birthday-Gram. The littles were in awe, and the Unipiper was lovely in conversation with them. After the neighbors came out to see where the bag pipe Star Wars music was coming from, they were encouraged to sing Happy Birthday with us from their front steps! Beware, a birthday gram isn't cheap (The Unipiper's time is valuable!). But it is yet another event from this year my kid will remember- and fondly at that!