PORTLAND, Ore.—Revisiting Portland after 25 years, I discovered a diverse city peppered with restaurants, boutiques, and art galleries galore, with the cafés and teahouses being a great place to mingle with the welcoming and accessible Oregonians.
Portland’s colorful neighborhoods are reachable by light rail, bus, and even Uber. Burnside Street divides the city north to south, while the Willamette River divides it east to west. I donned a pair of comfy walking shoes and, with map in hand, set out to get up close and personal with this highly walkable city, feeling part of the socially and environmentally aware urban vibe.
On my first afternoon, I ambled along the quiet, tree-lined North Mississippi Avenue in the northeast. A stop at Townsend’s Tea Company is a must, with more than 100 varieties of loose tea. Some teas are medicinal and very inventive, such as kombucha, which settles the stomach.
I passed vintage buildings and charming boutiques until I reached Paxton Gate, an unusual store featuring a blend of exotic plants, mounted insects, and taxidermy. Further north is the John Palmer House, a Victorian landmark built in the 1890s, once a Conservatory of Music and now a B&B.
I completed my exploration of the area with a visit to the Alberta Arts District along 12th and 31st avenues. A haven for health shops and the creative spirit, here is where the arts abound—with complete buildings converted into works of art.
