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Wide varieties of shopping and dining are available within a few blocks. Dedicated bike lanes make cycling through the different communities smooth and fun.
A plethora of independent cafes throughout Portland's many districts make it easy to grab a bite while browsing from store to store. While all the big, national chain department stores are here, Portland shopping is best experienced by visiting its many unique, independent shops and boutiques.
Whether you are browsing through vintage vinyl at Mississippi Records, stocking up on summer reading at Powell's City of Books or splurging on bath bombs at Lush on NW 23rd Ave , each Portland neighborhood has a wealth of treasures to explore. For those that enjoy a more traditional shopping experience, we have included the three best shopping malls in the area. Downtown Portland was designed with pedestrians in mind. A compact area with wide sidewalks, the city blocks are only feet per side.
Strolling from Waterfront Park, to Pioneer Square and into the Cultural District takes less than an hour including plenty of time for window shopping.
Much of Portland's finest dining, lodging and cultural life is contained within the Downtown area. A transit mall runs through 5th and 6th avenues, offering easy access to Portland's outer communities via bus or light rail. The Portland Streetcar makes getting around the city's central area fast and easy. Many works of public art adorn the city, including the famous Portlandia, the second largest copper statue in the nation, only the Statue of Liberty being larger.
Recommended for Best Shopping because : Downtown has it all from local shops to a huge mall, Pioneer Place. Including four department stores, with one being the state's largest Nordstrom, Washington Square Mall draws patrons with its wealth of shopping opportunities and diverse merchandise. Over specialty stores also call this landmark mall home. Kids will love the Lego store and moms will love the rest.
Crew keeps shoppers happily filling up their bags and emptying their wallets until the doors close. A large food court and an expansive parking structure with a sky bridge to Nordstrom and Sears are convenient.
Recommended for Best Shopping because : Washington Square is a beautiful mall with stores suited for any need. Meagan's expert tip : Plan to work in a lunch or dinner visit to the Cheesecake Factory while here.
Bridgeport Village is a lovely, sprawling outdoor mall that features a mix of local shops and nationwide retailers. Be sure to wear your walking shoes, because there is a lot of places to visit here. One of Portland's most popular food carts has a permanent location here, Koi Fusion. This mall has a large theater as well.
Recommended for Best Shopping because : Bridgeport Village is an awesome outdoor mall with lots of great stores. Meagan's expert tip : Plan to eat at one of the popular restaurants here in between your shopping. Standing out from the surrounding suburbia, Multnomah Village feels like a small town unto itself. Secluded in the hills of Southwest Portland, the quaint, artsy business district is easy to overlook. But there are plenty of reasons to visit. Independent shops offer unique products for every taste.
Kids of all ages will love Thinker's Toys, and Annie Bloom's books is one of Portland's best small bookstores. The Geezer Gallery, showcasing art by seniors, is singular among Portland art establishments in its commitment to developing artistic talent among those in late life. A variety of cafes and pubs offer ample choices for dining after a day of exploring the village.
Recommended for Best Shopping because : Multnomah Village is a neat place to shop with unique shops.
At least one member of the world's 50 richest people can be found on billionaires openly identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender. Portland is rich with all of that, and it ain't fool's gold. But unless you already have friends or a boyfriend, you're going to be lonely, tipsy and horny.
Jason's expert tip : Those with a sweet tooth have to visit Sweets Etc, Portland's last old-fashioned candy store. Northeast Alberta Street has become one of Portland's most funky and creative neighborhoods. Shops of handcrafted items and artsy boutiques mix with older stores and import goods. Food choices range from trendy pubs and hip cafes to traditional taquerias.
Though there are only a few dedicated galleries, the area is perfused with art, much of it being of the outsider variety. Most of the shops and restaurants adorn their walls with rotating shows of local artists. Recommended for Best Shopping because : Alberta Street continues to add new shops every month, so the shopping just keeps getting better and better. A diverse and inclusive neighborhood, Hawthorn is the kind of place a lot of people envision when they think of Portland.
There is definitely a hippy, alternative, gay-friendly ethos in the area. This is reflected in the vintage clothing shops, boutique and independent cafes. Powell's Books has a branch here which is now the largest bookstore on Portland's East Side. The Bagdad Theater is a popular McMenimin's location, and several pubs offer nightly live music. One of the most laid-back neighborhoods, Hawthorn is a great place to spend a day browsing through the stores.
Recommended for Best Shopping because : Shops along Hawthorne are fun, funky, and one of a kind. Located in the heart of downtown Portland near Pioneer Courthouse Square. This is downtown's primary shopping destination, spanning four city blocks and housing designer name brands and top quality dining and entertainment options. This is where you will find the most high-end stores in Portland. This mall features an Apple Store and a new Microsoft store.
Unfortunately, you will have to park in a parking garage to go to this mall. There is no free parking available. Mall services include strollers, wheelchairs, a visitor's information center and an on-site ATM. Attracted by a city that already had a reputation for openness, some decided to stay.
Today San Francisco is tops when it comes to the annual Human Rights Campaign Municipal Equality Index, earning a score of points, impressive given is a perfect score. Portland, Vancouver, Hillsboro, Wa. The Portland Pride Festival draws visitors from across the West Coast, with a three-day-long celebration each June at Waterfront Park as well as an annual parade.
It's not a perfect score, though, with only half credit in terms in the equality index's rating of municipal services and law enforcement. Austin and Round Rock, Texas: Texas may still be a red state, but Austin is an oasis for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans community.
The number of people identifying at LGBT is just a shade smaller in university-rich Austin as it is in tech-crazy Portland, at 5. New Orleans and Metairie, La. Then again, if you love festivals and like to party, there's no lack of options throughout the year in the Big Easy.
The cost of renting or buying a house is also far cheaper than in Portland or San Francisco. Seattle, Tacoma and Bellevue, Wash. People identifying as lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans make up 4. Seattle's hospitals have won recognition for their dedication to equality for LGBT patients as well.
Boston, Cambridge, Newton, Mass. And college towns tend to be more open and friendly than their more run-of-the-mill counterparts. Boston also scores perfectly on the HRCME index, while also earning 10 bonus points, giving it one of the highest ratings in the country. Recently passed Utah legislation bars discrimination in housing and gender in housing and employment. People identifying at lesbian, gay, bisexual or trans make up 4.
Back in , then Mayor Antonio R. Villaraigosa hosted a reception for an exhibit celebrating 60 years of activism by 40 different LGBT civil rights groups like the L.