SOUTHWEST PORTLAND
Southwest Portland encompasses the downtown area, stretching west beyond Washington Park and south along the Willamette River. The result is an urban city surrounded by wooded forests. Southwest Portland is also the location of PGE Park, home to baseball and soccer teams. Other highlights of Southwest Portland are Washington Park, nestled on the east side of the long ridge called Forest Park, the International Rose Test Garden, the Japanese Garden, and the Washington Park Zoo.
The downtown area is composed of short blocks, platted in the 19th century to contain lots of little stores and cross streets, thus limiting the size and height of new construction. Built on the hills above downtown are upscale neighborhoods with beautiful homes lining hillside streets. Down on the flatlands near the Willamette River, the area is undergoing a vibrant renewal as new condominiums and businesses are built along the river.
A good place to visit in Southwest Portland is the Pioneer Courthouse Square. It is often called ‘Portland’s Living Room’. It is bordered by Yamhill Street, Morrison Street, 6th Avenue, and Broadway. It is a great place to people watch, the square is populated with every variety of city folk, from sidewalk preachers to hacky-sack kickers to lunchers enjoying a burrito or chicken sandwich from nearby fast-food stands. It is also noted for its waterfall fountain, its imaginative sculpture, and an echo chamber-if you face the steps of the small amphitheater while standing on the round marble stone, you can create a cascade of sound by just saying hello.
Depending on the time of year, Pioneer Square is also the site of many events; sand-castle contests, winter beer-tasting galas, flower gardens, a huge Christmas tree, and a summer barbecue with free chili and hot dogs. Available at the square is Tri-Met bus information and the ticket office is found there, as well as the Portland Visitors Association (POVA) Information Center, with info and tickets to special events.
Also must see in Southwest Portland is Tom McCall Waterfront Park. Along the esplanade is the Salmon Springs Fountain, children's play areas, a monument to the battleship Oregon, and a sculpture garden dedicated to the World War II relocation trauma of Oregon's Japanese American community. You can also get a riverside view of the city's 10 bridges. Within walking distance you can also check out hundreds of craft and food booths at the Saturday Market located next to the Burnside bridge.
Located on Southwest Broadway is the Performing Arts Center, cinemas and the most recent addition to Broadway is the Fox Tower. The tower has seven cinemas at street level and upper floors of office space. A few blocks south is the Oregon History Center, filled with ongoing exhibits and new shows that combine to tell the story of the state.
Across the South Park Blocks is the Portland Art Museum with European paintings, an exciting Native American art wing, and blockbuster touring exhibits. The Park Blocks are also the home of Portland's cutting-edge farmers' market from April through November.
