Everybody knows about Portland’s food scene, its outdoor recreation, its bike lanes, beer pubs, and coffee shops. Whether you call it Stumptown or Bridgetown — or even PDX — Portland has been mocked as the city where young people go to retire. But seemingly every weekend there’s a festival, organized bike ride, political march, or something else clamoring for participation. In short, Portland is a happening town. Seeking out the places or times when the crowds will be elsewhere, Paul Gerald give travelers the essence of what each place is about — what makes it peaceful or inviting. But he does not stint on also giving readers all the detailed info they need to get there at the crowd-free time. The theme that carries throughout the book is a simple one: Portland is a great city, but it’s still a city, and sometimes folks just need a break.
This highly visual book marries style and substance to give Portland and the people who love her the guidebook they deserve: a curated and creative collection of more than 130 outings in and around Portland to inspire romance and adventure. Secret spots, beloved locales, and unexpected destinations offer endless options for date night or a weekend getaway. Finally, a stylish, cheeky, curated guidebook of cool places for Portlanders (and visitors) to go on dates/outings/field trips/adventures. These range from one-hour coffee and ice cream dates in Portland's neighborhoods to multiday expeditions to Hood River and Mount St. Helens. The authors have a bead on the obscure and fascinating, and the descriptions are motivating enough to prompt even the lazy to head out the door. The book will have serious pickup power and will become an essential resource and armchair read for Portland-area Gen X, millennial, and Gen Z couples (and singles with friends) interested in learning about off-the-beaten-path things to do, see, and taste. No more FOMO! In-the-know authors and tastemakers Eden Dawn and Ashod Simonian will reveal where the cool and quirky go, while educating readers on this beloved city.
Portland Hill Walks features twenty-four miniature adventures stocked with stunning views, hidden stairways, leafy byways, urban forests, and places to sit, eat, and soak in the local scene. The revised and updated edition offers five new walks in addition to the well-loved classics, with new contemporary and historical photos and easier-to-follow directions. Whether you feel like meandering through old streetcar neighborhoods or climbing a lava dome, there is a hill walk for every mood. New walks take you up to Willamette Stone State Park, across the St. Johns Bridge, down to the South Waterfront (with a ride on the aerial tram), along a stream in Gresham, and up Mounts Talbert and Scott. Portland is a walking city, and Portland Hill Walks will inspire you to enjoy it to its fullest!
Everybody knows about Portland's food scene, its outdoor recreation, its bike lanes, beer pubs, and coffee shops. Whether you call it Stumptown or Bridgetown--or even PDX--Portland has been mocked as the city "where young people go to retire." But seemingly every weekend there's a festival, organized bike ride, political march, or something else clamoring for participation. In short, Portland is a happening town. But sometimes folks just want to chill out, to go where there isn't much happening. They might want to enjoy a quiet meal, take a walk in a park, curl up with a good book, or get out of town to some soul-soothing destination. With books covering all the other activities in town, where's the one that tells people where they can do --. well, not much? As of Fall 2012, the answer is Peaceful Places: Portland, written by Paul Gerald, the man who gave this town 60 Hikes Within 60 Miles of Portland and Breakfast in Bridgetown. This time, Gerald is off in search of peace and quiet, and he invites the reader along to quiet tables, parks and gardens, enchanting walks, outdoor habitats, and other retreats. Seeking out the places or times when the crowds will be elsewhere, Gerald will give you the essence of what each place is about--what makes it peaceful or inviting. But he does not stint on also giving you all the detailed info you need to find the place and get there at the crowd-free time. Sometimes, this will be a matter of discovery, as in "Do I really stand a chance of seeing a heron in the Pearl District?" Other times it may feel like being let in on a secret, like a meadow full of camas blooming within earshot of Interstate 205. Or maybe it's just the right time to hit just the right table for a romantic meal or some quality reading time. But the theme that carries throughout the book is a simple one: Portland is a great city, but it's still a city, and sometimes folks just need a break.
In 1987, Barbara Drake and her husband sold their home in Portland and moved to a farm in western Oregon's Yamhill Valley. In PEACE AT HEART, Drake reflects on ten years of country living and on the happiness that this rural landscape has brought her. She combines gentle humor, practical advice, and deep respect for the work and the land.
The combined expertise of Art Bermstein and Andrew Jackman make this book a special one, more than just another guidebook. The authors are naturalists, long time observers of nature in the Pacific Northwest. Art Bernstein's warm and down to earth style conveys to the readers the authors' knowledge of the flora, fauna, geology, and local history, including the reforestation of the Mount Saint Helens region. His descriptions and story telling are vivid, entertaining and inviting. "Portland Hikes" has good literary value, as well as being a primer for observant hikers wanting to know more about this beautiful region. "Portland Hikes" goes beyond the city boundaries. The 70 selected trails described are day-hikes. Some are short and some are a little longer. All are of easy access from downtown, and a short drive away to the surrounding wilderness areas, state, and national parks of Oregon and Washington.
Industry insider Scott Lukas teaches you how to design exciting, believable, authentic themed spaces. Make your immersive worlds come alive with the gems in this book, including key industry interviews and case studies!
"Emerson is carving his own special niche among a new generation of private-eye writers....He writes lean, muscular prose to carry his fast-moving action." --The Washington Post Book World A curious couple offers Seattle private eye Thomas Black a strange proposal: play guardian angel to an unlikely stalking victim named Billy Battle, a brooding ex-con with a psychotic history of unproven murder and mayhem. Hot on Billy's trail is the man who helped send him up the river, and who just may want Billy dead for his own peace of mind. It's a case that puts Black in the hospital partially paralyzed, plagued with memory loss and a monstrous sense of doom. And when menacing phone calls from a maniacally laughing stranger begin to haunt Black, he can't help but wonder if the last, wicked laugh will be on him. ( "EMERSON'S BIGGEST, DARKEST NOVEL YET, a clangorous three-alarmer that'll leave you wound tighter than Billy Battle...Hair-raising." --Kirkus Reviews "Earl Emerson writes with the richness and grace of a poet. This guy is good, and THE PORTLAND LAUGHER is the best book yet in the Thomas Black series!" --Robert Crais
Among the hundreds of parks and natural spaces around the Portland area, Forest Park gets the most recognition--and deservedly so--as America's largest urban forest with more than 80 miles of hiking trails and biking paths. Yet there's more to explore in and around the city than just this one forest, and Urban Trails: Portland, by hiking writer Eli Boschetto, brings this abundance to the people! There are plenty of opportunities for wandering the banks and wetlands of Portland's three major rivers, as well as hiking on volcanic buttes, strolling through community gardens, discovering historic sites, and walking urban footpaths. Add to that, tips on observing some of the hundreds of species of birds and mammals that reside in these areas, and you practically have an urban safari at your doorstep. With an emphasis on easy access to the outdoors and fitness, features of this guide include: Trailhead directions, including public transit where available "Know Before You Go" tips for park hours, events, etc. Trail distance and high point Trailhead amenities Info for families with kids, dog owners, and bikers Sidebars on area history, nature, and sights Fun checklists for plants, trees, flowers, and wildlife you may spot Easy to reference maps Indicates trail suitability for walkers, hikers, and runners
