Navigating - Portland, Oregon Travel Guide
By
Drew Dyck
Areas/Districts
Since many of Portland's hotspots are identified by district, it can be confusing for visitors who are not familiar with the city. Here is a list of Portland's popular districts and notable areas matched with their corresponding directional location in the city.
To view a detailed map, visit maps.yahoo.com and enter "Portland" as the city.
Visitor Contact
For further information on how to navigate in Portland and to learn more about upcoming events, visit the Information Desk located in Pioneer Place Mall beside the food court (4th & 5th avenues at Morrison Street). Phone: +1 (503) 228 5800. Also check the website for the Portland, Oregon Visitors Association.
I talked to concierges Emily and Genie about what visitors should know about Portland.
"Downtown is really the place to be," advised Genie. "Portland is a very walkable city and downtown is so accessible. That is what sets Portland apart from other cities, and visitors should take advantage of that."
"Come by our desk and pick up one of our comprehensive maps of Portland," Emily offered. "That will help visitors get around. Also, we give away The Portland Big Deal booklet, which has dozens of coupons for discounts on things to do and places to stay."
Getting the Big Picture
The Willamette River runs through the heart of Portland, dividing the city into East and West. Portland is located in Northern Oregon, just miles from the Washington border. On the map Portland sits 40 miles east of the 122nd meridian west and 30 miles north of the 45th parallel north, elevated 173 feet (53 meters) above sea level. The city is 130 square miles (209 sq km), with 37,000 acres of parks within the metro area. Portland is 78 miles (126 km) from the Pacific Ocean and 65 miles (105) from a glacier (Mount Hood). The average temperature is 34°F (1°C) in January, and 80°F (27°) in July.
The population of greater Portland is 1.8 million, with 509, 610 within city limits. The two major papers are The Oregonian and The Portland Tribune. The trendy free tabloid, Willamette Week, provides a more subversive look at Portland and has detailed listings of upcoming events.
The speed limit is 55 miles per hour (89 kph) on most highways. Where posted the freeway speed is 65 mph (105 kph). For road conditions call +1 (503) 222 6721; for weather information +1 (503) 225 5555, access code 8051.
Questions?
If you want more information about this area you can email the author or check out our North America Insiders page.
