Portland Hill Walks: Twenty Explorations in Parks and Neighborhoods [Illustrated] [Paperback]

Laura O. Foster (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 22, 2005

Portland Hill Walks is no ordinary guidebook. No restaurant ratings, no rehashed explanations of how the city got its name. Instead, in twenty meandering, view-studded strolls from forested canyons to cityscape peaks, this lively travelogue answers questions you may never have thought to ask, such as: What street used to be a row of floating homes? What eastside peak, with its "healthful air," was home to tuberculosis sanatoriums? What happened to the lake in Guilds Lake? What Portlander modeled swimwear in the U.S. Senate? Explore the city's streets, stairs, trails, and hidden passageways to discover the stories and spirit of a town rated among the country's most livable places.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

A city of great vitality and natural beauty, Portland, Oregon, offers wonderful views and fascinating places that await discovery. From the city's countless parks to the fascinating character of individualized neighborhoods, the exciting terrain of Portland presents Foster with rich possibilities as she leads walkers around and through landscapes sure to keep even the most adventurous spirit happily engaged in exploration. Foster's format for each entry gives the starting point and distance for each of the book's 20 sojourns. More important, she describes the elevation along the way, making clear in advance how vigorous one might need to be. Driving directions and public-transportation information are included, with amenities such as restrooms, drinking fountains, food, and drink listed to help in planning a day's outing. Maps show the course of each walk, while Foster makes each entry come alive with historical background and keenly drawn observations. Alice Joyce
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Review

"Pick up a copy of Portland Hill Walks, lace up some hiking shoes and leave the gas guzzler in the garage ... Takes explorers into 20 city neighborhoods [and] includes lots of city history, while pointing out fun ways to get to know your backyard."
—Oregonian, April 29, 2005 (The Oregonian )

"[This] is an excellent guidebook celebrating Portland's landscapes and neighborhoods. ... Foster offers anecdotes on some of the more colorful residents of Portland's past, setting Portland Hill Walks apart from ordinary guidebooks."
—Beverly Close, Oregonian, April 24, 2005 (Oregonian )

"Foster makes each entry come alive with historical background and keenly drawn observations."
—Alice Joyce, Booklist, April 4, 2005 (Booklist )

"With Portland Hill Walks, you'll take 20 meandering, view-studded strolls from the city's forested canyons to its cityscape peaks ... This book is a great place to start if you are looking for a new walking location or are adding walking to your fitness regime."

(Walk About Magazine )

“Anyone who loves Portland should own this book.” (Oregonian )

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 280 pages
• Publisher: Timber Press (March 22, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0881926922
• ISBN-13: 978-0881926927
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #511,943 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #45 in Books > Travel > United States > States > Oregon

More About the Author

Laura O. Foster writes about Portland, Oregon and the towns around it. In her books, readers take long walks into urban neighborhoods: through streetcar districts and parks, up and down stairways, beyond dead-ends, along river beaches, atop volcanic peaks and anywhere that a curious person would want to explore. She crafts routes designed to get urban walkers to places others often miss exploring, and her walks weaves geology, architecture, history, ethnobotany and horticulture into a story about each place. Every walk also passes through a local commercial district where coffee, beer, books, and other joys of urban exploring will be found. She designs her routes so that each one makes for a small urban holiday, good for locals and visitors too, who want to get beyond the tourist highlights of one of the nation's most walkable cities.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Lose Weight by Walking: Tour Your City on Foot, June 12, 2005

By 

Kathryn Martyn "OneMoreBite" (Vancouver, WA USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Portland Hill Walks: Twenty Explorations in Parks and Neighborhoods (Paperback)

This book could only be improved by more photos of the georgeous landscaping in and around Portland, Oregon. The cover shows four beautiful photos which the Amazon cover shot misses (you can hardly make them out), which is more than enough to whet the appetite.

Come in the spring and if the day is sunny you'll be moving to Portland. Not only the sights but the people will astound you. They're polite and helpful to strangers, unlike other cities I've visited. Here they'll offer you assistance before you need ask.

Food? Did someone say food? There's more local flavor here than you'd expect. That's an additional benefit of visiting neighborhoods on foot. You have time to stop and talk with local merchants. Many neighborhood eating establishments are listed, as well as suggestions if you should pack a picnic.

Laura Foster obviously loves Portland and knows it probably better than anyone. Having hiked, biked and walked Portland neighborhoods during my childhood, I too know the thrill of discovering a new hideout or short-cut. Some familiar paths are now overgrown, and windy hillside paths such as the one from Burnside Street to Washington Park had to be closed but there are countless others to be discovered.

Great gift book, for newcomers to Portland and anyone who's lived here for years but has never really gotten to know the city. Portland, Oregon is a treasure, and I personally want to thank Laura Foster for this wonderful book.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars outstanding book, January 11, 2007

By 

L. Tubbs (vancouver wa usa) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Portland Hill Walks: Twenty Explorations in Parks and Neighborhoods (Paperback)

I walk/hike with two other women once a week. We have found no other book which does what this one does. It not only provides interesting walks acurately, but also covers the history, architecture and plants along the way. I can't say enough about how much we've enjoyed this book.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars best local hike book ever, September 24, 2007

By 

Lorraine Clark "Rainy" (Newberg, OR USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Portland Hill Walks: Twenty Explorations in Parks and Neighborhoods (Paperback)

My husband and I have recently begun walking at least 1/2 hour per day but have gotten the bug and often want to walk more. This book is an excellent resource. I've never seen one so thorough, combining history along with a route that is so clear a person would have to really try in order to get lost. The history notes are so fascinating (and I'm not in to history at all) and it divides the walk directions into numbered sections so you always feel like you're making headway. If you like to walk and you are in the Portland area, you really need this resource book!