Customer Reviews

Portland Hill Walks: Twenty Explorations in Parks and Neighborhoods

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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.

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.

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!

We didn't find the maps terribly useful. Without carrying the entire book around with us on the walk, it was pretty hard to keep track using the map only. Lucky for us we had a google map of the area saved to an i pod, and could cross reference, but even then, there were discrepancies.

I don't write reviews very often, but this is the best guide book for Portland I've bought so far. I recently moved to Oregon and I was looking for a guide book that will let me explore different parts of the city and tell me something more about places than the regular "dry" guides. Laura Foster guides you through lesser-known paths, learning some history and geography along the way. The directions are always clear and right on the spot. I learned about why Oregon beaches are public, ginkgo plants, the history of the Willamette and the West Hills, and so much more. I can't thank her enough for the wonderful walks I did!

I've done about 18 of the 20 walks and I am frequently amazed by them. These walks take you into the nooks and crannies of the city that would likely surprise most long-time Portland natives.

The walks closer to center city (e.g. 2,4,5,8) expose you to steep urban stairs that you never knew were there. The walks farther out from the city (e.g. 6,10,15,17,19,20) force you into neighborhood niches that are mostly the dominion of local residents. Many of the walks weave in and out of urban and forest landscapes (1,2,4,6,13) creating a varied tapestry of calf-building experience.

Remarkable in its depth, the narrative frequently comments on historical trees and houses that you otherwise would have walked right by. This leads to the main negative of the book which is that the verbosity makes it difficult to read while walking. Directions are often buried within a long, descriptive paragraph.

Bullet-pointed directions would have been far preferable. Bigger maps with more street names would also have helped navigation. Another thing that would make the book more accessible is color pictures and lots of them. These walks point out so many amazing sights that it's a shame there are only a few scattered black and white photos. Overall, this book is still a great way to explore Portland.

This book is very helpful for anyone wanting to explore Portland neighborhoods. Clear directions as to where to park, where to walk, and interesting tidbits about an area. This book was great in my explorations of the city - I would never have been able to find some of the tucked away "secret portals" on my own. I also ended up walking around areas I would not have thought of going. Neighborhood walks in all areas of Portland are covered. Great for visitors and residents alike - you can always learn something new about a city.