The Portland Stairs Book [Paperback]

Laura O. Foster (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 15, 2010

Portland has 196 public staircases, an irresistible asset to this pedestrian-friendly city. In The Portland Stairs Book, Portland’s walking guru Laura Foster has gathered the best and most interesting in a handy pocket-sized guide.

From Mount Tabor’s epic 282 steps to the glass cupola atop 115 steps in Pioneer Courthouse, The Portland Stairs Book features details on twenty outdoor stairs that have amazing stories and something unique to offer an urban explorer. The stairs include the Willamette River Bridge Stairs, The Westover Terraces Steps, and Rocky Butte’s Grand Staircase. The book also features indoor stairs that are perfect for a rainy Portland day and five Stair Trails that lead readers on urban treks that contain hundreds of steps in five different areas of town.

Editorial Reviews

Review

“The book is a feast of Portland stair facts and stories…with Foster’s keen eye for quirky detail.” (Oregonian )

"Thanks to Laura Foster, the author of beloved local guidebooks, Portland Hill Walks and Portland City Walks, the city’s treasure trove of noteworthy staircases are back on display. Foster is known for her firm grasp on Portland’s long forgotten history, much of which we literally step over each day."

(Portland Monthly )

"An ideal guide, full of fun information." (SciTech Book News )

“Perfect for urban flaneurs [or] history buffs.” (NeighborhoodNotes.com )

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.

Product Details

• Paperback: 144 pages
• Publisher: Timber Press (September 15, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1604690690
• ISBN-13: 978-1604690699
• Product Dimensions: 6.9 x 5 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #294,779 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #36 in Books > Travel > United States > Oregon > Portland

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.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Up The Down Stairs October 12, 2012

By Mike D. Landfair

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

Think about getting in shape or just want to see some new sights of Portland? Grab this book! The NE side of Portland drew me to purchase this little book and I wasn't disappointed.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Up & down May 19, 2011

By Gunnar Sedleniek

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

An indispensable guide book if you live in Portland. I own all of Laura Foster's books and this very effectively completes her 'walking in Portland' trilogy.

5.0 out of 5 stars Exactly what I was looking for! May 24, 2013

By Marie E. Smith

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

I've been looking for this type of book for years. It not only is a great workout but a great way to see a great city's neighborhoods!