Peaceful Places: Portland

Book excerpt: 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.