Portland Hill Walks: Twenty Explorations in Parks and Neighborhoods
Product Type: Book
Product Price: $19.95
Manufacturer: Timber Press, Incorporated
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Description
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.
Reviews
Rating: 5 / 5
Date: 2010-08-25
Summary: "Best Guide Book for Portland"
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!
Rating: 5 / 5
Date: 2009-06-27
Summary: "A gem of a book"
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.
Rating: 5 / 5
Date: 2008-10-20
Summary: "Very helpful"
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.
Rating: 5 / 5
Date: 2007-09-24
Summary: "best local hike book ever"
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!
Rating: 5 / 5
Date: 2007-01-11
Summary: "outstanding 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.