On our very first day in Portland, Meredith and I laced up our running shoes and headed out to explore our new city. Heading west towards the river, we ran into the Springwater Corridor. Within the first quarter mile, we knew this path that connects the Southeast Industrial district and Sellwood (one of our favorite neighborhoods), would become one of our go-to runs.

Running along the Willamette River, the Springwater Corridor path is an easy distance from our home, allowing Meredith and I one of the best places in the city to relax, enjoy the beauty of the city, while not having to deal with cars, buses or trains.

On this sunny and warm (a record-breaking 75 degrees!) March day, the beautiful views of the river, kayakers, paddle boarders, chirping birds, blue skies and budding trees, made this run one to remember.

Here's the Run-O-Meter breakdown for my Springwater Corridor run:

Rating scale is 1-5: 


1 = the worst;  5 = the best

1--•--•--•--5
Enjoyment
It might be rainy, windy and cold, but a good running route can always bring happiness.

5 - A steady stream of runners, bikers and walkers, a panoramic view of the river, abundant trees and plants, and the most darling little pine tree (pictured right). And there's a not-so hidden Amusement Park called Oaks Bottom about 2.5 miles in.

1--•--•--•--5
Scenery
Mature trees, flowers, green grass, views of the Willamette River and the West Hills are all welcome sights.

5 - Our scenery category description pretty much sums up the Springwater Corridor. Beautiful views of the Willamette, blooming flowers and trees and the occasional bald eagle and deer sighting.

1--•--•--•--5
Safety
Traffic, intersections, sidewalk and road conditions tell us a lot about a neighborhood and can turn any run into a zen moment or a terrifying trial.

4 - Despite the high traffic of path goers, Springwater's safety is a big draw. No cars, a well groomed path and limited twists and turns means never feeling unsafe. To avoid a bike collision, stay right and move even further right when you hear bike bells.


1--•--•--•--5
Difficulty
Charging up hills every mile is hard, thus it will be judged.

5 - Picture running up Mt. Everest. The Springwater Corridor is the exact opposite.


1--•--•--•--5
Sound and smell
Loud sounds, quiet sounds, good smells, bad smells. A neighborhood defines itself by appealing to the senses.

4 - I heard a girl screaming at the top of her lungs, like she was dying. Don't worry, she wasn't, she was merely riding the flying saucer ride at Oaks Bottom. Other Sounds: plenty of bike bells as cyclists rode around walkers and runners, all sorts of birds chirping and the occasional dog barking. Smells: The smell of summer. Blooming flowers and trees, grass and cotton candy (okay, I didn't smell cotton candy, but I wish I did).


1--•--•--•--5
Hellos and waves
Because Midwest-nice is important to us.

2 - Despite the overall happiness of folks on the path this day, few said hello and none waived.


1--•--•--•--5
Number of puppies
Once we get a house, we're getting a puppy...and of course our puppy will need friends.

3 - Believe it or not, very few puppies walked the path, until...I came upon the dog park near the turnaround point in Sellwood. Thank god for the Sellwood dog park.

1--•--•--•--5
People watching
Who lives in the neighborhood?

4 - Puppies riding in baskets, a dad blazing the path pushing his newborn in a stoller and carnies.

1--•--•--•--5
Parks
We're keeping an eye out for picnic spots, puppy playgrounds, budding trees and only-in-Portland spectacles.

5 - On this sunny day, the entire Springwater Corridor felt like a park. Families sitting on benches overlooking the river, packs of cyclists getting their workout on and TONS of people walking in and around Oaks Bottom.


1--•--•--•--5
Shops and restaurants
Coffeeness and quirkiness are appreciated.

1 - A path surrounded by a river, railroad tracks and nature doesn't leave much room for shops and restaurants...which is a very good thing on the Springwater Corridor.


1--•--•--•--5

Home potential
Can we see ourselves living in this neighborhood?

Since the Springwater Corridor isn't liveable (legally), lets focus on Sellwood. We adore Sellwood.  Being one of our top two choices, Sellwood's value is increased by having the Springwater connection. If we can find a decent house at the right price point, we're all in.

North Portland is Portland's 5th quadrant - an area of the city that escaped quartering (phew) by the Willamette River and Burnside Street.  North Portland has also evaded a few other Portland phenomena -- for better and worse ( The Better: teachers can afford to live here, plentiful parking spots, relatively unobstructed views of the Forest Park, an underdog spirit, some cute micro neighborhoods -- The Worse: Traffic noise, the need for a car, fast-food restaurants/payday loan centers/7-11s on the major thoroughfare).

North Portland is our most affordable option and an area that we have to learn more about given its distance from the city center.  Scott and I love tennis and we love magnificent views of Forest Park, so I tried to get to know North Portland by starting my run at the tennis courts at Arbor Lodge Park and then winding through the perimeter of North Portland's neighborhoods along scenic Willamette Boulevard.  Lucky for me, I ran on one of the sunniest and warmest days (63 degrees!!) of 2013.

Here's the Run-O-Meter for my Willamette Boulevard Run:

Rating scale is 1-5: 

1 = the worst;  5 = the best

1--•--•--•--5
Enjoyment
It might be rainy, windy and cold, but a good running route can always bring happiness.

5 - Sweeping views of the River, the city and Forest Park, uninterrupted urban running, tons of sunshine (on this rare day), some of the best sidewalks in Portland, youthful energy along Willamette Boulevard.


1--•--•--•--5
Scenery
Mature trees, flowers, green grass, views of the Willamette River and the West Hills are all welcome sights.

4 - Incredible views of trees and the Fremont Bridge, somewhat obstructed by oil refineries, the Port of Portland and traffic.

1--•--•--•--5
Safety
Traffic, intersections, sidewalk and road conditions tell us a lot about a neighborhood and can turn any run into a zen moment or a terrifying trial.

4 - People expect runners and bikers along Willamette, so there was a lot of traffic that bordered the sidewalk and bike lane, but I never had to break my stride in fear that a driver would not see me.  The route hosts the smoothest sidewalks in Portland - hands down. 

1--•--•--•--5
Difficulty
Charging up hills every mile is hard, thus it will be judged.

5 - Like a pancake - flat with a few lumps.

1--•--•--•--5
Sound and smell
Loud sounds, quiet sounds, good smells, bad smells. A neighborhood defines itself by appealing to the senses.

4 - The Arbor Lodge neighborhood was serene and calming and the Willamette part was filled with the hum of traffic and some exhaust.  Sounds: Wind through my ears, crows, cars and buses, bikers, bagpipes Smells: Spring (and some exhaust), but mostly it smelled like spring and that is among the best smells in the world (disclaimer: this run took place in spring and I am sure it smells like dying worms on the sidewalk all winter)


1--•--•--•--5
Hellos and waves
Because Midwest-nice is important to us.

2 - Nothing -- but no one was mean.


1--•--•--•--5
Number of puppies
Once we get a house, we're getting a puppy...and of course our puppy will need friends.

3 - I only saw 2 puppies on this afternoon weekday run.  However, Arbor Lodge Park had an "off-leash" section where dogs could run free with sticks in their mouths.  There were roughly 5 dogs playing on this particular afternoon (see the small specks of dogs in the picture above)

1--•--•--•--5
People watching
Who lives in the neighborhood?

4 - College Students, young families, politically active people (see picture below).

1--•--•--•--5
Parks
We're keeping an eye out for picnic spots, puppy playgrounds, budding trees and only-in-Portland spectacles.

5 - I loved Arbor Lodge Park!  The tennis court was in tip-top shape and the park had a playground filled with what looked like upside down turtle shell swings, a climbing wall and a marimba.  I also noticed that they have the best benches of any park in Portland - painted pale green, splinter free, with rounded back support.

1--•--•--•--5
Shops and restaurants
Coffeeness and quirkiness are appreciated.

2 - It might be possible to simultaneously die of dehydration and starvation along this route.  I imagine there is a dining hall at the UofP, but I would not eat there.

1--•--•--•--5

Home potential
Can we see ourselves living in this neighborhood?

Maybe - it's relatively affordable, filled with cute houses and near some great parks, but still feels a little distant from the urban core. 

Laurelhurst Park path

Laurelhurst Park is easily one of the nicest parks we've run in. Mature evergreens, quiet Firwood Lake, blooming flowers and a variety of trails make the park an ideal running spot. Our route to and from Laurelhurst runs along Clinton, Division and the Hawthorne neighborhoods, each providing a unique take on the multifaceted, independent spirit of Southeast Portland.

Here's the Run-O-Meter of our Laurelhurst Park Run:


Rating scale is 1-5: 

1 = the worst;  5 = the best

1--•--•--•--5
Enjoyment
It might be rainy, windy and cold, but a good running route can always bring happiness.

5 - It's a rare loop route; covers multiple neighborhoods, great variety, positive vibes throughout, people always seem happy

1--•--•--•--5
Scenery
Mature trees, flowers, green grass, views of the Willamette River and the West Hills are all welcome sights.

5 - The combo of Laurelhurst Park, eccentrics on Hawthorne, bike brigades on Clinton and one of the best views eva of the West Hills on Harrison makes for a delicious treat of a run. 

View of the West Hills from Harrison

1--•--•--•--5
Safety
Traffic, intersections, sidewalk and road conditions tell us a lot about a neighborhood and can turn any run into a zen moment or a terrifying trial.

3 - Clinton and Laurelhurst are quiet, but Division and SE 37th between Hawthorne and Belmont pose many obstacles - beware of cars, car doors, bikes, scuttling children, packs of people, jagged sidewalks and tourists. 

1--•--•--•--5
Difficulty
Charging up hills every mile is hard, thus it will be judged.

2 - A steady incline through the first mile and ups and downs through Laurelhurst park.  Beware - the paved paths at Laurelhurst are very slippery when wet.  It's a thrill to run down Harrison on the home stretch to Ladd's Addition.  Open your arms and take in the city.

One of the most beautiful intersections in Portland

1--•--•--•--5
Sound and smell
Loud sounds, quiet sounds, good smells, bad smells. A neighborhood defines itself by appealing to the senses.

4 -  Sounds: Ice cream trucks, accordions, ducks, shrieking children, barking dogs, wind through the trees; Smells: depends on time of the year - from fragrant trees and flowers, to eggs, bacon and coffee to people who don't bathe for political reasons.

1--•--•--•--5
Hellos and waves
Because Midwest-nice is important to us.

2 - People notice us and usually make way for our passing, but rarely say hello.  

1--•--•--•--5
Number of puppies
Once we get a house, we're getting a puppy...and of course our puppy will need friends.

5 - We've saw 19 puppies on an early spring run.  Who let the dogs out?

1--•--•--•--5
People watching
Who lives in the neighborhood?

5- We've seen every type of person you can imagine on this run.  Literally.  It makes us feel boring.

1--•--•--•--5
Parks
We're keeping an eye out for picnic spots, puppy playgrounds, budding trees and only-in-Portland spectacles.

5 - Nothing beats Firwood Lake, the Douglas Firs, the Cedars, rose trees and secret path in Laurelhurst Park.  We've seen just about everything here - jugglers, sword fights, professional tree climbers, birthday parties, picnics, frisbees and film crews.

A serene view of Firwood Lake 

1--•--•--•--5
Shops and restaurants
Coffeeness and quirkiness are appreciated.

5 - Plenty of indie coffee shops, a branch of Powells Bookstore and our favorite crepe and cupcake place all fall along this route. 

1--•--•--•--5
Home potential
Can we see ourselves living in this neighborhood?

1 - If we find a home with a cracked foundation, a poltergeist or if we had a $100,000 more in the bank.  A distant, dream neighborhood.

Our Laurelhurst Park run route

With each neighborhood run, we're going to score the route through our Run-O-Meter rating system. We've described the categories that matter to us below.


Rating scale is 1-5: 

1 = the worst;  5 = the best

1--•--•--•--5
Enjoyment
It might be rainy, windy and cold, but a good running route can always bring happiness.

1--•--•--•--5
Scenery
Mature trees, flowers, green grass, views of the Willamette River and the West Hills are all welcome sights.

1--•--•--•--5
Safety
Traffic, intersections, sidewalk and road conditions tell us a lot about a neighborhood and can turn any run into a zen moment or a terrifying trial.

1--•--•--•--5
Difficulty
Charging up hills every mile is hard, thus it will be judged.


1--•--•--•--5
Sound and smell
Loud sounds, quiet sounds, good smells, bad smells. A neighborhood defines itself by appealing to the senses.


1--•--•--•--5
Hellos and waves
Because Midwest-nice is important to us.

1--•--•--•--5
Number of puppies
Once we get a house, we're getting a puppy...and of course our puppy will need friends.

1--•--•--•--5
People watching
Who lives in the neighborhood?

1--•--•--•--5
Parks
We're keeping an eye out for picnic spots, puppy playgrounds, budding trees and only-in-Portland spectacles.

1--•--•--•--5
Shops and restaurants
Coffeeness and quirkiness are appreciated.

1--•--•--•--5
Home potential
Can we see ourselves living in this neighborhood?