In the Oval Office on October 6th, Donald Trump, president of the United States of America, said that Portland, Oregon, was a “burning hell-hole” and that he would not hesitate to send the National Guard, even if Portland citizens were killed as a result.
Trump also said that “people are trying to burn down buildings”, which is very misleading. While protests are rampant, they are peaceful. Trump has been painting Portland out to be a dangerous, ferocious place, when that couldn’t be further from the truth.
If anything, the government’s intervention in Portland is more extreme and harmful to the City than the protests themselves. “I would say this is hell for our BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) community because ICE and the federal government are making it so,” says Kathy Diamond, an English 3-4 and English 7-8 teacher at Ida B. Wells-Barnett High School. “I live close enough [to the ICE facility] to hear helicopters flying at night.”
Portland is a very progressive, unique place. With “Keep Portland Weird” being Portland’s unofficial motto, specialty places and strange events are to be expected.
For example, the Freakybuttrue Peculiarium is a must-see museum in Northwest Portland. The entrance fee is $10, and although it is fairly small, it is packed full of interesting, strange things. It features a miniature movie theater, weird props for photo opportunities, lots of art pieces with descriptions that describe fictional worlds and much more.
The Sauvie Island pumpkin patch is a perfect spot to visit this fall. It has a haunted corn maze, a market full of fall treats, hayrides and a petting zoo.
Portland is also full of stunning natural landmarks. Wahkeena Trail is a fun walk up to a beautiful waterfall over a clear pool of water where people can swim. Located in the Columbia River Gorge, you can easily view the many stunning waterfalls nearby.
Oaks Amusement Park is another great attraction in Portland. It is Portland’s only amusement park but, it is definitely worth a visit. They have many varying rides, from calming rides for young children to intense rides for adrenaline seekers. Their large soft-serve is also a fan-favorite treat with spectacular value.
The neighborhoods in Portland are fantastic too. Multnomah Village is known as the “village in the heart of Portland.” It has a homey feel to it, more quaint than downtown Portland or Pearl District. Multnomah Village have many local small businesses, along with food carts. There are many places to sit down and enjoy the scenery. Many Ida B. wells students go to Multnomah, with the 44 passing it.
Pearl District has a completely different vibe from Multnomah Village. It’s trendy and new, with many boutiques and thrift stores. A lot of young people like walking around Pearl District, especially young people who are into fashion. It is also conveniently near downtown Portland, so it is a good place to walk around with friends.
Lake Oswego is regarded as the most luxurious place in the Portland Metro area. The restaurants are fancy and elegant, with stunning scenery to look at while eating. There are blue lakes, water fountains, clean pavement, and publicly displayed art pieces. Buying something at Lake Oswego isn’t necessary, as visiting the beautiful surroundings is a perfect reason to go, but it is worth mentioning that the restaurants there are priced around the same as they would be in any other Portland area.
There are plenty of other unmentioned parts of Portland that are worth visiting. Portland is so unique and fun, earning the title of a tourist city.
