Finally got the chance to see and be where the stag sign is after many years! Street parking is…read moreavailable in the area and a quick walk towards the park where you have a better view of it. You can also go up the stairs and see it from a closer view. Tree branches do obscure the view a bit. Very satisfying experience!

One of the iconic things about Portland is the white stag sign that sits just across a bridge that…read morelights up the sky at night. It is used in so many shots to depict Portland that while in the area though raining, I had to get some up close photos. Thankfully, the bridge wasn't busy so Ben was able to drive pretty slow as I took picture after picture while we got closer. After a little while, I told him to just stop the car and let me out and I'd walk the rest of the way to avoid anything getting in the view of my pictures. There was a small little pull off (kinda) that I told him to wait for me at right at the end of the bridge. I love these types of things, unique and distinctly Portland.

I tried to avoid coming to "Keep Portland Weird" because I'd heard it is overrated since it's just…read morea wall in a parking lot, but honestly, I just couldn't resist not checking it out. FOMO, here :) It's basically just that phrase (haha) on its own without any fancy graphics, but I wanted to share my reviews and be part of the Yelp community. So, I added a little twist by including a collage of interesting trash bins. I guess this is one way to keep Portland clean, too. I have never seen so many trash cans throughout the city. Hahahah :)) Classic tourist trap move, but honestly, you cannot be in Portland without acknowledging this area.

I love murals, but the most annoying thing about them can be cars in the way of getting a good view…read moreor picture of them. I stumbled up the Keep Portland Weird mural while out walking around on our first morning while Ben was sleeping. It was during the week so cars were already there parked to be able to work. I wasn't thinking about the day/time at first until I was walking around the same area (close to our hotel) during one of the weekend mornings and realized how the day/time comes into play while trying to take photos of the different murals. There are several other murals close by that are also worth the few extra steps

Portlandia...I actually think I have heard of the TV show of the same name before hearing the…read moreexistence of this statue. But the statue definitely came prior to the show. The trident wielding woman is enormous and is awe inspiring and beautiful and perhaps to a certain kind of man perhaps intimidating but that isn't necessarily a problem there. This statue is on the Portland Building and if you simply wall by or near it's nearly impossible to miss. This is also an attraction where there is no fee to take a look at it as it can literally be seen quite easily from the public sidewalk. Yet another iconic downtown Portland landmark that is not to missed!

Nice statue. I believe this is the second largest copper statue in the United States after the…read moreStatue of Liberty. I'm impressed by the vexillology that is also used here, since there's a flag of Cascadia along with the flag of the city of Portland, OR.

Beautiful riverside park with so many cherry blossom trees. Very busy on the weekends. There are…read moresome stairs nearby you can take to get up to a pedestrian walkway on the bridge for a higher up view. The trees are usually in bloom middle to end of March.

This memorial deserves more attention by the City of Portland. It's is shameful that we traveled to…read moresee it and couldn't believe the disrespectful condition of the memorial. The art carvings, the haiku's, the spirit of the memorial is intact. The City's responsibility for its care and upkeep is disgraceful. This could be done with Minimal cost!

God, I remember the days before the China Gates were built. I have fond memories of visiting…read moreCindy's Adult Bookstore back in the day (for non sex and drug purposes mind you) which was located just behind the gates. As they were building the China Gates back in 1986, some of us were concerned that the new gates would obstruct and ruin our pristine view of Cindy's. Poor Cindy's. After Portland City Commissioner Randy Leonard made Cindy's turn off its electricity in 2008, its roof soon collapsed and the unfortunate Cindy's was later demolished altogether. It was a sad day for folks that liked to skulk about soliciting sex and drugs and the kind of folks that would purchase alcohol for those that were under aged at the time. We were right about one thing; those gates really did block our view of Cindy's. 2016 - Review # 10

I like this gate, yes the gate was put up after the neighborhood had already changed. The gate…read moreis nice though and a reminder of what was. Yeah, our Chinatown may not be great like the one in San Francisco or.... There is a lot more out on 82nd then near downtown. Still there is a lot of history here, and a few places left. Tip-contenue on to the Lan-Su Gardens...

The Lan Su Chinese Garden is a beautiful hidden gem in the middle of Portland. Although it's…read morelocated in Chinatown and surrounded by the city, once you step inside, it feels like you've entered a peaceful, secluded oasis. The garden is thoughtfully designed, and there are so many beautiful details to admire--from the tranquil pond and carefully placed rocks to the traditional Chinese architecture and landscaping. You can tell a tremendous amount of care and craftsmanship went into creating this space. We spent about two hours exploring the garden at a relaxed pace and also enjoyed tea at the teahouse, which made the visit even more enjoyable. It was the perfect place to slow down, unwind, and take a break from the busy city. If you're visiting Portland and are looking for a peaceful, scenic escape, I highly recommend stopping by the Lan Su Chinese Garden.

My second time at this Garden, and I wanted to take my fiancé to try it out. We had waltzed through…read morethe Chinatown district in order to approach the entrance. In order to enter to purchase admission tickets, you had to ring a doorbell and someone will buzz you in. Well walked the garden counterclockwise and were able to see historical replications of alters and interior decor. The garden itself was relaxing, peaceful, and clean. There were koi fish being fed, large lotus flowers blooming, and lovely sounds of water. We passed by their tea shop which you can purchase a drink to sit and relax across their pond. Overall, very lovely to see when you're visiting Portland!

The Lovejoy Columns are an interesting little piece of Portland's history. There are many articles…read moreavailable if you want to read the full story of the columns. Once upon a time the Lovejoy Columns supported the Lovejoy Ramp which was a viaduct connecting NW 14th Ave and Lovejoy Street to the Broadway Bridge. This viaduct ran above railroad freight tracks in the area that is now known as the Pearl District. From 1948-1952 a Greek immigrant, who worked as a night watchman for the railroad, drew wonderful pictures on the columns in chalk and later painted them. When the viaduct was demolished in 1999 to make way for all the condos and businesses that make up the Pearl District, several of the original columns were saved and stored beneath the Fremont Bridge. Two of those original columns have been restored and relocated here. The columns are beautiful to behold and definitely worth visiting.

Everyone deserves to pursue their dreams. Carpe diem. Athanasios Efthimiou Stefopoulos is not a…read morename that rolls off the tongue unless you're a cast member of "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" nor unfortunately is it a name you'll see in an art museum as much as he must have dreamed of that. Early in the last century, he was a railroad watchman who happened to be a talented, proto-graffiti artist. He went by the name Tom to his friends and painted the Broadway Bridge Lovejoy overpass columns with fanciful images of mythical gods and wild animals. Several endured over the years though most are in some abandoned lot awaiting funding for restoration. Two of them have been refurbished and placed in a courtyard on NW 10th Avenue near Everett. If you're walking into the Pearl District from the western part of the city, it's likely the first landmark you'll see. Check 'em out. RELATED - Going to Portland? Here are the places I visited and reviewed: bit.ly/2B0haJD

Experience: It was a happy discovery to find several water…read morefountains as I returned from dinner on a rainy winter evening. Locals will know their history, but visitors may encounter surprise that stirs curiosity... Why are Portland's streets sprinkled with water fountains that percolate streams of water throughout the day? Origin: Local lore suggests an early 20th century philanthropist named Simon Benson donated funds to construct and install elegant bronze water fountains along the city's streets. Some say this act was inspired after witnessing a young girl crying with thirst, while others attribute it to an effort to satisfy manual laborers thirst with something other than saloon beer. Tip: Currently there are around 50 fountains that can be discovered by chance, or intention via map (attached).

These are the historical Benson Bubblers in downtown Portland. The story goes that the founder of…read morePortland was tired of his workers drinking at the taverns so he offered an alternative that exists to this day

This statue of a baby elephant standing on its dad is kind of cute. It is covered with all kinds…read moreof shapes. While the statue is fairly new it is based on a much smaller pitcher that is very old. I like that the location is very visible but I wish it didn't feel as sketchy.

This is one of my favorite sculptures downtown. It's actually an enlarged replica from the Shang…read moreDynasty, created in 2002. It's one precious packaderm!

The PBOT waterways Bike Ride stopped at the Keller Fountain. It's an artistic representation of a…read morestage using cement squares and unique standing shapes. The water was not running but you can imagine how majestic this is when flowing. Going to come back in spring.

I have so many wonderful memories from Keller Fountain Park over the years that I have lived in…read morePortland. I've sulked here, taken dates and out of town guests here, I've had summertime lunches here. While Pioneer Square may be considered "Portland's Livingroom," to some, this amazing park is everything to me.