Eastbank Esplanade — Attraction in Portland

The Esplanade is a wonderful place to get a look at the ever evolving skyline, and to take a close look at bridges and some of the working waterfront that still exists north of the Steel Bridge. Starting a stroll near the Hawthorne Bridge makes for convenient parking if you're driving to the area. The folks who planned the walkways did a very nice job of making them wide enough to easily share with 2 way traffic, both pedestrian and cyclists. In the Covid era, it also makes it fairly easy to maintain a healthy distance from everyone else. A visit makes it easy to see what some of Portland's iconic bridges look like from underneath - which I personally find to be a fun viewpoint. If you are moving northward, walkers are also rewarded with delightful views of the Steel Bridge, both from a distance and from the walkway across the lower level. The floating section of the walkway adds yet another viewpoint to this unique part of the city. A few of my pictures are from walkways on the Steel and Hawthorne bridges, but I consider all the bridges to be part of the...

Fun fishing spot easily accessible from downtown, and pretty much anywhere in the city. I caught a few bass here, and I've heard there are crappie. Surely you can also find bluegill, catfish and carp. Probably even more interesting stuff if you fish the river side of the promenade. I like it because it's easy to reach by bus, and well trafficked so it feels safe. It is, however, a bit dirty. Trash builds...

It really is great being able to walk or jog or ride huge laps along the river. The city still needs to keep making the river more accessible and a destination, and the ambience is a bit mixed: we got to enjoy beautiful skies, cormorants, homeless camps and the fire department trying to find someone who had jumped to their death from the Burnside bridge.. so a whole plethora of...