Laurelhurst is honestly idyllic. Close to Laurelhurst Park, Oak Street is literally lined with huge, noble oaks. Old Portland money had their gracious homes here. It is officially listed on the National Register of Historic Places by the National Park Service. Laurelhurst Park has rolling lawns, an off leash dog area, a pond with geese, picnic tables under the shade of big old trees, a walking path around the whole beautiful experience. In the summer, all types of hippies, hipsters, and families lounge around on blankets or practice hula-hooping in the sun. On rainy days, grab a slice of pizza and a beer and watch a movie at Laurelhurst Theater on Burnside, an art-deco style theater opened in 1923 (pro-tip: buy tickets online or get there early; the intimate screening rooms do sell out often).
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Laurelhurst can be described as
- Gracious. Vintage. Clean.
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where the locals go
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where the tourists go
"Getting out in nature is relatively easy even within Portland city limits, with dozens of parks and greenway ped/bike paths... but these days it's probably fair to be aware that our houseless crisis is at a level we've never seen before, and a lot of homeless camps are nuzzled in these spaces. For safety, and respect, it may be a good idea to avoid being in these areas too early or too late, and probably never go alone."