GOOD SOURCES in PORTLAND AREA

---- rewarding the good --------
I don't know these businesses personally, but suggest them as standing out from the crowd.
(In a few cases they caught my eye as providing something out of the ordinary but I have
not checked them out - in which case I say so.)

I do keep this list up to date.

While I have limited knowledge of most of these businesses, I list them if they are 
much better than average for the area and I have not noticed any warning signs.

PORTLAND, OR
There are several motels on the southwest side of Portland on Barbur Blvd, as well
as at the next interchange on I-5 south of this area. Some are new, some OK but
aging, some poor. There are stores not far away (fast food, groceries, Fred Meyer
department store). Barbur Blvd at 30th Ave, between Portland and Tigard. Northbound
on I-5 take exit 294 onto Barbur. Southbound take exit 296A, left.

Powell's book stores are renowned. They've remodelled and become better organized.
The main store has a parking garage but entry/exit is slow. Their stock is a mix of
new and used on the same shelves. Their technical book store a few blocks north
has developed well, and has some low priced single-topic technical booklets as well
as plasticized reference cards. Those two locations are just on the north side of
downtown, on Burnside and Couch respectively.

Portland has bus and train commuting service. And a reasonable bypass freeway to 
avoid the freeway through downtown (which is complex due winding over the river
and having many entrances/exits). Signage for the bypass is a bit confusing, since
it covers both the bypass and a route off of it to an eastern destination. Look
for the sign to Salem when southbound approaching Vancouver WA, and the sign to
Vancouver when northbound in the vicinity of Wilsonville OR.

The aviation museum at Pearson Field in Fort Vancouver across the river from Portland
is good for non-aviation people especially students - it has many educational exhibits.
(And has other events, from car shows to dances, plus a park across the road and the
Fort Vancouver historical district close by.) From I-5 exit onto Main Plain Rd east,
watch for the turn into the historical fort area. Wiggle through the traffic circle
to keep going south and down the hill, turn left at the bottom. (Vancouver WA began
as an English trading post, and every decade or two residents vote on whether or not
to change the name to Fort Vancouver to recognize its roots and differentiate it from
Vancouver BC (both names come from Captain Vancouver). The historical district results
from the British activities and from US army activities in WWII).

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Copyright Keith Sketchley          February 14, 2003 (1331PDT)
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