By Beacon Editorial Board
There's a reason why there are so many "Keep Portland Weird!" bumper stickers. Portland is nationally recognized as a quirky city.
Students should learn to reap the benefits of this, which is one of the reasons behind why we created our own "Best of Portland" special insert this week. The point of this guide isn't to showcase the typical "must see" locations of Portland like Pioneer Courthouse Square. You can use Citysearch for that.
The Beacon's "Best of Portland" section is our quirky way to nudge students to break out of the "UP Bubble," because you haven't truly experienced the city by simply visiting travel guide destinations. That's what tourists do.
The true Portland experience, or what makes a Portlander a Portlander, requires that you venture into parts other than downtown.
While our campus location forces us to put more effort into exploring our surroundings compared to Portland State University, we are rewarded with a more representative experience of Portland.
This means that you can probably spend less money at shops and restaurants. It also means that you get to connect with members of your local community. We aren't just members of the university community. We live in neighborhoods like University Park, Arbor Lodge and St. Johns.
We dare you. Eat someplace that looks like a dive. Shop somewhere that isn't a national chain.
One of the best ways to learn about the city is to simply get lost in your surroundings. Portland is relatively personable for a large city. Spark up conversations with strangers and you might be surprised with what you discover.
We are here to learn, so get out and do some learning. Learn about yourself. Learn about this city. In the end you just might learn what it means to be a Portlander and why your time here is something to be valued.
