Before moving to Portland we did lots of research, toured around, and finally landed in what we think is the best part of Portland, inner Southeast Portland. Inner SE has twenty different neighborhoods that all have their own unique flare. It has some of the industrial, old-Portland businesses and train depot, but also the hip and up-and-coming spots that all the young people want to live in. It’s both quirky, weird, grungy, and “normal.” It appeals to families as well as the single, hipster crowd. There really is something to love in southeast for everyone!
Here are some fun facts and favorites you may want to know or keep in mind when considering moving to or visiting southeast Portland.
Transportation
Public transportation around the city is pretty great with the TriMet bus and max system. The new orange line goes from Milwaukie into downtown and my kids love riding it. Portland is also one of the most bike-friendly cities in the U.S., emphasized by the new addition of BikeTown bike share stations located all over Portland’s tri-counties. Add in Uber and Lyft, and you can get anywhere you need quickly!
Schools
From public, private, charter, focus option, Montessori, and homeschool coops, educational options are endless here. In SE alone there are about 20 elementary schools that feed into two high schools, Cleveland and Franklin. My best advice is to do your research before moving into a neighborhood. It may not have a school that you are able to attend without winning a lottery spot, and then you’ll have to shuttle your child to another school farther away. Yes, we are speaking from experience here and it was incredibly frustrating. Make an appointment and go and visit the school of your choice; it makes a huge difference. Also, be your children’s biggest advocate, because schools are often under-resourced and overworked, and you have to be the one to look out for the needs of your child.
Where to Eat
There is no lack of delicious and family-friendly places to eat in southeast Portland. Seriously there are thousands! Our amazing city is known for food, coffee, and breweries, and they rarely disappoint. In my opinion, southeast Portland also has some of the best food cart pods in town. Some of our favorite, brick-and-mortar eateries are:
- Jade
- PDX Sliders
- Saburos Sushi Where there is always a line around the building!
- Papa Haydn They have an amazing patio in the summer, their food is good, but their dessert is THE BEST!
- Hopworks Urban Brewery (HUB) This place has an amazing kids section and a great food and beer menu. The pretzel sticks are fabulous!
- Kati Thai This is a vegan spot but even my non vegan friends LOVE it. It’s amazing!
- Screen Door
- Pine State Biscuits
- Killer Burger
- Teote They have lots of seating, a fabulous back patio with bar and fire pit, and delicious food.
Sweets and Treats
For a cold treat in SE, visit Nectar Frozen Yogurt or Cloud City Ice Cream where my kids favorite choice is the Circus Friends Ice Cream. My personal favorite for dessert is the Waffle Window, where you can’t go wrong with the seasonal options or the banana, Nutella waffle. And there’s always doughnuts. Our favorite in the neighborhood is Coco Donuts.
Indoor Fun
Living in a city that rains a lot requires fun, indoor places where kids can burn off some steam. Here are our favorite, indoor play places in southeast Portland:
- OMSI
- The Playground Gym
- Oregon Rail Heritage Foundation A train museum with real train rides!
- Wunderland Arcade and Theatre This is technically in Milwaukie, but it’s really close to southeast Portland (proper) neighborhoods.
- Community Centers We have loved the classes at the Sellwood Community Center and the Mt. Scott Community Center where they also have a great pool.
- Aladdin Theatre Great for a date night without kids with year-round entertainment.
Outdoor Fun
Our city has beauty in every corner. Rain, snow, or shine, we love to get outside any time during the year and explore at these fun southeast Portland parks and activities.
- Mt. Tabor With a park and trails, it has a great view of the city!
- Crystal Springs Rhododendron Garden This is a beautiful, year-round park is a fun place to feed the ducks.
- Oaks Bottom Wildlife Refuge Trail
- Powell Butte This has some of the best east-side hiking trails.
- Sellwood Park
- West Mooreland Nature Park
- Reed College Canyon
- Farmer’s Markets
Coffee Shops
You can always find a great cup of joe in southeast Portland. Some of the best places to go have a cup of coffee, meet a friend, and let the kids play on this side of town are The Living Room, Rose City Coffee, Warehouse Cafe (we love the kids shows and entertainment), and The Rocking Frog Cafe (which also has delicious donuts).
Toy Stores
Oodles for Kids is a family favorite. They have amazing customer service, will gift wrap for you and they have always come through for me in a pinch for any birthday gift need I’ve ever had. They also do events and kids activities throughout the year.
