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Not a touristy or commonly visited area of Portland, St John's has everything for a local person to strive for. Quiet neighborhoods are spread throughout the area with beautiful gardens. Watch out when you are biking, because many of the side roads become rocky and unpaved. There are many excellent views of the Willamette River on Willamette Boulevard, which is a superb bike ride. Cathedral Park and the St John's bridge are great hang out spots. You can picnic and watch people throw sticks in the water and have their dogs chase them! If you're hungry, there are plenty of cheap, local Mexican fast food stands.

Located in very far East Portland, Powell Butte is an awesome park with awesome views. On a clear day, you can see both Mt Hood and Mt St Helens from the distance, two epic, scenic mountains. You can lay on the grass, or rest in the windy trees. If you feel like getting some shade, go off to the side to the woodsy area and walk along the creek.

A well-known, well-visited little neighborhood coffeehouse in North Portland.

Located on a corner, this cafe goes well with the weather in Portland. When it is cloudy, raining and hailing outside, you can sit within the many comfortable couches or chairs and watch the precipitation with a cheap, warm drink. When it is nice out, there is a vast array of picnic tables and benches outside that you can hang out at for hours.

Regulars bring their dogs and hang out and read the newspaper, and many students and local writers keep themselves busy. They play good music, but not too loud so that you're distracted from your reading. There are many different fliers up on the windows, so you can look at events or classes in the area.

Coffee is freshly roasted and brewed. The cheapest option is a drip coffee, which is $1, then 50 cent refills. For those into espresso drinks, they run from $2-4, but are nonetheless delicious.