"The Arts District is more a deep dive into the diversity of creativity in and around Portland than it is a single experience. It's a neighborhood that encourages and celebrates artistic expression—from performances on stages and sidewalks, to abstract garden sculptures in the Portland Museum of Art ; to, even, small family exhibits of paper mâché in coffee shops. Taken as a whole experience, the area is an excellent window into the kind of independent thinking that makes Portland tick, and is worth a look for anyone curious about its cultural mindset. If you can, time your trip to the first Friday of the month when, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., tourists and locals alike arrive to take part in First Friday Art Walk , a self-guided tour of the area's arts offerings." - Alexandra Hall
