Boise - Portland, OR Area Guide

In the 1800s, North Mississippi Avenue housed many ship workers because of the proximity to the waterfront and the industry of the Willamette River. Over time the city began to grow until the construction of Interstate 5 shut down businesses and disrupted the community that had started to form there. In 1999, the city of Portland started a conscious revival of the area to bring back the culture it once had, and now it thrives with life through the extensive commerce and artistic scene the community has fostered.

Throughout the year, Mississippi Avenue hosts an event to feature local artists on the second Thursday of every month. In July, the Mississippi Street Fair brings the community together with more than 100 local vendors and a craft-brew beer garden, highlighting the best of Boise in one big event.

Mississippi Avenue functions as the heart of Boise, with the best entertainment and eateries along its sidewalks. The options for food and cocktails are diverse and unique, and walking along the avenue you are sure to find something that suits your culinary fancy.

For international cuisine, ¿Por Que No? Taqueria is a must. Enjoy house-made chips and guacamole before a meal of authentic Mexican dishes – the tacos are their specialty. For dessert, up the street awaits Ruby Jewel, where they serve hand-crafted ice cream and ice cream sandwiches using local ingredients. The lemon cookie with honey lavender ice cream sandwich remains a local favorite.

For dinner and a show, try Mississippi Pizza Pub and Atlantis Lounge. The Real Nice pizza – sausage, onion, basil and whipped ricotta – goes well with Karaoke Night or Quizissippi Trivia Night. The Atlantis Lounge offers a secret menu with fresh-fruit cocktails and live music nightly.

Sidecar 11 down the street also establishes a similar vibe, with fine whiskey, and $1 off beer, wine and cocktails during happy hour. Local artwork displayed on the walls completes the bar's ambiance, and they host specialty drink nights as well as private parties if you want to rent the location for your event.

Most of the Boise neighborhood lies within comfortable walking or bike-riding distance. Shops and restaurants are close together in the hub that is Mississippi Avenue and along the similarly busy Williams Avenue, making a leisurely stroll or bike ride convenient not just for travel but for seeing the sights of the area.

Public transportation also provides options to travel throughout the neighborhood or to the greater Portland area. Multiple bus routes run through the neighborhood via Portland's TriMet Public Transportation System, and the MAX Light Rail stops on Mississippi Avenue to provide quick and easy access to downtown Portland and the rest of the city.

Other than the public transportation system, cars prove the best way to go places outside of the neighborhood. Interstate 5 allows quick access to downtown Portland as well as Vancouver, Wash., in the north. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and Highway 99 run right through the neighborhood and function as major roadways that give access to the other areas of Portland east of the Willamette River.

Uber is not currently available in the Portland area; however taxis are easily accessible. Just make sure to call ahead.

Even with all the hustle and bustle that comes along with the busy Mississippi and Williams Avenues, the Boise area provides many parks for connecting with nature within the urban atmosphere. There's a park for everyone, whether you're looking for sports, picnics or a place to relax.

Peninsula Park offers history with all the amenities you could want. Built in the early 1900s, there's a fountain in the center of the city's first public rose garden alongside the basketball and tennis courts and the soccer and softball fields. It's the perfect place to relax on your own, or bring your kids to play on the playground or in the horseshoe pit. The park can also be reserved for events, such as weddings; made easy in the lighted park with the covered picnic shelter.

Overlook Park spreads across 11 acres that overlook the Willamette River, creating the perfect place to lay out on the grass or have a picnic. The playground and the dog park give everyone something to do if you bring the family, and you can invite your friends to the basketball or volleyball courts for a game.

The cost of living in Boise lies squarely within the Portland average, with most expenses costing the same amount. Housing prices are slightly higher than the Portland average because of the neighborhood's growing status, but median rent is still average for the city at around $960 a month for a one-bedroom apartment.

A TriMet ticket costs $2.50 for two hours of travel, and the average price for a pint of beer at a local pub falls around $6. Gas prices are similar to Portland prices and the national average.

You may not find most chain stores in Boise, but you can find just about anything you need. Instead of large-chain grocery stores, Boise houses various international food markets and smaller chains such as New Seasons Market to provide groceries for its residents. Most of the other shopping lies along Mississippi and Williams Avenues, where vintage shops and boutiques feature treasures to be found just by taking a stroll down either street.

Gumbo Gifts and Gallery features local artists' work in its shop as well as novelty gifts, hats and eyewear. It even has vintage items for the more eclectic or unique tastes. When shopping for the trendsetter, go over to Queen Bee by Rebecca Pearcy on Williams Avenue. Faux-leather bags with stitched detailing provide a gift for yourself or a friend that fit right in with the Boise atmosphere.