Cedar Hills-Cedar Mill Portland, OR

The names of both Cedar Mill and Cedar Hills refer to the cedar forest in the area that largely supported the growing community. The saw mill that processed much of the local timber still sits in Cedar Mill just along Cedar Mill Creek.

Although the residents of this area typically head into Portland for art galleries and museums, the Cedar Mill Community Library, one of the largest in the state, holds many events, including book clubs, film clubs and writer’s groups, all year long.

While the areas have few annual festivals to speak of, affordable, drop-in swing dancing and ballroom dancing lessons make up a large portion of the community events, held at the Leedy Grange Hall.

Because of the population boom in the area, Cedar Mill and Cedar Hills became home to a number of nearby mom-and-pop restaurants and cafes, all of which deserve a try. Before you go on a dining-out spree, make sure to stop by Roxy’s Island Grill. As a casual Hawaiian restaurant, it serves the best teriyaki burger in Portland and an assortment of chicken dishes, such as teriyaki chicken, Shoyu chicken and Galbi chicken, that remain the restaurant’s bestsellers. Prepare for big portion sizes

Whether you need to get your coffee fix or just want some amazing breakfast food, pop on down to Jim and Patty’s Coffee. Though their menu sports exotically named food such as the Dancing Goat (egg, bacon, caramelized onions and goat cheese) and hipster bowls, their wide selection leaves you wishing you could eat there every morning. Their Black Tiger shakes and signature roasts make this café a hot spot for locals.

Though the Cedar Mill and Cedar Hills nightlife remains low key, Siam Lotus Asian Kitchen & Bar makes up for it with beers for $3.50 and $6.50 for either the famous pad thai or shrimp-fried rice. Because the food and drinks come out quickly and the portions are generous, this restaurant charms locals looking for a quick bite to eat or a leisurely venue for drinking.

If you’re looking for other local restaurants, taking a jaunt down Cedar Hills Road is the best bet.

Because Highways 26 and 217 cradle the Cedar Mill and Cedar Hills area, going toward Salem, the Oregon beaches or downtown Portland by car is simple. However, rush-hour traffic in the area scares many people away from driving.

The Sunset Transit Center, which offers many buses and the red and blue line Max trains, remains the most popular transit station in the area. For getting around the residential communities, bus route 50 travels in the neighborhoods and out toward Barnes Road.

Few taxis travel the roads, but calling a cab never presents a problem. Additionally, Uber in Portland serves the Cedar Mill and Cedar Hills areas, which offers a great alternative for getting to the airport or just around town.

Though Cedar Hills Road has many shops and restaurants residents can walk to, the neighborhood itself spreads out in many directions, making that a less-favorable option. However, bike paths in the area, though not along the main roads, provide an excellent mode of transportation.

Parking, in most places, remains free and easy to find.

Cedar Mill Park, located along Cornell Road, offers winding nature paths, multiple baseball diamonds, a soccer field, picnic tables and tennis courts, all free and open to the public. Because many buses travel in that direction, Cedar Mill Park is easily accessible to everyone in the area, though it stays out of the way of more commercial development.

Commonwealth Lake Park also shines as a community center, with excellent places to fish as well as a skateboarding park and playground. Because of the extremely low crime rate in the Cedar Mill and Cedar Hills areas, you generally don't have to worry about the safety of your children while they play at the parks.

If you want to live in Cedar Mill or Cedar Hills, prepare for a very high cost of living. The housing in these communities cost about 24 percent more on average than Oregon as a whole and about 41 percent more than the national average. Renting a one-bedroom apartment runs about $1,000 a month.

In other ways, however, the cost of living in Cedar Mill and Cedar Hills remains similar to that of the rest of Oregon. For instance, a two-hour bus pass costs $2.50, and a monthly pass costs $100. A beer costs less than average at $4 to $6 per draft because few bars are located in the area.

Gas prices in Cedar Mill and Cedar Hills hover around 7 percent above the national average.

Cedar Hills Crossing, one of the biggest shopping centers in the area, is the home of chain stores of every variety, including Ross Dress for Less and office supply stores such as Office Depot. The area also sports local businesses such as Kim's Tailor Shop, where men can find custom-tailored suits at a reasonable price with phenomenal service. Powell's Bookstore also has a location in the mall.

This shopping complex also houses New Seasons Market, which only has stores in the Portland and Vancouver areas and offers fresh, local groceries at lower-than-average prices. However, many locals turn to the Beaverton Farmers Market to find fresh-grown produce and homemade crafts and clothing.