Raleigh Hills - Portland, OR

Raleigh Hills was named after a resident of the neighborhood, Raleigh Robinson, in the 1800s and earned its place on the map when a post office opened, which was appropriately named Raleigh, established in April 1892. Almost 40 years later, in 1914, Southern Pacific's Red Electric Line created a stop in Raleigh, however the line shut down operation only 15 years later. By that time, Portland was fairly well-known, and the neighborhood began developing residential areas.

There are no museums directly in the neighborhood of Raleigh Hills; however, residents can find the Interactive Museum of Gaming and Puzzlery a few minutes away in Beaverton. The downtown Portland area also features plenty of museums, such as Portland Children's Museum, Museum of Contemporary Craft and Oregon Maritime Museum, and visiting the state's historical society always proves to be an interesting experience.

Raleigh is home to a fairly diverse range of restaurants and places to drink a beer and relax, but there is not much of a wild nightlife; that would be found approximately 20 minutes northeast in Downtown Portland. As far as dining goes in this neighborhood, you can find everything from Mexican to Italian as well as neighborhood pubs. Raul's Family Mexican Restaurant has a nearly five-star review on Yelp The restaurant hold a reputation for its tasty food, traditional family recipes, friendly service and amazing margaritas. Ernesto's Italian Restaurant proves to be a fine place if you're in the mood for some scrumptious spaghetti and meatballs; this establishment has all the classic Italian favorites and also provides services for banquets and catering.

If you feel more in the mood to hit up a neighborhood pub, then consider either McMenamins Raleigh Hills Pub for great happy hour specials or The Raccoon Lodge & Brew Pub, which is more of a family friendly alternative. On the other hand, if you are looking for the lively nightlife, then catch a taxi to Downtown Portland for some fascinating themed night clubs, such as the '80s- and '90s-themed dance club Jones Bar. Other hot spots include Dante's, which features cabaret and karaoke in a unique atmospheric rock music venue and Olive or Twist, a classy, elegant, art-filled cocktail lounge.

Transportation in Raleigh is fairly decent; bus stops line the 10 highways, and a few stops exist off the 210. Furthermore, access to the 217 and 26 freeways remains quick and easy. If you are looking to call a taxi, it likely comes from downtown Portland and acts as a common option among the residents, as is Uber, which is widely used in Portland for ride shares. Parking proves plentiful and rarely comes at a fee in this neighborhood. On the other hand, if you prefer to ride your bike or go for a stroll, the scenery gorgeous scenery enhances your experience. It is safe to ride your bike among the sparse traffic, and the friendly residents always offer a smile and a wave.

If you are in the northern end of the neighborhood, then Raleigh Park and Swim Center provides a great place for you and your family to spend the day swimming. Consider having a picnic in the afternoon as you enjoy the park setting. Red Tails Golf Course is perhaps the most popular location for extracurricular activities, as it has swimming, tennis, playing card groups and, obviously, a gigantic golf course. Additionally, a few other beautiful parks inhabit the Raleigh area that are worth visiting on a pretty day, including Vista Brook Park on the south end. Raleigh Scholls Park and Raleighwood Park can also be found in the area, but if you want to get your pooch out for some off-leash exercise, then there is a dog park at Gabriel Park, only 10 minutes away in the neighborhood of Multnomah.

The cost of living in Raleigh Hills runs about 15 percent higher than the state average. As far as renting a nice one-bedroom apartment, you should expect to pay between $800 and $1,000 per month, but if you plan to buy a home in the neighborhood, then the median housing value sits just under $500,000. The cost to grab a pint of beer at the end of a long day varies, but if you head over to the neighborhood pub, McMenamins, you can find some great happy hour specials, including $4 pints of beer, $3.75 well drinks and $2 to $4 appetizers. In terms of gas prices, the cost is slightly below the national average and about equal to the rest of Oregon.

Being more of a quiet residential neighborhood, Raleigh doesn't exactly provide the best places to go shopping; however, downtown Portland sits less than 20 minutes away from here. A few neat little boutiques do inhabit the area, and these are worth browsing. For all of your rockabilly needs, check out TCH Vintage Fashions. Vintage Motorbooks, which is a cool place that buys and sells any and all automotive publications, makes another fun stop. Portland is deep into the vintage scene, and there are many similar neighborhoods in the area that reflect this way of life, which makes for some really interesting and fantastic buys.

In terms of grocery shopping, the few options mostly lie in the northern part of the neighborhood, keeping traffic at a minimum, but a few exist in neighboring towns as well. If farmer's markets are more your style, then be sure to visit the neighboring town of Beaverton, or consider a few others in close proximity to Raleigh.