Sherwood/Tualatin South - Tualatin, OR

Colonist Samuel Galbreath opened a ferry crossing in Native American territory around 1853, naming the boat after himself. A colony of Oregon Trail pioneers grew, some coming from the Gold Rush down south in California, and the town eventually settled on the name of Tualatin in the early 1900s, named for the river that passes by the area. Sherwood and Tualatin both became much more suburbanized in the 1980s; over 60 percent of the homes in Tualatin were constructed after 1980.

The Sherwood Historical Sociey preserves some of the area's history in the Heritage Center, located in central Sherwood.

Diners can find upscale eateries or more casual fare within a stone's throw of each other in the Tualatin Commons area, and casual dining well-suited for families abounds in the greater Sherwood/Tualatin South neighborhood. Portland's cultural diaspora has resulted in a wealth of amazing Asian restaurants in the area, so make sure to expand your palate when visiting Sherwood/Tualatin South.

Sawatdee Thai Cuisine in Sherwood serves the traditional dishes found in most Thai restaurants in the country, but placed in an upscale setting that belies its urban home. Sawatdee, named for the Thai word for both "hello" and "goodbye," pleases patrons with its knowledgeable waitstaff and family-friendly atmosphere. Order the Pad Kee Mao for an old classic, or try the crab fried rice for some spice in your life.

Nightlife in the Sherwood/Tualatin South area is centered near the Commons, where there are several late-night restaurants and bars within walking distance. For anyone looking to bring some groove into their life, Bushwhackers, located a block south of the Commons, holds dance lessons five nights a week, with 14 nights a month dedicated to beginners' lessons. Block some time off in your schedule, and look out for the renowned ladies' night, every Thursday.

Traveling through the Sherwood/Tualatin South area is easiest with a car. You can be in downtown Portland in 20 minutes via the I-5, and traverse the neighborhood in about 12 minutes. Residents access most of the area by I-5 or highway 99, located within a ten minute drive of most parts of the area. Parking, like most of Portland's suburbs, doesn't prove to be a problem for many residents.

Portland's TriMet provides public transit for Sherwood/Tualatin South. Depending on your location, a bus would take about one hour and 15 minutes to travel to downtown Portland from the neighborhood.

Tualatin garners a Walk Score of 28, meaning travel "depends" on a car. Bicyclists may appreciate the area's developed network of roads with bike lanes, with some areas containing dedicated bicycle arteries.

Yellow Cabs supply Tualatin with on-call transportation, however, don't bank on hailing a cab on the street—the spread-out suburban environment means most cabs need to be called ahead of time. Uber doesn't serve the Sherwood/Tualatin South area.

"Tree City USA" contains over 100 acres of designated park land. Residents use the parks for their natural and man-made waterways, the plentiful bike and walking paths, and classes like yoga and zumba (at the Juanita Pohl center) held in the parks themselves.

Browns Ferry Park, Sherwood/Tualatin South's largest park, lies on the south bank of the Tualatin River. With a splendid view of the waterway, and a pond further inside the park, Browns Ferry Park attracts many boating enthusiasts. The city parks department has a kayak rental area at Browns Ferry Park, perfect for travelers or residents without access to their own boats.

The Community Park, located along the Tualatin river just west of the I-5, attracts regular park-goers and skaters alike with its plentiful greenery and renowned skate park. Bring your pals to the three sporting fields, the basketball or the tennis courts; the latter two are lit until 10:30pm, perfect for a late-night match. Bring a dog to the Community Park's specialized dog area.

The average cost of living in the Sherwood/Tualatin South area stands at 12 percent above the rest of Oregon. A single bedroom apartment rents for around $700 per month. A beer at any of the neighborhood pubs will cost you $3.50, and gas is 10 percent more expensive than the average for the rest of the nation. TriMet tickets cost $2.50 for a two-hour pass, or $5 for a full day pass, useful for traveling to downtown Portland and back.

Most Sherwood/Tualatin South residents travel outside the neighborhood to Bridgeport Village for their shopping needs. Within the borders of the neighborhood, however, you'll find local staples like Fred Meyers (a Pacific Northwest grocery and general needs store) and national brands like Target and TJ Maxx.

The Tualatin Commons area houses some interesting boutique shops. Ancient Wonders is a fantastic hub for trading cards and esoteric board games, and Barbara Johnson Clothing, a local emporium, carries vintage clothing for all ages and sizes.

Safeway and Fred Meyer provide the area with most of its grocery needs. For residents looking for a more local resource, the Tualatin Farmer's Market will surely please. With over 30 vendors, you can find fresh tamales, Tualatin-grown berries and fresh-baked breads all in one place.