Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
21
FREMONT TO WILLIAMS:
SHIFTING GEARS
BOUNDARIES:
N. Williams Ave., NE Skidmore St., NE Fremont St., NE 50th Ave.
DISTANCE:
3.5 miles
DIFFICULTY:
Easy
PARKING:
Free street parking
PUBLIC TRANSIT:
TriMet Bus 44 (N. Williams Ave. and NE Skidmore St.) or Bus 24 (NE
Fremont St. and 57th Ave.)
This walk starts at a lovely cemetery on top of a hill, then makes its way down the hill
through various little hubs of commercial activity, most of which have sprung up
fairly recently. The walk concludes with a stretch of funky Williams Avenue, a major
bicycle corridor busy with new commercial development that's been drawing some of
the most talked-about buildings and businesses in town. (The nature of this develop-
ment has been strongly influenced by the fact that there's so much bicycle traffic
along here; the two things have been feeding each other. If you've been curious about
the much-hyped Portland bike culture, the Williams Avenue corridor is a good place
to get an up-close look at it.) This is definitely an area in flux: if you walk it now, try
walking it again in six months— we bet you'll see big changes.
Start at the bus stop at NE Fremont St. and 57th Ave., next to the ex-
tremely beautiful Rose City Cemetery (established in 1906). In the
middle of the main cemetery is a separate, enclosed Japanese Cemetery.
Go in for a look, or simply wander down Fremont alongside the quiet, at-
mospheric grounds.
At NE 52nd Ave. you'll reach a small cluster of eateries and coffee shops,
including Stanich's, known for its enormous burgers. George and Gladys
Stanich opened the joint in 1949. Gladys cooked, and George became
known as “The Philosopher of Fremont.” The place is jam-packed with
sports memorabilia, team pennants, and good vibes.
Around NE 42nd Ave. and Fremont is the tiny hub of Beaumont Village,
which is essentially just a small neighborhood market (in a building
called the Swiss House—you'll recognize it), a handful of shops and
