Laurel Hurst

Laurelhurst is a beautiful, upscale community located in SE Portland. Here, you will find another neighborhood full of grand old homes, mixed in with cottages, bungalows and rare-to-find-in-Portland, Mission style homes on tree lined streets with perfectly manicured lawns and wide sidewalks reminiscent of Portland’s yesteryear.

Very much a family neighborhood, it is not surprising that Laurelhurst Park is one of the prettier, better maintained community parks in all of Portland. Scenic with a pond full of duck, fish and turtles, this is a popular destination for families to spend the day picnicing and playing.

Laurelhurst is almost entirely residential, so you won’t find much here in the way of shopping or restaurants, but nearby neighborhoods, Belmont and Hollywood, are close by for entertainment.

Laurelhurst is an East Portland neighborhood of beautiful historical homes along winding roads surrounding the park that gives this community its name. Most of the homes here were built in the 1910s through 1920s; the park was constructed around the same time in an effort to make this neighborhood appear high-class.

Historically, Laurelhurst was known as an upscale, elite development; originally, apartments, hotels, and commercial buildings weren't allowed here. Today, there is still very little in the way of retail shops or restaurants. At the center of the neighborhood, you'll find Coe Circle, best known for its World War I memorial, a golden statue of Joan of Arc. Laurelhurst is also known for Laurelhurst Theater, a historic art deco theater.

This is a great place for families and those who love the outdoors. The beautiful tree-lined streets provide the perfect opportunity for an evening stroll. Laurelhurst Park at the center of the neighborhood is a large, popular park where you'll find plenty of activities. Widely considered to be the city's most beautiful park, a favorite attraction is a pond that is home to ducks, turtles, and plenty of fish.

Today, many of the original houses remain, giving this area a comfortable and established feel. Homes range from cute small bungalows to grand architectural marvels with expansive lawns. Housing tends to be expensive here, due to the picturesque nature of the neighborhood and the lack of apartments or condos.

Laurelhurst happens to be pretty much in the center of Portland. This stately neighborhood has very nice homes, lots of trees and seems to be very "well manicured." It is a bit Norman Rockwellesque even! For example, this is one Portland neighborhood where white picket fences and treehouses aren't out of place.

Right in Laurelhurst is the gorgeous Laurelhurst Park, which has massive awe-inspiring trees, a dog park, picnic tables and a little pond. There is a nice path that takes you right through the park and you can see joggers and lots of people walking their dogs. Laurelhurst Park also hosts different events throughout the year like movies and concerts with live music.

One great thing about the Laurelhurst neighborhood is that it is the perfect location for finding awesome stores and restaurants. The Belmont district is within walking distance and so is Hollywood. Both areas have some of the city's best and most interesting restaurants. Also the Laurelhurst Theatre is one of my favorites!