Bird's-eye view

This past weekend we took two days to celebrate our wedding anniversary. Though the real date was Monday, we actually squeezed more into Sunday: brunch at one of our favorite places (Broder, a Swedish cafe); a four-mile walk in the Sellwood neighborhood, ending at the Springwater Corridor trail; a delicious dinner at Cafe Castagna and, not least, a ride on the Portland aerial tram.

The tram opened to the public in January 2007, a month after it began operation as a commuting option for Oregon Health & Science University staff and students wanting a quick way up to Phil Hill from the South Waterfront district. In all that time, we'd never made time for a ride -- it's $4 roundtrip but free for TriMet bus pass holders like me.

I was glad we finally did it. The ride, roughly three-fourths of a mile, is quiet and the car is sleek and clean. The passenger loading station is next to an industrial site, so it's not very attractive at the start. Once you're aloft, you've got an expansive view looking east. The city skyline to the north looks like a postcard and it's surprisingly lush with trees and shrubs as you approach OHSU.

If you haven't been on the tram, consider making time for it. If you catch the Portland Streetcar downtown, it will take you out to South Waterfront and drop you off right in front of the tram.