Submitted by Cathy Hill

If you're a gym person, and you're fortunate enough to spend a few days in Portland while looking for a home, it's a good idea to check out your local fitness clubs.  Depending upon where you choose to live, pop into the gym at the time you would normally have a workout, and see what the crowd is like.  I'm a morning person, so I find plenty of available cardio machines, and free access to strength training options, as long as I'm there by 5:30AM.  The afternoons tend to be incredibly busy in my gym, except for on the weekends. No wonder Portland was named one of the "Top Fittest Cities in the United States" by Men's Fitness in February this year.  

Portland and its suburbs offer all of the standard choices; 24 Hour Fitness, Bally's, and LA Fitness.  In addition, there are several clubs that aren't as well known, but provide great options if you're nearby.  Try Club Sport or Riverplace Athletic Club.   Granted, we all choose to be outdoors as much as possible, but sometimes in the winter the gym beats a 35 degree rainy morning!