Submitted by Cathy Hill
 
Many of Portland’s residents are fitness-oriented, making it an attractive city for outdoor enthusiasts. In 2005, Men’s Fitness ranked Portland as #6 on the list of America’s 25 Fittest Cities, an improvement from the #8 ranking in 2004. I’m a regular at my neighborhood gym, and when spring and summer arrive, I mix it up with some outdoor challenges.
 
I recently bought Portland Hill Walks, a book written by hiking enthusiast Laura Foster. The book provides routes and information on 20 Portland neighborhood walks, including details on distance, difficulty, and landmarks along the way. Many neighborhoods of the city are covered, including North Portland, Southwest Portland, Northwest Portland, Southeast Portland, and Northeast Portland.   Getting out and about on foot provides a fun way to learn our city, and a nice cross-training experience away from the gym when the weather begs us to get outdoors! Enjoy.