First, I couldn't imagine a better host. This was my first time using AirBnB, and Denise made the whole thing so friendly and easy. She was lovely to email (and talk!) with. She had just-made raw vegan fudge ready to greet us in the refrigerator when we arrived--and even shared more when I mentioned how much I liked it. Denise even went out of her way to be sure there was non-dairy milk for our coffee.

The studio felt very much like a retreat--calm, quiet, with a very comfortable bed. The full kitchen was tidy and well equipped, so we were able to fix lunches and dinners and morning coffee. My husband is tall--low-ceilinged basements and attics are his bane--so he really appreciated the super high ceiling. The studio had everything we might need and some fun surprises (I learned I am terrible at LotR Trivial Pursuit.)

If you're looking for a quieter part of Portland, this is the kind of neighborhood where people take evening strolls down the middle of the street since there's hardly any traffic. Evergreen-covered Mt. Tabor (a volcano in the city) and its trails and historic reservoirs are a 5-min walk from the studio. But, you really have the best of both worlds since you're only a few blocks from the #4 bus to lots of fun stuff on Division.

It's rainy days in Portland, so other than walking up Tabor we didn't hang out too much outside. The yard looks really nice (and there are chickens) and would probably be a great spot to catch a little sun in summer.