Most people find us one of two ways: they're heading to or from PDX, or they live somewhere in North and Northeast Portland and got tired of driving across the river for fair prices. Either way, once you're parked at 851 NE Columbia Blvd, you're closer to some of Portland's best low-key corners than you might think.
This isn't the downtown tourist loop. It's the part of town where old cattle-trade history, a 31-foot lumberjack, quiet neighborhood main streets and one of the country's biggest urban wetlands all sit within a short drive of each other. Here's our crew's guide to the neighborhood around our Portland dispensary.
Kenton: Main Street Energy and a Very Large Lumberjack
Head west a few minutes and you'll land in Kenton, a North Portland neighborhood with a walkable historic business district along N Denver Avenue.
Kenton has real roots. It started in 1911 as a company town for the Swift meat-packing company and became a regional hub for the cattle trade. Cattle were once herded right down the street, which is a fun thing to picture while you're grabbing a coffee there today.
You can't miss the Paul Bunyan statue at N Denver and N Interstate. He's 31 feet tall, was built in 1959 for Oregon's statehood centennial, and has been on the National Register of Historic Places since 2009. It's a classic Portland photo stop, no ticket required.
While you're there, check out Oregon Contemporary, an art center in the neighborhood, or walk through Kenton Park. The MAX Yellow Line has a stop near the statue if you'd rather leave the car.
Woodlawn and Dekum Street: Small Neighborhood, Big Personality
Just south of us is Woodlawn, a relaxed Northeast Portland neighborhood with leafy streets and a small business strip centered on NE Dekum Street. The angled streets there date back to the old streetcar days, which gives the area a slightly offbeat layout that's fun to wander.
Dekum has a handful of cafés, restaurants and bars packed into a few blocks, and Woodlawn Park nearby has paved paths, sports fields and a community garden. It's the kind of place where an afternoon turns into dinner without much planning.
Peninsula Park Rose Garden: Oregon's Oldest Public Rose Garden
A short drive southwest gets you to Peninsula Park, home to what the City of Portland calls Oregon's oldest public rose garden. The park was acquired in 1913, the same year it was picked to host an annual rose show.
The real showpiece is the octagonal bandstand overlooking the sunken garden. It's a Portland Historic Landmark and the last bandstand of its kind in the city. Add the original fountain, brick walkways and old street lamps, and it feels like stepping into a postcard. Portland's official rose, Mme. Caroline Testout, was cultivated here too.
Roses or not, it's a great place for a slow fall stroll when the light gets golden.
Smith and Bybee Wetlands: Portland's Wild Side
If you want to trade sidewalks for herons, head northwest toward N Marine Drive. Smith and Bybee Wetlands Natural Area covers about 2,000 acres between the Columbia Slough and the Columbia River, making it one of the largest urban freshwater wetlands in the country. It's managed by Metro, the regional government.
The paved, wheelchair-accessible Interlakes Trail leads from the parking lot to two wildlife viewing platforms between the lakes. There's also a canoe launch for non-motorized boats. Keep your eyes open for western painted turtles (the lakes host more than 200 of them), bald eagles, great egrets, red-tailed hawks and great horned owls.
As growers, we have a soft spot for places like this. Healthy land and water are what make good farming possible, and it's wild to have this much habitat a few minutes from an international airport.
The Columbia Slough: Portland's "Secret Everglades"
The Columbia Slough runs about 19 miles roughly parallel to the Columbia River, and some folks call it Portland's "Secret Everglades." Along it you'll find trails like the Marine Drive multi-use path and the short scenic loop at Whitaker Ponds.
The slough is home to about 175 bird species, plus river otters and beavers if you're lucky. Paddlers love it too, though spring is the best season for it, since water gets low and boggy later in the year. In fall, it's a better walking and biking spot.
A Little History: Vanport
Before you leave the area, take a minute with its history. Much of the land that's now Delta Park was once Vanport, the largest federal housing project built during World War II. At its peak, roughly 40,000 people lived there, making it Oregon's second-largest city at the time, and it was home to a growing Black community.
On Memorial Day 1948, a flood destroyed Vanport in a matter of hours. It was never rebuilt. The nonprofit Vanport Mosaic works to keep that history alive, and their website is a great place to learn more before you visit the area.
Making a Day of It Near PDX
Here's an easy loop if you've got an afternoon:
Start with a photo at Paul Bunyan in Kenton and a walk down N Denver Avenue.
Head up toward Marine Drive for the Interlakes Trail at Smith and Bybee.
Swing back to Woodlawn for dinner on Dekum Street.
Stop by our shop on NE Columbia Blvd on your way home.
We're open Monday through Friday 8am to 8pm, and Saturday and Sunday 11am to 7pm. Tax is already included in our prices, so the number on the shelf is what you pay. Parking is free, and we’re cash only, with an ATM on site.
A quick friendly reminder: Oregon law doesn't allow cannabis use in public places, and that includes parks, trails and natural areas. Enjoy these spots as-is, then save your purchase for home. If you're flying out of PDX, cannabis can't come with you, so plan accordingly.
Come Say High
We're grower-owned, with a 60-acre farm in Southern Oregon and a Portland shop that puts farm-direct prices right in the neighborhood. Our budtenders know how every jar on the shelf was grown, and they're happy to walk you through it, whether it's your first visit or your fiftieth.
Come say high at TKO Farm Direct, 851 NE Columbia Blvd, Portland, OR 97211, just minutes from PDX. Bring your questions, your neighborhood recommendations and your Paul Bunyan selfies. We'd love to see them.
Do not operate a vehicle or machinery under the influence of this drug. For use only by adults twenty-one years of age and older. Keep out of the reach of children.