Lake Oswego Resembles a Resort Town Minus the Tourists, in Portland's Backyard

Standing in a line that wraps around Salt and Straw, a Portland-based ice cream shop with a location in Lake Oswego, it's hard to sense that we're only eight miles south of downtown. Whereas Portland has had a long streak of bad press, Lake Oswego resembles a resort town complete with cottage architecture and abundant hanging flower baskets.  Filled with mostly single-family homes, Lake Oswego is centered on a picturesque and private 405-acre lake surrounded by Oregon's forest. Residents enjoy a small-town ambiance and a charming downtown area with shops, restaurants and wellness amenities.