Milwaukie is an oft-overlooked gem of a suburb, its quiet charms hidden by its unassuming location off of Highway 99E. One of Milwaukie’s advantages is the availability of waterfront single-family houses located directly on the Willamette River, which are almost impossible to find in Portland proper, due to the city’s zoning laws and layout. Farther inland in Milwaukie, you’ll find cute bungalows and smaller historic homes dating from every decade of the 20th century. There’s a little bit of new construction here, but most of the housing here comprises solid, well-built houses on leafy, spacious lots. This being Oregon, Milwaukie has, of course, an excellent seasonal farmers market, a well-loved beer store named Beer Store Milwaukie, and the Trolley Trail, a six-mile bike and pedestrian trail that connects Milwaukie to Gladstone. Milwaukie is a stop on the MAX Light Rail and the ride on the Orange Line takes approximately 20 minutes into downtown.