The beautiful city of Portland lies at the northern end of Oregon’s most populated region, the Willamette Valley and has affectionately been dubbed ‘City of Roses’. Portland is a city unlike any other. The fact that it ranks a rose garden as one of its main attractions says a lot about the priorities of this metropolis. Its popularity lies in its citizens as they are determined to maintain a high standard of living and a lot of leisure time.
Undoubtedly one of Oregon’s top tourist areas, Portland offers visitors a relaxed and friendly although extremely wet atmosphere. The real attraction of Portland is the city itself. There are a dozen or so markedly different neighborhoods that go from upscale communities to completely quirky districts. Portlanders love their coffee and the coffeehouse scene here is as bohemian as Greenwich Village, so expect to find a coffee venue around every corner.
Although Portland is a relatively small city in size, its nightlife packs a powerful punch. Countless microbrew pubs are sprinkled throughout the city and since Portland is so famous for its craft beer, believe it or not, it had to create a new venue in which to drink; the pub theater. There are also a number of trendy clubs that seem to pop up and disappear daily. One thing is for sure, Portlanders know how to party.
Highlights
Portland’s Saturday Market: is one of the city’s coolest weekly traditions, as it offers fantastic food, and entertainment and is home to local artists and craftsmen selling their works.
Theater Pubs: allow beer people to combine their love of movies with their love of the pint.
Mount Hood Volcano: sits a staggering 11,235 feet over the Columbia River Gorge and closely resembles Japan’s Mount Fuji.
The Japanese Garden: is a fantastic example of an authentic Japanese garden and is a favourite spot for couples.
Tom McCall Waterfront Park: is a popular spot with cyclist, joggers and skaters, but sees a livelier crowd on weekends with its many concerts and festivals.
Oregon Museum of Science and Industry: The museum has over 200 interactive exhibits and is considered one of America’s top ten science museums.
The Willamette Valley: is one of the finest wine growing regions in America and is famed for its pinot noir grapes.