Don’t be surprised as you travel around Portland, Oregon, to see bumper stickers proclaiming “Keep Portland Weird”. Voted as one of the greenest cities in America by multiple publications, Portland is known for being environmentally - conscious.However, don’t let Portland’s greenness deceive you. The city is home to numerous trendy and upscale establishments and art galleries—just check out The Pearl District or one of the boutique hotels in Downtown Portland. Only in Portland will you find the eclectic mix of people who keep Portland weird. Did you know Portland has an official city doughnut? The Portland Crème is baked daily by Voodoo Doughnuts — open 24 hours a day and they perform legal wedding ceremonies on-site.

The Lay of the Land
Proclaimed as North America’s “Best Big City” by Money magazine, Portland will not disappoint you.  Its lively culture, beautiful landscape and fresh cuisine will bring you back to the city again and again.  Portland’s central location is one of the reasons people love to visit!  Drive one hour west of Portland and you can watch the sunset over the beautiful Oregon Coast as you enjoy a bowl of Mo’s Famous Clam Chowder.  Travel one hour east of Portland to spend the day hiking in the beautiful Columbia River Gorge exploring the vast waterfalls.  If you head south of Portland down 99W, you will enter the heart of the Willamette Valley’s wine country.  Enjoy exquisite wines from the many vineyards that decorate the hillsides.  Or, simply choose to stay in Downtown Portland where the city’s mass transit will lead you through the cityscape.  Activities and sights abound in this thriving metropolis.

Visitors flock to Portland each year for the many celebrations and events.  One of the most well-known festivals is the city’s annual Rose Festival.  The Portland Rose Festival is a community celebration that includes two weeks of events and activities.  Three parades, including the largest children’s parade in America, are part of the annual events.  Another annual event is the Oregon Brewer’s Festival — hailed as the largest gathering of independent brewers in North America.  However, you can enjoy beer year-round at the myriad of breweries in Portland.

MUST SEE'S / MUST DO'S
Portland Classical Chinese Garden
This walled oasis occupies one entire city block in Portland's Old Town/Chinatown District. Sixty Chinese artisans spent months lending their talent and expertise to the elegant design of this garden. The final result: serpentine walkways, ponds, bridges, a tea house and a meticulous landscape of fantastic rock groupings, delicate trees, sculpted shrubs, lattice screens and pavilions.


Chinese Gardenreens and pavilions.

Portland Art Museum
Masterpieces by Monet, Renoir and Picasso share space with Native American and Asian artwork and major traveling exhibits. The museum encompasses two buildings connected above ground by a sculpture garden and plaza; below ground by a subterranean passage that doubles as a gallery. The complex covers two full blocks in Portland's downtown Cultural District and also includes the NW Film Center, a 33,000-volume Art Study Center and Library.

Oregon Zoo
The Oregon Zoo is a conservation zoo that breeds endangered-species animals and strives to serve as a model for earth-friendly operations. The zoo's 64 acres (25.9 hectares) are home to animals from all corners of the world, including Asian elephants, Peruvian penguins and Arctic polar bears. The Oregon Zoo even recycles 100 percent of its herbivore manure into useable compost.

Portland Saturday Market
Portland Saturday Market is the largest continually operating outdoor arts and crafts market in the nation. Centered in Portland’s historic Old Town, the Market is one of the most popular shopping destinations for local handcrafted goods. Over 250 small businesses and individuals artists from across the NW region gather each week for the Saturday/Sunday event with live music and a plethora of exotic foods that will satisfy everyone’s appetite.

Japanese Garden in Washington Park
Regarded as the most authentic Japanese Garden outside Japan, this beautiful 5.5-acre oasis encompasses a waterfall and koi pond, a pavilion and five garden styles. Designed to take advantage of "borrowed scenery," the garden showcases the tall Douglas firs of the surrounding Washington Park and provides views of downtown Portland, the Willamette River and the nearby mountains.

Portland Spirit
The Portland Spirit welcomes you aboard the Northwest’s premier dining ship. Daily lunch and dinner cruises offer a perfect opportunity to surround yourself with unmatched views of the Portland skyline. Freshly prepared cuisine, full-service bars and live entertainment complete a river experience unlike any other.

The Adventurous Couple
Adventure in the Portland area will take you outdoors.  Within the city limits, visitors can hike and bike in Forest Park, consisting of 70 miles of trails covering over 5,000 acres.  Just a short drive east of Portland is the Columbia River Gorge and Mt. Hood.  On your way to the Gorge, be sure to visit Multnomah Falls—Oregon’s highest at 620 feet.  Along the Historic Columbia River Highway, there are numerous places to hike and view Oregon’s beauty.  In the heart of the Columbia Gorge is the town of Hood River.  This is one of the best locations in America for windsurfing and kite boarding.  Adventure also awaits you as you travel southeast of Portland on Highway 26 to the Mt. Hood National Forest. Mount Hood is well known as the home of Timberline Lodge, a National Historic Landmark, and Timberline Ski Area, which boasts the longest ski season in North America. Whether skiing, snowboarding, climbing or just sightseeing, it's easy to appreciate Timberline's appeal to travelers.

The Sports Minded Couple
Portland is host to many professional and minor league athletic teams.  Year-round the sports enthusiast can find entertainment in this city.  Rose Garden arena is the home of the NBA’s Portland Trail Blazers and the Portland LumberJax, a professional indoor lacrosse team.  Stroll through the Rose Quarter Commons to the Memorial Coliseum to see the Portland Winter Hawks (a pre-NHL hockey team) in action.  Just a short ride over the city’s Willamette River is PGE Park. Among the many athletic events held at PGE Park, the facility is home to the Portland Timbers and Portland Beavers. Be part of the Timbers Army as you cheer on the city’s A-League soccer team.  Or, if baseball is more your style, the Portland Beavers (Triple-A) take the field April-September.  Your trip to Oregon would not be complete without taking part in the in-state rivalry known as the Civil War.  Oregon State University and University of Oregon teams compete for state dominance in football, volleyball, basketball, baseball, and more!

The Laid Back Couple
Whether you travel by foot, the Portland Streetcar, MAX light rail or the city bus, getting around Portland is easy. The city is filled with museums, art galleries, shopping and the performing arts.  Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI) is one of the nation’s leading science museums, with five exhibit halls, OMNIMAX dome theater, planetarium and real submarine tours.  The Lawrence Gallery is one of Portland’s finest with its beautiful sculpture garden and mix of local and nationally recognized artists.  Love to shop?  The city has many shopping districts from the trendy to the artsy to the sophisticated to the indie-inspired and best of all it is tax-free!  Pioneer Place—four city blocks of shopping, dining, and entertainment—is located in the heart of Downtown Portland.  Evening entertainment is plentiful in this bustling city.  From the Oregon Ballet Theatre to the Oregon Symphony to one of the myriad of dance troupes or theatre groups, you can fill your evenings with the city’s talent.