Portland is a city built on liveability. An urban nirvana where bicycles take precedence over cars and local coffee shops and breweries outnumber fast-food chains. Straddled between two rivers with the majestic Mount Hood as the backdrop to the skyline, the city is renowned for its scenic beauty, naturally conducive for exploring the great outdoors.
On top of plenty of green space, craft beer and food carts, the city has a fabulous bumper-sticker ethos to keep it thriving: ‘Keep Portland Weird’. The official tourism bureau even promotes the satirical sketch comedy show Portlandia based on the city, offering tours of the show’s filming locations and living up to the show’s tagline about Portland being a city ‘where young people go to retire’.
Downtown Portland is compact, historic, walkable and features a great riverfront park. Stand out neighbourhoods and hotspots include Hawthorn Street’s cafes, bars and shops; Mississippi Avenue’s grittier blend of food carts and independent stores; and Alberta Street's galleries, bars and monthly street party that goes by the name 'Last Thursday'.
West of downtown is Forest Park, a dedicated green space with over 110 kilometres of trails to wander. Portland’s other moniker ‘The City of Roses’ must come from the ideal that life in Portland is quite literally a bed of roses. Stop in to smell the roses at the city’s spectacular International Rose Test Garden. .
