Portland, OR

Answer 1

Portland, Oregon, named "North America's Best Big City" by Money Magazine is a city that truly has it all; outdoor activities of every kind, champion sports teams playing in world class facilities, great museums, and a nightlife that rivals any city in the nation.

Portland is a destination vacation spot for honeymooners, families, sports enthusiasts and retirees alike. And, many come back to stay because of Portland's mild weather, and the easy living lifestyle enjoyed there.

Portlanders love the outdoors and the city and surrounding areas satisfy their lust for fresh air and fun activities. Visitors and residents alike enjoy breathtaking scenery and miles of pathways in the nations largest urban wilderness, Portland's 5,000 acre Forest Park.

Portland's International Rose Garden in the city's beloved historic Washington Park draws rose lovers and those who enjoy beauty to its grounds all year long. Called the "City of Roses," Portland's Rose Parade is the worlds #1 summer rose parade, a must-see event for tourists and residents alike.

The hottest entertainers are featured at the Rose Garden Arena as well as the fabulous Portland Trail Blazers NBA and the Portland Lumberjax indoor Lacrosse teams. The Portland Winter Hawks, the Beavers, and the Portland Timbers all play in Portland. Auto or horse racing enthusiasts fill the International Raceway and the Portland meadows on race nights.

The downtown Pearl District abounds in performing arts, nightlife and museums. The diversity of Portland can be best appreciated on foot. Restaurants, shops, museums, and ethnic displays celebrate the Native American, African American, Hispanic, Japanese and Chinese cultures of the city's past and present inhabitants.

Portland boasts the largest independent book store in the world, Powell's Books, an entire city block dedicated to the love of books. Book lovers browse through endless rows of books in the numerous rooms at Powell's, looking for everything from a priceless antique to a recent best seller.

Water sports are an all year affair on either the mighty Columbia River or the Willamette, both of which pass through Portland.

Surfing in the Pacific Ocean or skiing and hiking on nearby Mount Hood are both less than an hour from the city.

Portland is a jewel of a city. It offers the best in both spectator and active sports, a dazzling nightlife, great public transportation, world class museums, a fabulous zoo and even miles of hiking within the city. It is so typically Oregon!

Answer 2

Overview: All-Inclusive

You’d think the residents of Portland, Oregon might be a wee bit apprehensive living in the shadow of the semi-active volcano Mt Hood, but few urban centers are more laid back than Stumptown. A volcanic cinder cone, Mt Tabor, is actually the centerpiece of a popular city park; true, it’s been dormant for 8000 years but you never really know with volcanoes, do you? Still, the Portland State of Mind remains supremely relaxed.

Portland, Oregon has been called the Greenest City in America: Its public transportation system is state of the art, it has a strong commitment to preserving open spaces and is the capital of the DIY (Do It Yourself) movement. From the riotous profusion of colors at the International Rose Test Garden to the trendy brasseries, art galleries and condos of the Pearl neighborhood (not so very long ago Portland, Oregon’s warehouse and factory district), from Pioneer Courthouse Square in the heart of downtown to the tree-lined bicycle pathos of the riverside esplanades, Portland is the perfect place to unwind.

Arts and Entertainment

Portland, Oregon is home to many museums including the Portland Art Museum, the Museum of Contemporary Craft and the Portland Children’s Museum. If you’re interested in lumber and logging, the World Forestry Center Discovery Museum has exhibits related to Oregon’s venerable timber industry: practice putting out forest fires or floating logs downriver by raft.

Portland, Oregon will delight every horticulturalist’s heart as well with its profusion of public gardens. The five-acre International Rose Test Garden is the city’s most famous – indeed one of Portland, Oregon’s nicknames is “City of Roses” and the Rose Festival held here each June is the largest annual municipal celebration. Other spectacular venues for viewing exotic plants include the Berry Botanic Garden with its spectacular display of rhododendrons; the Portland Classical Chinese Garden, a walled garden in Portland, Oregon’s historic Chinatown; and the Japanese Garden, widely considered the finest example of a Japanese garden in North America.

All true bibliophiles will be delighted with Powell’s City of Books, in the Pearl district on the edge of downtown, one of the largest bookstores in the world, measuring over 68,000 square feet, with over four million new, used, rare, and out-of-print books in stock.

Food and Drink

Portland, Oregon’s zest for beer dates back to the late 19th century when local brewmeister Henry Weinhard – since commemorated with his own brand of suds – wanted to make his brew available for public consumption in Pioneer Square’s Skidmore Fountain. Standouts among the 28 microbreweries within city limits include Oregon’s oldest craft brewery, BridgePort Brewing Co; Widmer Brothers which does both American and German-style beers; Rogue Ales which does a Chipotle Ale for those who like some hot with their cold; and Laurelwood Brewing Company, Oregon’s first organic microbrewery.

As you might expect, Portland is famous for its street food. Any weekday after 11am, catch the lunchtime crowd on 5th Street between Stark and Oak where dozens of booths and vendors selling Mexican, Thai, Indian, soup-and-salad, barbecue and other mouth-watering delicacies congregate.

Answer 3

Portland is a city in Oregon located on the Northwestern coast of the United States. Portland is often referred to as The City of Roses, and it contains many beautiful gardens.

The International Rose Test Gardens is a set of gardens located in Washington Park. It is a large tourist attraction. The garden encompasses more than four acres, and it has more than 500 types of roses. Visitors enjoy the gardens and the plays and concerts held at the onsite amphitheater. Picnicking is another popular pastime.

The Portland Japanese Gardens are an additional set of gardens located in Washington Park. The gardens are plotted in the traditional Japanese style. There are five sub-gardens that have their own autonomy. The tea garden is perhaps the most unique. It contains an authentic tea house.

Portland is an exciting place to visit, especially for nature-lovers.