CITY OF PORTLAND
Portland, Oregon, known as the City of Roses because of its many rose gardens, is an ideal place for active people. With more than 500,000 people inside the city limits and 2.1 million within the metropolitan boundary, Portland is a small city with a big city feel and sports enthusiasts can find activities to suit any taste.
Within a 90-minute drive, Portlanders can go skiing or snowboarding on Mt. Hood or walk the beaches or even surf in the chilly waters of the Pacific Ocean.
Oregonians are known for their passion for outdoor sports. The people of Portland are no exception and their city provides countless sporting opportunities. Progressive urban policies and bike-friendly paths have earned Portland the honor of twice being named Bicycling magazine's No. 1 cycling city in America.
The metro area alone contains 37,000 acres of parks, including the 5,000-acre Forest Park, with miles of trails for hiking and biking.
One of Portland's most scenic paths is along the downtown waterfront. The 1.5-mile walking/cycling trail offers a beautiful view of the city's skyline as well as easy access from four of the Willamette River's bridges. Follow the promenade in Tom McCall Waterfront Park to the historic Steel Bridge. On the lower deck of the bridge is a bicycle/pedestrian crossing that links the downtown side of the Willamette to Portland's Eastbank Esplanade.
The city is also a walker's paradise. The streets, which feature statues, fountains and half-size city blocks, prompted Portland's selection in 1998 as one of America's best walking towns by Walking Magazine.
Some historians claim that Portland's shorter city blocks were planned by greedy developers who wanted to create more corner lots, which fetched the highest sale prices. The less cynical, however, insist that the shorter blocks were designed so that more natural light would fall down to the street.
Not only are there sporting activities in which to participate, but there are also many sports to watch. Portland is home to a variety of local sports teams including NBA basketball and Major League Soccer.
The ultra-modern Rose Garden is home to the NBA's Portland Trail Blazers and the Portland Winterhawks hockey team.
Sports enthusiasts can also cheer alongside Portland's enthusiastic fans at PGE Park, whose recent renovation added state-of-the-art amenities without sacrificing its elegant 1926 design. The newly founded MLS Portland Timbers play their soccer games at the Park.
The city has other nationally-prominent sporting events including the Portland Marathon downtown, the LPGA Safeway Classic at Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club, and the Little League Softball World Series at Alpenrose Dairy.
For people tired after a long day of sports, Portland offers an array of culinary and cultural activities and fortunately, public transport in the city is easily accessible. The Portland Streetcar, MAX Light rail trains, and bus system are user-friendly and all offer free service in the downtown area.
Portland is home to countless one-of-a-kind java joints where you can sit back with a cup of locally roasted coffee and enjoy a good book. But if you prefer another type of beverage, Portland offers more than 25 craft breweries, which have earned Portland the nickname “Münich on the Willamette.” The city's love of beer stretches back to 1888, when Henry Weinhard offered to pump free beer through the Skidmore Fountain to celebrate its dedication. Many good wineries are also within an hour's drive of the city.
The Portland Art Museum is the oldest art museum in the Northwest. Its permanent collection features more than 32,000 works of art, and at least one major traveling exhibit is usually on display. PAM also features an outdoor public sculpture garden.
The original Rose Garden, a huge city park, is a venue for countless concerts and special events and the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall is also a favorite location for lectures and concerts, including the music of the Oregon Symphony.
The Portland Center for the Performing Arts comprises four theaters and is the fifth-largest venue in the nation. Concerts can also be heard throughout the year at outdoor venues such as Pioneer Courthouse Square and the Oregon Zoo.
Something else Portlanders are extremely proud of is Powell's City of Books, the world's largest independent bookstore. Powell's occupies a full city block, houses more than a million volumes, and boasts one of the world's only three-door elevators.
Powell's distinctive elevator is just one of the touches that makes Portland special. Add that to the nation's smallest dedicated park at 24 inches, Stark's Vacuum Cleaner Museum, and a sculpture that daily predicts the city's weather (the Weather Machine in Pioneer Courthouse Square), and you have a city of remarkable appeal.
STATE OF OREGON
Oregonians love the water. Whether it be rivers, lakes, the ocean, the frozen kind, or even falling from the sky - much of Oregon's beauty lies in its water. Water is also what makes the Willamette Valley a lush and fertile region, making it one of the most beautiful places in the country.
The Willamette River meanders through downtown Portland and the center of the Willamette Valley. The rugged Oregon coastline is inspiring in its beauty, and located just 78 miles west of Portland. Multnomah Falls one of the most impressive waterfalls in the world is just 40 miles east of downtown Portland. Oregon's tallest peak, Mt. Hood, is within a one hour drive of Portland. Snowboarding has become a winter-time favorite on Oregon's Cascade Range. The Columbia River, dividing Oregon and Washington, is considered perhaps the finest wind-surfing location in the world.
