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Why? Straddling a river, festooned with beautiful parks and gardens, and within close proximity to mountains, ocean and desert, a holiday in Portland, Oregon, offers far more than a holiday in most urban environments. Recently certified as America's greenest city, Portland is also a flourishing centre for the arts, and boasts one of the best public transport systems in the country. Most travel writers agree, this is one of the country's most exciting cities to visit.
When? Portland is a wet city, but fortunately the rain is seasonal so you can arrange your Portland holiday around it. Most of the fine, misty rain falls between November and April, but if you travel to Portland between June and October you can be assured that very few days will be wet. Summer weather is great in the city, but in winter Portland attracts snow bunnies who head for the nearby hills to enjoy skiing in the snow-covered mountains.
Who for? Portland is a sophisticated city catering for those who enjoy fine food, café culture, and strolling through sensational gardens and parks.
More Info: To obtain detailed information to plan to travel to Portland for a holiday, remember to use our Portland (Oregon) travel guide, which features the major attractions and events in this Pacific Coast city.
Overview
The city of Portland, situated at the navigable head point of the Willamette River, was the major port on the American Pacific northwest coast during most of the 19th century. Although not the capital of Oregon, it is the largest city in the State and its commercial centre straddles the Willamette River with its neatly planned city blocks.
Portland is today recognised as a fun city for tourists, essentially designed for outdoor living with miles of wilderness trails, woods and waterways within the city limits, set against the backdrop of the Mount Hood glacier with its ski resorts, less than an hour away.
The city is known for its stunning gardens, particularly the International Rose Garden where many thousands of rose bushes from around the world thrive and bloom. Roses form the centre of the city's Rose Festival in June, just one of the unique festivities that fill Portland's annual calendar. The other most popular event is the Oregon Brewers Festival, held annually in July, which celebrates the dozens of local micro-breweries, vineyards and distilleries in heady style.
A further attraction of Portland is its superb cuisine and exceptional dining opportunities. The region is renowned for its seafood, berries, pears, hazelnuts, wild game and fresh vegetables, which are all put to good use by some inspired local chefs.
All things considered it is not surprising that Portland is rated as an ideal place for modern travellers to stop and smell the roses.
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