Nicknamed the “City of Roses”, Portland straddles the Willamette River at the base of snow-capped Mount Hood. This charismatic city is renowned for its sustainable urban planning, microbreweries, thriving art scene and a range of natural reserves.
Things to do in Portland
Visit the Portland Art Museum, one of the oldest museums in the United States. Native American artefacts are on display alongside Asian artworks, Vincent Van Gogh’s “Cart with Black Ox” and an on-site sculpture garden.
The Oregon Museum of Science and Industry boasts numerous interactive exhibits and hands-on displays. Take the opportunity to climb aboard the USS Blueback, a non-nuclear submarine docked outside and featured in the film “Hunt for Red October”.
Washington Park sprawls to the west of the Downtown area and is home to the famous International Rose Test Garden where new varieties of roses are grown. You’ll also find the beautiful Portland Japanese Garden, one of the largest of its kind outside of Japan, and the Portland Children’s Museum with its colourful arts and science exhibits.
For sweeping views of Downtown, ride the aerial tram that connects the South Waterfront area to the hilltop Health Sciences campus of the Oregon University. On a clear day, you can see all the way to Mount Hood.
Getting around Portland
Portland International Airport is about 20 minutes’ drive north-east of Portland’s city centre. Trains and buses connect Portland to destinations across the United States. A light rail services Portland, which is also easily navigated on foot or bicycle.