Like the well-known Texas city of Austin, Portland is known for its liberal political views, endless amount ofbroutdoor activities (walking, biking, hiking, you name it) and quirky boutiques and coffee shops. Unlike Austin,brPortland is situated in the Pacific Northwest, one of the most beautiful stretches of land in the country. Its lushbrgreenery mixed with urban landscape, proximity to both the coast and Mount Hood and the fact that it sitsbrnear the merging of the Columbia and Willamette rivers make it a prime destination for tourists. Oh, and it offers tax-freebrshopping and is home to the world-famous Voodoo Doughnuts. Need we say more?
Where to Stay
In the heart of bustling downtown is the Hotel Lucia, a quiet retreatbrthat's mere steps from prime shopping, dining and various Portlandbrattractions. This hotel is equal parts comfort and luxury, and it alsobrdisplays a collection of black-and-white photography from PulitzerbrPrize winner (and native Oregonian) David Hume Kennedy. Unlikebrother places where you can rest your head in the city, Hotel Luciabroffers several upscale amenities, like a pillow menu (choose from abrrange of specialty pillow types), spiritual menu (borrow any numberbrof available books of faith) and iPod menu (borrow an iPod preloadedbrwith tunes based on your choice of music genre).
The Monaco, a luxury boutique hotel also found in downtownbrPortland, includes 221 spacious guestrooms and suites, each ofbrwhich comes with a yoga mat upon arrival, free of charge. Frombra one-hour wine reception and complimentary morning coffeebrto a 24-hour business center and same-day laundry and drybrcleaning services, the staff at the Monaco ensures personal care andbrservice for each of its guests HotelLucia.com, Monaco-Portland.com
When it comes time for a night on the town, Portland boasts abrplethora of live music venues, comedy clubs and performances hallsbrworth checking out, particularly the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall,brlocated in downtown. The hall prominently features the OregonbrSymphony and Oregon Ballet Theatre and also welcomes major musicbracts throughout the year. Meanwhile, the Helium Comedy Clubbrdraws touring A-list professionals as well as fresh local talent in anbrintimate 275-seat theater. OregonZoo.org, Orhf.org, Portland5.com,brTravelPortland.com
brbrbr
What to Do
Portland in autumn is not to be missed. Take full advantage ofbrits picturesque landscapes and experience one of the many fallbrmusic, art and food festivals, like MusicfestNW, Art in the Pearl,brFeast Portland and Portland Fashion Week, each in September.brOr, once October rolls around, take in a Portland Trail Blazersbrgame, and check out the Great American Distillers Festival, anbrannual celebration of craft distilling and the country's premierbrgathering of distillers.
If you have the kids in tow, there's no shortage of family-brfriendly events to do throughout the city. Namely, the OregonbrZoo — the oldest in the West — which houses more thanbr2,000 animals. It's located only a few minutes from downtownbrin beautiful Washington Park, a gorgeous urban wildernessbrfeaturing gardens and museums. If you've got little ones, they'llbrprobably love Portland's public fountains as well as the numerousbrparks that include playgrounds. Sellwood Park playgroundsbrare surrounded by giant trees and rhododendron bushes andbrfeature ample seesaws, swings, slides and more. Additionally, thebrOregon Rail Heritage Center — a free museum — showcases abrcollection of vintage steam locomotives. Train enthusiasts (anybrSheldon Coopers out there?) will love seeing the Southern PacificbrDaylight Locomotive 4449, which traveled between Los Angelesbrand San Francisco in the 1940s. It also pulled the AmericanbrFreedom Train that toured the country for the 1976 Bicentennial.
brbrbr
The Great Outdoors
Whether you're a runner, bicyclist, hiker, golfer or canoeist, Portlandbroffers something for everyone in its vast outdoor space. Forest Parkbrfeatures 70 miles of trails all within the city's limits. At more than 5,100bracres, it's a hotspot for avid athletes, including equestrians, and housesbrmore than 100 bird species and 60 mammal species. Approximately 40brminutes south of downtown is Dream
Ridge Stables, any horsebackbrrider's sanctuary. It's surrounded by forest and has the backdrop of Mt.brHood, making it the ideal getaway for a peaceful and scenic ride. For allbryou golf lovers, going green has never been easier than in Portland. Hitbrthe links at Golf Digest favorite Heron Lakes Golf Course, a public coursebrdesigned by Robert Trent Jones, Jr., that offers varying degrees of difficultybrto challenge players of all skill levels. Or, escape 20 miles northwest of thebrcity to Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club, host of the 2003 U.S. Women's Open,brwhose public and private courses offer striking landscapes.
Opt to see Portland from the seat of your bike when you explore thebr300-plus bike lanes, paths and low-traffic streets, appropriately namedbrbike boulevards. If you're in search of a guided tour, Pedal Bike Tours offersbrtours of downtown, Portland wine country and the Columbia River Gorge,
while Cycle Portland Bike Tours ride around various bridges, breweriesbrand parks. In the mood for a more leisurely experience? Hiking is onebrof the most popular Portland activities as the city and its surroundingbrareas are extremely pedestrian-friendly. Be sure to visit the Tryon CreekbrState Park in southwest Portland — the 670-acre forest offers a staffedbrnature center plus dozens of winding trails and meandering steams.brForestParkConcervancy.org, TravelPortland.com