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Portland, Oregon offers some of the highest quality living in the United States. Its fire, police and other public safety services are second to none. Its streets and highways are well-maintained, lighted and clean. Its water and air quality are among the best in the country. It's restoring its old town area rather than abandoning it, and it's designing and developing neighborhoods that foster communication rather than isolation between citizens. Portland is also helping its schools educate children to be ready for the future. Portland's mild climate and easy access to facilities make it an ideal location for conventions, trade shows and other major events, while its location on the west coast opens the city up as a gateway to the pacific rim countries. Portland is also the "City of Roses" and the "City of Parks". The International Rose Test Garden in Washington Park blooms with hundreds varities of roses offering visitors one glimpse of the city's powerful beauty. Just down the road is the largest municipal park in the U.S., 5,000-acre Forest Park, as well as the smallest, 24-inch Mill Ends Park. At the center of two mighty rivers, Portland is tailor-made for fishing and other water sports. Hiking, biking and horseback riding trails wander through the city parks. Just an hour away, there's world-class skiing at Mt. Hood, windsurfing at Hood River, and whitewater thrills near Estacada. And of course there is exceptional golfing at courses like Pumpkin Ridge and the Oregon Golf Club. Portland has everything from luxury hotels to delightful bed and breakfasts with streets that abound with countless restaurants, coffeehouses and microbreweries. A short drive outside the city offers a tour of Oregon's wine country showing off the wines that are winning awards all over the world. The city provides boundless displays of art and culture with the Portland Art Museum, the Oregon History Center, the historic Old Town District, performances by the Oregon Symphony, the Oregon Ballet Theatre and the Portland Opera, as well as events like Cinco de Mayo and the Rose Festival. The holidays bring out the Parade of Christmas Ships along the waterfront and festive displays of lights at The Grotto and the Metro Washington Park Zoo. Continuing evidence of the beauty, friendliness and wonder of Oregon's largest city. |