A highly creative streak colors just about everything in Portland, Ore. The city is well known as a place with a progressive attitude, which is reflected in its civic commitments to being green, and its population’s devotion to being one of the top biking cities in the country (they have the highest percentage of bike commuters).
But in everything from the public art that pops up almost everywhere you turn, to the scenic gardens, to the numerous small businesses and restaurants, you get the feeling that this is a hand-made city.
Portland Oregon vacations are almost as much fun to plan as they are to experience. The city’s businesses are highly Web savvy, so it’s easy and fun to research where you’ll stay, what you’ll eat and which attractions you’ll visit. The only difficult part is narrowing down your choices. Here are a few suggestions that can help you get your list started.
* The Portland Japanese Garden is one of the greatest examples of Japanese gardening in the United States. It makes for a serene, peaceful excursion – don’t be surprised if you find yourself lingering through the better part of a day, exploring the five different gardens within the site. There are frequent events in the garden at which you can learn about everything from tea ceremonies to netsuke carving.
* Portland is a paradise for shoppers seeking out unique finds. Boutiques like Odessa will have fashion fans’ hearts beating fast. Started by an L.A. transplant, the shop carries designers like Isabel Marant and Jeffrey Monteiro along with classic St. James French naval shirts and Fjallraven rucksacks. Another small fashion boutique, Seaplane, carries the creme de la creme of local designers. Other fun, one-of-a-kind shops include Canoe (a catchall that has homewares, personal accessories and gifts, all with a strong focus on streamlined design); Knit Purl (a great haven for old-school and new-school knitters); Ottoman Klasik (a Turkish imports store) and many more.
* Portland Oregon vacations should have an outdoorsy component, too. The surrounding area, with Mt. Hood, the Columbia River and beautiful forests, is great for exploring, particularly in Portland’s mild climate. For a naturally dramatic experience, head out of town to visit Multnomah Falls, about 30 minutes from Portland by car. The falls are spectacular and the park has some great hiking too – weather permitting, you can climb up to get a great perspective of the Columbia River Gorge.
* The hotel pickings in Portland are extraordinarily rich, in terms of style and value for your dollar. Once again, the city’s creative nature shines through at places like the Hotel Monaco, where you can doodle with paints on your own easel at nightly wine socials, and other hotels, like The Ace, which has rooms decorated by local artists. The quirk factor is high at the Kennedy School hotel. It really is a converted school – and a beautiful old building – but don’t let memories of detention put you off (though there is the “Detention Bar”). Adding to the lively vibe of the place is live music (in the old gym), regular movie showings and a soaking pool.
This up-and-coming destination will surprise and delight with its quirky character and relatively low costs. You can save even more by searching for cheap flights online at sites like Travelocity.com, where you can set up fare alerts and also book hotels and car rentals at great prices.
Courtesy of ARAcontent
