| Portland, Oregon is like that kid in high
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| | endeavors, culinary creativity and
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| school you wish you would have gotten to
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| | open-mindedness.
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| know better. A little weirder than
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| | Portland is very pedestrian friendly and
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| average but emitting intriguing vibes of
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| | has an unusually easy to navigate mass
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| originality and depth, this city has
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| | transit system. Inviting spots like
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| personality to spare and often turns out
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| | Governor Tom McCall Waterfront Park,
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| to be a much better vacation companion
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| | which replaced a four lane freeway, and
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| than traditionally popular spots. It
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| | Pioneer Courthouse Square, known as
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| takes time to become fully acquainted
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| | "Portland's living room" are free places
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| with all that this lovely and offbeat
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| | to soak in public art, people watch and
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| place has to offer, but be assured that
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| | further appreciate the individuality of
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| each step is an enjoyable one.
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| | this fun, fresh-air loving city. Biking
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| An interesting history is always a good
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| | is also a good way to see the sights,
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| start, as it provides a solid foundation
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| | both in the city and around the nearby
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| for all that a city will become. Trivia
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| | countryside.
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| lovers take note: we could just as easily
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| | As for art and culture, Portland will
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| be calling this town Boston right now, as
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| | probably dish out more than you can take.
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| two original settlers actually flipped a
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| | In addition to just strolling through the
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| coin in order to determine who would name
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| | artsy and colorful neighborhoods (like
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| the place after his hometown. Luckily,
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| | the Pearl District, Chinatown, Hollywood
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| confusion was bypassed when the man from
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| | and Hawthorne Boulevard) and letting fate
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| Portland, Maine won the toss. Those two
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| | take its course, there are specific
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| probably didn't realize that the modest
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| | places to visit as well. The Portland
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| grounds they stood upon would one day be
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| | Zoo, the International Rose Test Gardens,
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| a thriving cultural mecca and haven for
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| | the Portland Art Museum, Salmon Street
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| nature lovers, beer brewers and so much
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| | Springs and The Grotto Gardens are a few
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| more.
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| | to get you started, but believe that
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| Thanks to future-thinking zoning laws, an
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| | there's plenty more where that came from.
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| inherent earth-friendliness and a
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| | Depending on what time of year you're
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| dedication to preservation and
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| | here, you might be able to see the vast
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| sustainability, Portland is consistently
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| | displays of fragrant flowers that have
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| ranked one of the country's most livable
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| | given Portland its nickname as the "City
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| cities. Skyscrapers will never obscure
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| | of Roses."
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| the stunning vision of Mount Hood and
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| | Many famous yearly festivals dot the
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| farmland has kept its place alongside the
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| | calendar as well, including the Rose
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| business buildings. Despite a growing
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| | Festival, the Bite of Oregon food and
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| population and high level of energy,
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| | music fest, and the Oregon Brewers
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| Portland has maintained an intimate and
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| | Festival, which showcases another of
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| small town feeling that locals cherish
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| | Portland's talents as a microbrewery
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| and visitors soon fall in love with.
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| | capital and beer loving crowd of folk.
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| The wonderful year-round weather (mild
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| | Great shopping, a healthy music scene,
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| winters, warm dry summers) and the
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| | lots of bookstores and coffee shops and
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| surrounding mountains, wilderness trails,
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| | many fine restaurants fill in any gaps,
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| lakes and streams make this and
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| | ensuring that every visitor will be able
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| outdoors-oriented destination. Day trips
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| | to leave sated and impressed with this
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| to Mount Hood, Mount Saint Helens, the
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| | thoroughly savvy town.
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| Willamette Valley and the Colombia River
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| | Letting Portland rub off on you is always
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| Gorge are easy and tempting so be sure to
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| | a pleasant experience, and can be enjoyed
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| pack your hiking boots and a camera in
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| | even more by renting a vacation home in
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| order to fully explore and remember this
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| | one of the funky neighborhoods or near
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| low-key and lovely region of the country.
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| | downtown. Living like a local allows for
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| Oregon's natural gifts are easily
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| | all the secrets of the city to more
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| accessible from the city of Portland, but
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| | easily be revealed, and having the
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| don't underestimate the wide array of
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| | comforts of home in a home-away-from home
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| things to see and do within the perimeter
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| | lays the foundation for a relaxed and
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| of this quietly bustling, oh-so-cool hot
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| | rejuvenating trip. Explore the Portland
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| spot. Hippies, hipsters and green
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| | Vacation Rentals available and prepare to
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| thinkers definitely add their influence
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| | enjoy an enlightening trip to one of the
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| to Portland's scene, but it can't be
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| | country's coolest cities.
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| boiled down into a few simple labels.
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| | contains thousands of vacation rental
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| Rather, the city exists as a friendly
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| | listings in destinations all over the
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| confluence of progressive ideas, artistic
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| | world.
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