Portland is acclaimed for its beauty, vitality and livability. Residents combine an appreciation of both cultural and recreational activities with a comfortable, informal style which embraces diversity. Friendly people, moderate climate, varied recreational activities and magnificent scenery all add to the enjoyment of life in the Pacific Northwest. Portland has been voted the most bike-friendly city in the United States and has a very usable and well-coordinated mass transit system.
Climate The climate in Portland is mild. Although there are definite seasonal variations, the weather is without extremes of heat or cold. It rarely gets below freezing in winter and most summer days range from the mid-50s to the high 70s with low humidity. The average annual rainfall is 42 inches.
Recreation Portland offers a wealth of recreational opportunities. Sandy Pacific Ocean beaches are just 90 miles away. Mountain lakes, streams and snowcapped peaks are within 60 miles. Mt. Hood offers the only year-round skiing in the U.S. The world-famous Columbia Gorge begins just 25 miles east of Portland. Forest Park, the largest wilderness park within city limits in the U.S., offers 74 miles of trails along streams and in old-growth forests. The Willamette River, which cuts through the city, is popular for boating, water skiing and salmon fishing. The Rose Garden arena complex hosts the Portland NBA Trail Blazers as well as our professional Winter Hawks hockey team and many other entertainment events. PGE Park is home to the AAA Portland Beavers baseball team and the professional Portland Timbers soccer team (soon to join the MLS).
Cultural Activities Portland has an outstanding symphony, opera association with nationally renowned singers, symphonic choir and several theater groups, performing both traditional and avant-garde productions. Powell’s Books is the world’s largest independent new and used bookstore.
The Portland Saturday Market offers crafts, food and entertainment from March to December. The art galleries in the Pearl District have special open houses during the evening on the first Thursday of each month. Alberta street offers an alternative last Thursday of the month celebration with local artists and street-wide activities. Local farmers markets can be found throughout Portland from April to October, with the largest market downtown on the park blocks.
The Oregon Museum of Science and Industry, the Oregon Zoo, Portland Art Museum and Central Library are among the educational facilities of the city. There is a plethora of excellent restaurants, which have prompted several recent articles in the New York Times hailing Portland as the new foodie paradise. In addition, you can find exciting nightlife, dozens of microbreweries, and hundreds of coffee houses (including the famous Portland coffee "Stumptown") making Portland an enjoyable place to relax.
“People love living here. Portland means predictable traffic, countless microbrewers, great music, and good theater. My 21 month old daughter loves the zoo so much we bought a season pass! There is a different fair or festival almost every weekend at the waterfront. Portland has many parks including Forest Park, the biggest urban park in the U.S. with old growth forest and 70 miles of trails. Portland is also the most bicycle-friendly city in the U.S. and according to the NY Times, the new mecca for foodies! All of this and I have spectacular views of mountains on my ride home!” Jason Van Winkle, M.D.
