Big city excitement and small town charm make Portland, known as "the City of Roses",
one of the favorite cities on the West Coast. Situated approximately 70 miles from
the Pacific Ocean where the Columbia River meets the Willamette River, Portland
enjoys a magnificent setting, combining sparkling waterways with lush greenery
rarely found in urban settings.
Portland's historic old town, many galleries and museums, Saturday Market, Waterfront Park,
and theater companies as well as an abundance of fine restaurants keep residents and visitors
busy and satisfied! Portland is just a short distance from the spectacular Columbia Gorge
and Multnomah Falls, windsurfing at Hood River, touring at valley wineries, skiing at Mt.
Hood, fish watching at Bonneville Dam, and all the excitement of the Oregon Coast.
Portland is known for its extensive park system of more than 200 parks.
These encompass such areas as the elm shaded South Park Blocks in the
downtown area and Washington Park, home of the Rose Test Gardens. Portland's
Forest Park, at nearly 5,000 acres, is the largest park within a city in the
U.S. Portland's park system offers leisure and recreation opportunities for everyone.
Portland's award winning mass transit system is one of the most extensive and
advanced int eh U.S., and includes buses and the MAX, an urban light rail line,
as well as a downtown transit mall and Fareless Square, th downtown free-ride zone.
Short blocks make Portland a walker's paradise. The public art and old fashioned statuary,
along with many fountains, bridges and parks offer opportunities for leisure and contemplation
for the casual sroller. For the more adventuresome walker, Forest Park has approximately 50
miles of trails.
Nightlife opportunities in Portland are excellent and varied. On top of the list
is the internationally-known Oregon Symphony. Portland also has many local pubs
and brewhouses that feature jazz and blues. Be sure to visit the various comedy
clubs and try the art gallery walks in the Pearl District. The performing arts
in the area offer ballet, Shakespeare, Broadway musicals, modern dance and much
more. Portland is the home of the Trail Blazers basketball team, and also has
hockey and baseball for sports fans.
A splendid location and an urban lifestyle unsurpassed for livability make
Portland a most attractive career destination. For more information, please
see www.el.com/To/Portland.
