With a population of more than 1.8 million in the greater metropolitan area, Portland is a major cultural center occupying 130 square miles.

Portlanders enjoy numerous arts organizations and engagements - symphony, opera, chamber music, blues, jazz, a Shakespearean troupe, a wide selection of art and historical museums, galleries, live theater and dance. National companies bring Broadway hits to Portland audiences, and the Portland Center for the Performing Arts venues are used for many of the city's cultural events.

Other Portland attractions include the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI), the Oregon Zoo, the Japanese Garden, the classical Chinese Garden, and the International Rose Test Garden, Portland's most visited tour site. The Pacific ocean is only a 78-mile drive and Mount Hood is a mere 65 miles away. The Columbia River Gorge also offers many forms of recreation, including hiking, sailing and world-class windsurfing. Promenades run along the east and west banks of the Willamette River, which is a prominent feature of the city.

The Portland metropolitan area contains 37,000 acres of parkland, including the 5,000-acre Forest Park, the largest urban wilderness within an American city.

With its beautiful and pedestrian-friendly downtown, Portland has become a model for urban planning. This is the city where fountains and outdoor sculptures outnumber parking meters (almost), and where a renowned light rail system offers easy access. Hotel space is plentiful, with many properties clustered near the city's 2.5-mile waterfront park.

On the dining scene, Portland is known for its cadre of innovative chefs, who have created a whole new style of Pacific Northwest cuisine. Meanwhile, the city's microbreweries (Portland has more microbreweries and brew pubs than any other American city) and nearby wineries offer a variety of beverages to complement the area's famous food.

Average rainfall is less than that of Seattle, Atlanta, Baltimore and Houston, with the humidity. Snowfall seldom exceeds a few inches and usually occurs no more than five days per year.

For more information about Portland, check out the city's visitor guide at Portland CitySearch.com.