Living in Portland and Oregon
If you want an easygoing lifestyle in a vibrant community surrounded by the beauty of nature, you belong at OHSU. We’re based in Portland, but we serve the entire state and have regional nursing campuses throughout Oregon.
Get outside
Oregon is home to national parks and monuments, national forests, hundreds of state parks, dozens of rivers and 362 miles of coastline along the Pacific Ocean. You’ll come here to learn, but you’ll also spend your time hiking, camping, surfing, paddling, stargazing, playing in the snow and just generally enjoying our state’s bounty of natural wonders and geographical diversity.
For students at our Portland campus, many of these escapes are within a 90-minute drive. You won’t even have to leave the city to explore Forest Park, the nation’s largest urban wilderness.
Appreciate arts and culture
There are nine federally recognized Native American tribes in Oregon, a region that was once home to more than 50. Indigenous art and cultural traditions continue to shape our state, whether it’s the stunning Warm Springs murals in Central Oregon or contemporary Native art exhibits in Portland.
Oregon’s pioneering spirit has long drawn adventurers from throughout the United States as well as other countries. As a result, you’ll discover a wide array of cultures and influences here. Enjoy the serenity of the Portland Japanese Garden or stroll along the Albina Soul Walk, a self-guided tour of Portland’s Black music history.
When it comes to live music, few cities rival Portland. You’ll have dozens of venues and genres to choose from every week. In the mood for a museum? Portland has more than 30. Want to frolic at a festival? We have them year-round, including the Portland Rose Festival and the West Coast Giant Pumpkin Regatta.
Portland is an inclusive city and is home to the largest LGBTQ+ center in the Pacific Northwest, the Q Center.
Indulge your cravings
From edible seaweed on the Oregon Coast to the award-winning wines of the Willamette Valley, our state delights anyone who loves to eat and drink. In the Columbia Gorge, you’ll find abundant fruit orchards. The coast is your destination for fresh fish chowder. Sample delicious artisan cheeses throughout the state, since Oregon is home to more than 200 dairy farms.
No matter where you go in Oregon, you’ll find craft breweries, fine coffees and farmers markets (including one right on our Portland campus).
Portland’s food cart scene lives up to the hype. You can track down mobile trucks as well as food cart “pods” in every neighborhood you visit. If you’d rather cook at home, Portland has specialty food stores offering everything from African spices to vegan cheeses.
Protect the planet
Oregon has rightfully earned a reputation as one of the eco-friendliest states. We have hundreds of electric vehicle charging stations, laws to promote in-state renewable energy, strong efficiency incentives for new construction and remodeling, and growth boundaries to protect farms and forests.
On OHSU’s Portland campus, you’ll see a steady stream of bike commuters as well as many of the city’s well-used public transit options — tram, light rail, streetcar and bus — that help us lower our carbon emissions.
Root for the home team
If you’re based on our Portland campus, you can enjoy professional basketball (Trail Blazers) as well as professional soccer (Timbers and Thorns). Our city also has several minor league baseball teams, a hockey league and roller derby.
OHSU resources
Explore university resources for making Oregon your home.
Other resources
These websites can introduce you to our city and state, and help you relocate.