Portland Oregon

A little bit creative, a little bit counter-culture, Portland is a year-round, always-evolving city that's home to a mindful community dedicated to keeping its city sustainable, innovative and accessible. There's an enviable public transit system, tax-free shopping and enormous in-city parks offering dozens of cultural attractions. Portland gives us music (from indie standards The Decemberists and The Shins, to hip hop's latest like Aminé and The Last Artful, Dodgr), eccentric characters to watch (“Portlandia”) and a craft brew scene like none other (they even have a Distillery Row now). The city is packed with so much character you’ll almost forget to explore its great outdoors (a mistake, as the movies “Wild” and “Twilight” demonstrate). Nearby, you’ll find Mount Hood, the Columbia River Gorge and the Oregon Coast, as well as wine country.