The city of Portland Oregon is found just hours from
the Oregon coast near both
the Willamette River and the Columbia River. A number
of unique attractions characterize this city, not least
of all the Oregon
Museum of Science and Industry, which has been one
of the biggest museums of its kind in the Pacific Northwest
for decades. Along with all of the great urban attractions,
Portland Oregon getaways can also easily be filled with
trips to nearby wineries in the Willamette
Valley or a stroll through Portland’s inner-city
garden paradise, the Portland
Rose Garden.
For many travelers experiencing Portland Oregon tourism for the first time, it is a surprise to find that so much of the city of Portland seems to be less developed than other major cities. There are still plenty of downtown exhibits and skyscrapers, but a Portland Oregon vacation can also offer visitors a hike through a forested, inner-city park with multiple miles of trails, as well as a picnic at the Rose Gardens or the incredible Japanese Garden which is one of the most intricate and well-known in North America.
The history of Portland as an American settlement precedes the popularity of Portland vacations, but not by much. While small groups of settlers and squatters had begun laying claim to the area in the early 19th century, it was not until 1851 that the city was officially incorporated as such. At the time of its birth as a city, the city of Portland had just over 800 citizens. This number would quickly grow, thanks to the settlement’s prime location near the Pacific Ocean, the Columbia River and of course the Willamette Valley and river.
The history of the city continues,
and no tradition more aptly carries on the legacy of the
early city than the Rose Festival, held each year in Portland
since the year 1905. If you plan to take a Portland
vacation in the spring or summer, be sure to stick around
for the rose festival, or at least take a stroll through
the nearby gardens. Portland Oregon tourism relies
on more than the annual Rose Festival, however.
Portland Oregon getaways are also colored by trips to
some of the area attractions that are literally just a
few hours’ drive away. The Oregon
Aquarium, widely considered to be the best aquarium
of its kind in the United States, is just down the road
in the coastal city of Newport, Oregon. The Mt.
Hood ski area is equally famous, though for different
reasons, and visitors from all over continue to head to
the Timberline lodge
for a day or week of skiing.
Portland Oregon tourism in the city
itself offers a bounty of things to do for the culture
lover. Portland Oregon getaways can include trips
to the Portland Art
Museum, the Oregon Zoo,
and more. A quick drive to the Willamette
Valley for wine tasting,
fruit picking or just relaxing is also a popular way to
get away from the city and enjoy the surrounding area.
