Experience Portland: Parks, hikes, and day trips

The London magazine Monocal listed Portland, Oregon, as one of the top 25 cities where citizens of the world might want to live, the only U.S. city to make the list. Portland received this accolade in part because of the residents’ “vigorous lifestyles (one could theoretically ski and surf on the same day).” While you won’t often see a surfboard and skis in our Subarus at the same time, it is true that Portlanders love to be outside. Raining or not, Oregon’s verdant landscape and dramatic geography create outdoor areas begging to be explored. All that moisture has a silver lining: lush gardens and forests, sparkling streams and rivers, and the snow-capped Cascade mountains as a backdrop. Visitors to Oregon are invited to bring a raincoat and explore the outdoors.