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Downtown Portland Attractions

What's so special about our Portland area? Well, for one thing its attractions and so very many and diverse things to see and do. For another, it's the proximity of hotels near whatever piques your interest. And it is those unique points of interest like 37-acre Tom McCall Waterfront Park, located on the west bank of the Willamette River in downtown Portland, which plays host to several of the city's hottest annual festivals and events.

What else?

Portland is a city of parks - 37,000 acres to be exact! All available for your enjoyment. Mt. Tabor Park is home to an extinct volcano, while Washington Park is a beautiful refuge that includes traditional Japanese gardens. The Grotto is a Catholic sanctuary with flower-lined pathways, reflecting ponds and cliff-side vistas.
It is the gateway to an outdoorsman's dream world. Nearby Columbia River Gorge, which boasts more than 70 waterfalls, is one of the loveliest spots in the Northwest. The Multnomah Falls cascade 620 feet, earning their reputation as one of the nation's highest waterfalls.
Portland is the site of many stately homes built by lumber barons, shipping magnates and traders. Neighborhoods are lined with turn-of-the-century Victorian and French Renaissance mansions, including the Pittock Estate. This 1914 home is a must-see with its ornate chandeliers, friezes and carved-stone fireplaces.
From antiques to books, Portland is a shopper's paradise. Sellwood District offers a wealth of antique dealers, while Hawthorne Boulevard packs used bookstores into its boundaries. Powell's City of Books is especially noteworthy; with more than a million books for sale, it bills itself as the nation's largest bookstore.

Microbrews, anyone? This city has cultivated a reputation as the Munich on the Willamette, offering more brewpubs and craft breweries than any other city in the nation. For real local flavor, try an English-style stout or a fruity brew made with raspberries.
Portland claims the title of America's bike capital without much dispute. The city has more than 250 miles of bike lanes and offers free-usage bicycles to encourage alternate transportation. At Sauvie Island, you can even mountain-bike through a wildlife sanctuary.
Residents know a good thing when they have one. Approximately 2 million people call the Portland area home. In fact, it's the 28th largest metropolitan area in the country and the fourth largest city on the West Coast. The Portland area spans six counties and over 5,000 square miles.
Go west, young man! Portland's Willamette Valley was the final destination along the Oregon Trail. By 1840, settlers had begun journeying to the Northwest, using the rugged wagon train route that cut through Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, Wyoming and Idaho.
The 1970s "Expose Yourself to Art" campaign got its start in Portland, a city filled with fountains and public art. The "Portlandia" statue at the Portland Building is the world's second-largest hammered copper sculpture, taking a back seat only to the Statue of Liberty.
What's in a name? Certainly not originality! Portland shares its name with the city in Maine, which was Francis Pettygrove's hometown. This early settler won a coin toss with another early settler named Asa Lovejoy to name the fledgling city. Lovejoy lost.