Portland

Sitting on the banks of the Columbia and Willamette Rivers under the watch of snow-capped Mount Hood, Portland, is one of the leafiest cities in the USA. Famed for its incredible parks, innumerable bike paths and vibrant scenery, it is also renowned for its eco-friendliness, craft beer culture and delightful food carts. Not to mention thriving art, theatre and music scenes.

With so much to explore one can easily spend a week in Oregon’s largest city, but if need be, know that you can also take in its key sights within a day. Start in the heart of Portland’s downtown at Pioneer Square or scope out the city first by hopping on the Portland Aerial Tram. The 4-minute-long journey takes you 152m up over the city so you can take in all that Portland has to offer.

A visit to one of Portland’s many green spaces is a must. Stroll through the stunning Japanese Gardens in Washington Park – you’ll find cherry blossoms, koi ponds and even a traditional tea house. Other highlights include the Hoyt Arboretum and the International Rose Test Garden, each housing more than 6,000 species of plants and 500 rose varieties respectively. For hiking and mountain biking opportunities within the city head to Forest Park. A temperate suburban forest, its huge canopy of trees stretches over 5,000 acres with more than 70 miles of trails across the park. And in Portland’s downtown, you’ll find that the Ming Dynasty-inspired walkways, bridges and pavilions of the Lan Su Chinese Garden provide a quirky contrast to the city’s contemporary buildings.

But there’s more to see than just the magnificent greenery. For a taste of urban living, head over to Portland’s Pearl District brimming with art galleries, independent shops, boutiques and farm-to-table fine dining. With over 500 homegrown craft breweries in the city and the unique Distillery Row, a tasting is well worth your time. Catch some live music while you’re at it or grab a book before you head to a pub from Powell’s City of Books, the largest new and used bookstore in the world. The Oregon Museum of Science & Industry is also worth a trip, and if you find yourself hungry, head to one of Portland’s many delectable food carts. Dotted around the city, you’ll experience international flavours and new concepts from the culinary world in an intriguing new format.