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Hotel at a Glance: Hotel Modera

Though the art galleries, hip restaurants, and parks of downtown Portland are all within walking distance of Hotel Modera, the 4-star boutique hotel captures the city’s essence within its own walls. A central courtyard is isolated from city noise with a 15-foot living wall of vertically planted local foliage, and indoor spaces showcase local artwork from a collection of more than 500 pieces. Nel Centro, the on-site restaurant, puts a farm-to-table twist on French Riviera cuisine, sourcing local, seasonal ingredients.

• Where you’ll stay: Luxurious guest rooms feature pillow-top mattresses with down comforters, black-walnut furnishings, and Tarocco Italian bath products.
• In-room amenities include mini fridges and iPod docking stations.
• Lounge in the garden courtyard, where fire pits illuminate the giant living wall of local foliage.
• Walk along the river: Tom McCall Waterfront Park and its riverside pedestrian path are less than half a mile away.
• Bring the dog: The pet-friendly hotel provides dog-walking and pet-sitting services (additional fees apply).

Portland, Oregon: Quirky Riverfront City Known for Its City Parks

Extensive bikeways, edgy chefs, indie-rock bands, and progressive environmentalists—counterculture is almost a way of life in Portland. And it’s certainly a source of civic pride. Locals have adopted the slogan “Keep Portland Weird,” which is brandished on bumper stickers and in business all over the town. The city has always been a little ahead of its time; it was originally planned with strict urban-growth boundaries that left plenty of room for parks and other green spaces. Today, in new developments, shops are built at street level with apartments above them—following a European model that complements Portland’s slightly European, laid-back atmosphere.

The downtown area is a refreshing mix of the traditional and the offbeat: high-rise buildings are interspersed with clothing boutiques and restaurants serving sustainable cuisine. Streets here are narrow and the blocks are compact to encourage walking, which visitors are wont to do to take in the parks, plazas, and fountains. A popular place to hang out is Pioneer Courthouse Square, a 40,000-square-foot public space often referred to as “Portland’s living room.” In warmer months, the square hosts free shows and festivals, as does Governor Tom McCall Waterfront Park, which was named 1 of 10 Great Public Spaces in America in 2012 by the American Planning Association.