Hotel at a Glance: Radisson Hotel Portland Airport

Just across the Columbia River from Vancouver, this Radisson Hotel makes an excellent hub for exploring the beauty of the Pacific Northwest. Parks and green spaces dot the shores of the river and a quick hour’s drive will bring you to the base of Mount Hood. If it’s less rustic pursuits you’re after, East Portland’s bustling nightlife is just about a 20-minute drive away.

• Catch your flight: With 24-hour airport shuttle service and departure screens in the hotel lobby, you won’t have to worry about making it to your gate on time.
• Enjoy local flavors and even locally sourced ingredients at the Lakeside Bar and Grill, which also offers al fresco dining with (you guessed it) lakeside views.
• Cheers!: Daily happy hour specials in the bar include $6 samplings of the menu’s most popular items.
• Free WiFi is available in every room.

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 in businesses ranging from an art-house movie theater to a donut shop that used to glaze its pastries with NyQuil. 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 likely to do in order to take in the parks, plazas, and fountains. You can also get around the district on a vintage trolley. 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. Located on the west bank of the Willamette River, the waterfront park was named 1 of 10 Great Public Spaces in America in 2012 by the American Planning Association.

Just north of downtown, the Pearl District, formerly a warehouse area, has recently sprouted a bevy of art galleries and specialty shops housed in lofts. It’s also one of the best bets for a good night out in the city, especially if you’re looking for a solid craft beer. Portland boasts one of the largest collections of microbreweries in the country, and a good number of them can be found in this neighborhood.

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