When you book a top-secret hotel on Groupon Getaways, you’re guaranteed a name-brand property with a rating of 3 stars or higher in the neighborhood we specify. We’ll let you know the name and exact address of your top-secret hotel after you purchase the deal: Look in the redemption instructions for this deal, found in My Groupons in your account and on your email confirmation.

Hotel at a Glance: Top-Secret Downtown Portland Hotel

You can easily traverse all of Portland from the light-rail stop just outside this Top-Secret hotel. If you’re visiting on a Saturday, take the 15-minute ride (or 25-minute walk) to the Portland Saturday Market, just across the river. When it’s time to eat, you can pick from any of Portland’s culinary gems or head back to the hotel’s restaurant. It’s one of two onsite restaurants emphasize the farm-to-table philosophy of using fresh, local, organic, seasonal, and sustainable ingredients.

• Savor local cuisine at the on-site restaurant, where menu items include fresh-caught Columbia River salmon and homemade, seasonal soup & sandwich specials.
• Friend to the earth: The hotel holds a GreenLeaders distinction for its eco-friendly practices and was included in the Oregon Business’s list of the 100 Best Green Workplaces in Oregon.
• Recent accolade: TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence
• Across the street is the Lloyd Center Mall, featuring a newly-remodeled ice skating rink, and stores such as H&M, Macy’s, and Loft.

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 wont to do 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.

Love to travel? Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest for travel tips, inspiration, and photos from around the world.