Portland

Although you'll likely be in Portland for just a short time before heading off to one of the nearby state or national parks, there are definitely sights in this city you should make time for. One of the best known "attractions" in Portland is Powell's City of Books, which is very aptly named. It's the largest independent book store in the country and takes up an entire city block! This is a must for book-worms, and there's not better place to beef up your collection of reading material for your trip!

If you enjoy shopping while on vacation, you should schedule your visit to Portland for a weekend so you can spend time at the Portland Saturday Market. Don't be confused by the name though as it's open on Sundays too! There are hundreds of vendors selling arts and crafts, and everything is hand-made.

And when you're ready to head out of the city, you'll have several directions to choose from...

The Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area is very unique, with a huge expanse of sand dunes for hiking or ATV riding. It's right on the coast, so you can enjoy some ocean activities like swimming and surfing while you’re there. Other state parks in the area include the Bridal Veil Falls State Park and the Bald Peak State Park. Both are beautifully forested and offer many trails for walking or hiking.

Also within an easy drive from Portland is the Columbia River Gorge, where you can see the lovely Multnomah Falls and several dozen other waterfalls in the gorge. You can also take a fun paddleboat tour of the river to see the gorge up close. The Mt. Hood National Forest is also nearby. 

Quick Facts:

-- Portland's nickname is the "City of Roses".