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Portland, Oregon
Portland is a bustling metropolis with a small town feel nestled in a sunny valley between mountains and ocean where the Willamette and Columbia rivers converge. The Rose City, as it's called locally, has some of the purest water in America, and its sustainable farming movement is setting the U.S. standard for food marketing and consumption. Recycling and bike commuting are second nature here, and the prevailing style is casual. Portland's premiere beverages, espresso, microbrew and Pinot noir, reflect the city's main attractions of commerce, leisure and culture. The area is full of surprising sites and natural wonders, and you can spend at least a day exploring downtown Portland without renting a car, thanks to the city's excellent mass transit system combining light rail, streetcars and buses.
Portland has several fine hotels that range in price from inexpensive to extravagant. The Heathman Hotel, a gem in the heart of the "cultural district," with a James Beard Award-winning chef in residence, is a luxurious choice. If you favor upscale boutique lodging, the Avalon Hotel & Spa offers a large spa with pretty walking and biking paths, while the plush Hotel Vintage Plaza caters to wine connoisseurs. Nearby, the Hotel Lucia is a fun, affordable European-style hangout, while the Ace Hotel offers retro-style digs for creative types. Just across the Willamette River, the Jupiter Hotel provides a hipster haven in an authentically urban environment. Many attractions are just a short walk or MAX ride from these venerable hotels. Portland offers a dazzling variety of activities; here is your itinerary for a fabulous three-day tour of this green-thinking city. After a hearty, healthy breakfast at the Bijou Café (try the snapper hash, which is the house signature dish), stroll through downtown Portland to get a feel for the city and its residents. Pioneer Courthouse Square, which has been dubbed "Portland's living room," hosts a great number of concerts, fairs and festivals, not to mention a relaxed crowd of locals hanging out. Powell's City of Books may be the city's most popular tourist attraction. Some visitors schedule an entire day to explore this massive store selling new and used books. Take a break at the Portland Classical Chinese Garden, an entire square block of tranquility based on a garden built in Suzhou during the Ming Dynasty. It features a tearoom, pond, Chinese plants and several authentic structures.
Portlandia, the controversial embodiment of the Portland spirit, is another wildly popular attraction. The 36-foot hammered copper statue, the second largest of its kind in the country, bows only to the Statue of Liberty. Governor Tom McCall Waterfront Park is a long stretch of green along the busy Willamette River. In the summer, many of the city's favorite celebrations take place here. Visit several theme areas such as the Children's Story Garden, Japanese American Historical Plaza, and the Oregon Maritime Center. The Salmon Street Springs prove that in Portland on a hot summer day, no one is reluctant to jump into a fountain. Enjoy lunch at one of Portland's many affordable ethnic restaurants, such as Alexis for excellent moussaka or Kenny & Zukes for an authentic pastrami Reuben sandwich. After lunch, take a ride on the MAX to Washington Park, located at the head of Southwest Park Place. Here you'll get a taste of the natural setting that gives Portland its special character. The Hoyt Arboretum features a vast number of species of trees and shrubs, as well as ten miles of easily navigated trails. The five-acre Japanese Garden offers a cool and quiet respite. The Vietnam Veterans Living Memorial is a solemn monument to Portland's veteran and lost sons and daughters. Those curious about Oregon's once-thriving timber industry can learn about its legacy at the World Forestry Center. Kids will love the interactive Children's Museum, and visitors of all ages will certainly enjoy a walk through the Oregon Zoo. The zoo train travels across the park to the International Rose Test Garden, a lovely terraced spot overlooking the city and offering a glorious array of more than 7,000 rose bushes. For dinner, board a streetcar for Northwest 21st Avenue, Portland's "restaurant row," to dine on authentic Pacific Northwest cuisine. Wildwood and Paley's Place prepare outstanding regional fare made with fresh, local ingredients. After dinner, head back downtown to catch the local jazz scene at the Benson Hotel or Jimmy Mak's.
* Images from the Official Tourism and Meeting Website for Portland, Oregon
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72 Hours in Beijing
Although it was once the abode of emperors, Beijing is now a multicultural city in mid-reinvention fueled by China's spectacular economic rise and the controversial 2008 Olympic Games. The link between ancient and modern makes this city one of world's most fascinating places.