At 5,151 acres (2,085ha), Forest Park is one of the largest urban forests in the nation. Another lovely Portland rose garden - Peninsula Park Rose Garden - is set in a sunken landscape on the other side of the river. Featuring blacksmithing and weapon-making demonstrations, exhibits about 19th-century life, and lantern-lit tours of the historic fort, this National Historic Site provides a great opportunity to learn about early life in the city. If you plan to take a longer ride outside the central city, it’s almost certainly cheaper to opt for renting over sharing. And with Portland’s residents predominantly advocates for the preservation of nature, it’s no surprise that this little gem exists. The Lan Su Chinese Garden opened in the year 2000 to shed light on Chinese culture and history after the city developed a relationship with its sister city of Suzhou, China. Adjacent to downtown, it’s one of Portland’s older neighborhoods, and boasts plenty of old craftsman and Colonial Revival houses to prove it. There’s usually at least one smart meter per block. With a planetarium, a giant-screen theater, a retired navy submarine, traveling exhibits and “After Dark” events, OMSI has lures for all ages. Also on offer are collectibles, toys and crafts. Depending on how you define it, OMSI marks the southern edge of Inner East. Features of the arboretum include a notable bamboo garden billed as the largest bamboo collection in the Northwest, a research library housing over 800 books available to the public and over 6,000 trees comprising about 2,300 species. Calling Powell’s a bookstore is like calling the Louvre an art museum: technically accurate, but wildly understated. If you fail to display a meter receipt, you’re looking at a $65 ticket in most cases. It offers picnic and play areas, a dog off-leash area and a horseshoe pit, plus basketball, tennis and volleyball courts. Green spaces range from colorful plantings of roses and rhododendrons to a classical Chinese garden. Permanently docked off Waterfront Park at SW Naito Boulevard and Pine Street, this is quite literally the only place to see a once-ubiquitous class of 19th century ship in action. Washington Park is close to other popular West Hills attractions, including Hoyt Arboretum, Portland Children’s Museum, and the Oregon Zoo. Once a fishing and seasonal living site for Native American tribes (and a landing site of Lewis and Clark), this park offers fishing, a boat ramp and canoe launch, an off-leash dog area, paved paths and picnic tables. By contrast, Portland summers are pleasant, if occasionally hot. Travel Industry Professionals Although technically across the river in Vancouver, Washington, Fort Vancouver is a popular destination for tourists who want to relive a bit of history while visiting Portland. Learn the history and key features of the city’s 12 Willamette River crossings. Stepping inside the original location of this independent bookseller, you won't doubt why it's known as the biggest of its kind. Just don’t confuse it with Portland, Maine, its older and much smaller East Coast namesake. Address: 3229 NW Pittock Drive, Portland, Oregon, Official site: http://pittockmansion.org/. On the contrary, its residents often encourage each other to “Keep Portland Weird.” You’ll find tons of independent businesses in this Oregon city, including a bounty of food trucks and plenty of outdoor markets. Don’t miss Stars Antique Mall, one of Portland’s most popular antique shops. Portland's laidback, chic aesthetic makes it the ideal home for streetwear. In fact, along with Minneapolis-St. Paul and Denver, it perennially ranks as one of the top U.S. cities for cycling of any kind – recreational or work-related. Portland’s hinterland is breathtakingly scenic. Spinlister is basically Airbnb for bikes (and, randomly, stand up paddle boards). The flowering show lasts from March through June, depending on weather conditions. An authentic example of Japanese landscaping, the Portland Japanese Garden is a haven of tranquil beauty with an unsurpassed view of Mount Hood. Local Businesses Connecting the upper and lower campuses of Oregon Health & Science University, a major medical school and research institution, the tram gains 500 feet of elevation in approximately 3,300 linear feet. Among the galleries, visitors will find colorful, entertaining, and educational exhibits for young children, as well as hands-on and interactive displays for all ages. For convenience, be sure to download the TriMet Tickets app, which vends paperless tickets and uses your phone’s GPS to display real-time Lyft and car2go availability in your immediate area. Uber and Lyft rides originating in Portland carry a $0.50-per-ride surcharge – basically, a local tax on ridesharing. With CLEAR you’ll be able to pass through airport security with very little wait time. The many lovely features of the garden include waterfalls and ponds, along with many coniferous trees. Portland is the athletic gear capital of America. The Portland Underground, also known as the Shanghai Tunnels, is definitely among the weirdest and most depressing of Portland’s historical attractions: an underground tunnel system, not unlike a smaller version of the Paris Catacombs, that human smugglers used to transport unsuspecting victims in the late 19th century. This eclectic collection of eateries in downtown Portland is a local favorite for weekday lunch. If you’re into historic architecture, visit Oaks Pioneer Church, a mid-19th century structure that looks (almost) as good as the day it was built. From shop-lined streets to expansive malls, you'll find great spots for tax-free shopping all around town — and beyond. With basketball and tennis courts, football and soccer fields, softball and baseball diamonds, and a picnic area, it’s a great place to bring kids to blow off some steam (or enjoy a quiet meal outside). In Portland alone, there are over 50 breweries – and counting – with local brewers pioneering the movement with Oregon-grown hops and Pacific Northwest water. I paid about $300 for a round-trip flight from Minneapolis, but you can probably do even better if you wait for last-minute deals or check blind-booking sites like Hotwire.