Portland | AllCheapFares

Portland is the third of the three large cities in the Pacific Northwest (the others are Seattle and Vancouver, B.C.). Although it goes by unnoticed in many travel books, the City of Roses is one of the most beautiful cities in Western America. Portland lies to the far northwest of Oregon, straddling the Willamette River just south of its confluence with the Columbia River at Vancouver, Washington. About 50 miles to the east lies majestic Mount Hood, which forms the perfect backdrop for Portland's skyline. The Pacific Ocean lies about 90 miles to the west over the Coast Range. As the largest city between San Francisco and Seattle, vies with those cities as the spiritual capital of the laid-back northern Pacific coast. However, it does so in a way that mixes big-city dynamics with small-town friendliness. In contrast to rapid-growing Seattle, until recently Portland avoided the problems that come with fast growth. Although now Portland is experiencing the same rapid growth, it has been able to keep its unique character.