Located just beyond the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers, Portland is a laid back, friendly city. Filled with coffee shops, art galleries, and funky independent clothing shops, Portland is just plain fun. Book lovers could spend days at Powell’s City of Books, which fills an entire city block. Micro brewed beer is popular in Oregon and you’ll find plenty of new beers to try in Portland at the cities’ many brewpubs. It’s easy to spend the whole day outside here too, whether you choose to walk along the Willamette River, hike in one of the parks, or just do a bit of window-shopping.

The city is mostly flat, perfect for lots of walking and biking. While you’ll find plenty of opportunities to see shows and concerts, tour art galleries, and dine at luxurious restaurants, it’s tough to feel rushed or pressured to do too much because the atmosphere is so much more relaxed than in most American cities. Time for leisurely strolls, bike rides in the park, or running along the river is very likely to present itself while you’re here.

Portland is a gateway city for both the Columbia River Gorge and the Oregon coast. From Portland, three prominent volcanoes are visible from different points; Mount Saint Helens, Mount Adams, and Mount Hood are so tall they remain snow-capped most of the year. Within a short drive east, you’ll find waterfalls, endless hiking options, skiing, windsurfing on the Columbia River, and white water rafting. To the west, sandy and rocky Pacific Ocean beaches are waiting for you to relax and/or explore. Dramatic cliffs drop down to the beaches with lighthouses dotting the coast.

But you don’t even have to leave the city to get outside. Tryon Creek State Park and Forest Park are great for short hikes in Portland. If you want to get in the water, consider renting a kayak.

Portland is laid back and open city, and gay friendly with an openly gay mayor. Portland doesn’t just claim to be progressive, it actually is progressive. In addition to being gay friendly, the city is eco friendly, feminist friendly, and wonderfully artsy.

The Hawthorne District and the Northwest Neighborhood are the most openly gay areas of the city. The Hawthorne District can be a little seedy, but it’s full of great nightclubs. Northwest is a more upscale area features some of Portland’s best shopping and dining venues. Near Burnside Bridge, you’ll find the lively Portland Saturday Market where visitors can find everything from farm fresh produce to kitten-size catnip stuffed pillows.

Within a short drive of Portland, there are two gay nude beaches, one at Sauvie Island and the other at Rooster Rock State Park.

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