A beautiful city that sits at the confluence of the Columbia and Willamette Rivers, Portland has long been irresistible to the traveler. Its popularity has also increased considerably since the early 19th century when it was first settled, probably because it is no longer necessary to make an arduous six-month journey via wagon on the Oregon Trail to get there. Modern-day Portland is a place where people live long and live well, as numerous parks, a high degree of environmental consciousness, and a progressive intellectual climate fostered by the city's mostly leftist residents make it a fascinating and endearing place.

The heart of Portland, sometimes referred to as the city's "living room," is Pioneer Courthouse Square, where several different attractions can be found, as well as a diverse cross-section of locals, from office workers to street kids. One interesting and somewhat controversial building is the Portland Building, designed by Michael Graves in 1980, which is famous for being the world's first important postmodern structure. Nearby is the Oregon History Center, an outstanding facility that tells the complex and interesting tale of the region's settlement and growth.

Portland wasn't always so warm and fuzzy. As a major port city it had its share (and still does) of rough characters. One unique feature of this checkered past is the Shanghai Tunnels, which run underneath the Old Town and are now open for tours, were once used by dishonest ship captains to secure free labor for their voyages. They would seek out very drunk sailors at one of the town's many bars, abduct them, hustle them through the tunnels and onto the boat before they knew what was going on. The unsuspecting sailor would then wake up with a brutal hangover on a ship that had already set sail, and was then given the choice of working or going on a very long swim.

Many hotels which offer a good combination of quality and value are located near the Lloyd District and convention center. On the outskirts of town, acceptable budget options are often close to the freeway. There are hotels in Portland to suit every budget.