Mild weather and a laid-back atmosphere make Portland a great travel destination. Set in one of the most beautiful parts of the state, where the Willamette and Columbia rivers come together, this city of almost 540,000 has a year-round flow of visitors, though peak tourist time falls during the warmth of summer. Air passengers land at Portland International Airport (PDX), which offers a range of modern conveniences, such as free Wi-Fi, and prides itself on taking the steps to be as accessible as possible to those with special needs. While average airfares, before fees and taxes, from Miami run about $400, from New York City approximately $325, and from Chicago around $275, there are numerous cheap flights to Portland available.
Portland has a well developed mass transit system, made up of light rail and buses, that operates free in a 300 block section of the downtown area, making it easy to get around to see the sights. Such readily available public transportation is probably appreciated by the many students attending local colleges, such as Portland State University and Oregon Health and Science University. Portland is also bicycle friendly and has plenty of taxis. Cheap hotels in Portland add to the ease of visiting this city.
Attractions are many, and include a book lover's heaven â Powell's City of Books, located on West Burnside Street, the biggest bookstore in the country. There are a number of museums, including art and history museums, as well as specialty museums, with one devoted to toys. Performing arts are plentiful. There are many outdoors attractions, including many urban parks perfect for people watching and stunningly designed gardens to wander. Amusement parks include the Oaks Amusement Park, pleasing patrons for more than a century. Rain or shine, there's plenty to see and do in Portland.