Visit Portland: Top 10 Things I Love About Portland

Portland is one of my favorite cities to travel to.  I've been there twice, and I'm already longing to go back.

Here are the top 10 things I love about Portland:

Brewers Poutine from Hopworks Urban Brewery

1. Food:  Portland has so many great dining venues (you can read my Top 10: Portland Eats here), and I had the best ice cream and breakfast I've ever had in Portland.  
2. Playspaces in Restaurants:  We went to a few restaurants that had kids playspaces, which meant kids could play while the adults watched them from their tables.  What a concept!
3. Pedestrian-Friendly: I love how pedestrian-friendly Portland is, considering how so many shops and restaurants around the various Portland neighborhoods require you to find street parking to walk to your destination.  They have several crosswalk and pedestrian laws, which were very evident as we walked around Portland.
4. Eco-friendly: From our hotel, to the streets, to the grocery stores, I saw so many ways Portland encourages eco-friendliness, such as through alternative transportation and recycling.
5. Nature's Beauty - From tulips to snow, rivers to waterfalls, nature's beauty can be seen within Portland or just a short drive away.
6. Attractions: There are so many different types of attractions in Portland or nearby.  Whether you want to visit the zoo, a science museum, or even an amusement park, there is an abundance of options to choose from.  
7. Breweries: Portland has over 50 breweries.  Even though I'm not a big beer drinker, that still meant great brewpub food, and I happily indulged in some great brewpub eats (while my husband drank beer).
8. Locally-made Omiyage (Souvenirs): From bath products to sweet eats, it's not hard to find locally-made omiyage to take back to friends and family (you can find my Top 10: Oregon Omiyage list here).
9. Tax-free shopping and dining:  Although we didn't do much shopping, we sure ate out a lot, and no food or beverage tax meant we saved some money whenever we dined out.
10. Bridges: Driving through Portland it's inevitable that you'll cross or at least see one of the city's many bridges.  The different types of bridges all throughout the city make them all the more interesting.