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Mount
Hood
| Oregon
is as well-known for its pristine rivers, thick forests and breathtaking Pacific
coastline as it is for its inhabitants' desire to preserve such beautiful scenery.
Such an environmentally-aware attitude also goes hand-in-hand with the natives'
love of outdoor adventure. And with a playground like Oregon, it's no surprise
that rock climbing, skiing, whitewater rafting and mountain biking are extremely
popular activities. Even
in Oregon's cities, visitors can feel the call of the wild. In downtown Portland,
for example, trees and city parks dominate the landscape. An astounding 37,000
acres of parks (and an extinct volcano) are contained within the city limits!
Such greenery makes
for a lovely view from the Oregon Convention Center, which is touted as the Pacific
Northwest's premier meeting place and has drawn an estimated 6 million people
worldwide since its opening in 1990. Home to three Fortune 500 companies, Portland
offers ample space and accommodations for business meetings and conventions.
If
you get a few extra hours, make sure to sample the product of Portland's famous
brewpubs and coffeehouses. Also don't pass up the opportunity to take a stroll
through Washington Parks Japanese Garden, hailed as the most authentic Japanese
garden outside Japan, or Powell's Books, the nation's largest bookstore. |