The City of Roses

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The City of Roses

by Jimmy Smith on 15/10/09 at 9:16 am

A closer look at Portland, Oregon.

Climate

Portland summers are often warm, sunny and dry with highs often reaching around 80 degrees. Winters however are mild to cold and often rainy with highs of 46 degrees. On average there are a total of 155 days with measurable precipitation which is one of the highest in the United States. Snow is unusual but Portland has had major snowstorms throughout its history. The climate is ideal for growing roses giving the city the nickname city of roses.

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Transportation

Unlike most cities Portland has extensive mass transit, their streetcar system is considered one of the best in the country. Also The Bicycle Transportation Alliance ranks Portland among the top cities in the US for biking. 8% of commuters bike to work in Portland which is the highest in the nation and over 10 times the average.

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Tourism

Portland is well known for its art, the Portland art museum has the cities largest art collection and it just added a Modern and Contemporary Art wing. Portland also is the home to many parades and festivals especially to celebrate beer including the The Oregon Brewers Festival, and The Portland International Beerfest.

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Multnomah Falls

Multnomah Falls is one of the most scenic and the tallest waterfall in Oregon. Multnomah Falls is not far from Portland and has two drops, the upper fall drops 452 feet and the second fall drops 69 feet. As you can see in the picture there is a footbridge that allows visitors 105 feet over the lower cascade.

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Portland Japanese Garden

The Portland Japanese Garden is a 5.5 acre garden located in the west hills of Portland Oregon. The garden is considered to be the finest Japanese garden located outside of Japan. The picture below was taken from one of the most popular trees in the garden that overlooks the lake.