Big city excitement and small town charm make Portland, known as "the City of Roses", one of the favorite destinations on the West coast. Portland, situated approximately 70 miles from the Pacific Ocean where the Columbia River meets the Willamette River, has a magnificent setting, combining sparkling waterways with lush greenery rarely found in urban settings. Portland's historic old town, many galleries and museums, Saturday Market, Waterfront Park, and theatre companies will keep visitors busy for weeks! Also, Portland is just a short distance from the spectacular Columbia Gorge and Multnomah Falls, windsurfing at Hood River, touring at valley wineries, skiing at Mt. Hood, fish watching at Bonneville Dam, and all of the excitement of the Oregon coast. Portland is known for its extensive park system of more than 200 parks. These encompass such areas as the elm shaded South Park Blocks in the downtown area, Washington Park, home of the Rose Test Gardens, and Portland's biggest park, Forest Park, which is the largest park within a city in the U.S. From the over 4,600 acre Forest Park to tiny 24 inch Mills End Park, Portland's park system offers leisure and recreation opportunities for everyone. Portland's award winning mass transit system is one of the most extensive and advanced in the U.S. The transit system includes buses and the MAX, an urban light rail line, as well as a downtown transit mall and Fareless Square, the downtown free-ride zone. Short blocks make Portland a walker's paradise. The public art and old fashioned statuary, along with many fountains, bridges and parks offer opportunities for leisure and contemplation for the casual stroller. Walking tours of the downtown area focusing on the best of the city's art, architecture, urban parks and fountains are available. For more information on these fun and informative tours, call 503-665-2558. For the more adventuresome walker, Forest Park has approximately 50 miles of trails. Nightlife adventures in Portland are excellent and varied. On top of the list is the internationally-known Oregon Symphony. Portland also has many local pubs and brewhouses that feature jazz and blues. Be sure to visit the various comedy clubs and try the art gallery walks in the Pearl District. The performing arts in the area offer ballet, Shakespeare, Broadway musicals, modern dance and much more. Portland is the home of the Trail Blazers basketball team, and also has hockey and baseball for sports fans. A splendid location, relaxed respectability, and an urban lifestyle that is unsurpassed for its livability makes Portland a city to visit and remember.