Portland

Known as the City of Roses, Portland combines lively arts, active sports, and ethnic and cultural diversity with scenic beauty and a temperate climate. Portland's entertainment scene includes outdoor concerts, summer parades, theater, dance, opera, sporting events, and shopping.

General Facts about Portland:

Population: 1.95 million in the metropolitan area; 538,000 within the city

Average temperature: July: 80 degrees F (26.6 C); January: 34 degrees F (1.11 C)

Average rainfall: 37 inches/year

More about Portland

Outdoor Activities

Students enjoy easy access to the spectacular scenery of the Cascade Mountains and the Columbia River Gorge to the east. Mount Hood, Oregon's highest peak, is 65 miles away. The Cascade Mountains offer excellent skiing, hiking trails, hot springs, rivers, and lakes. The Columbia River Gorge is known for its fantastic views, waterfalls, hiking trails, and windsurfing.

The Oregon Coast

An 80 minute drive to the west of Portland delivers the scenic views of the Oregon coast along the Pacific Ocean. Oregon's 300 miles of beautiful coastline offers unique scenery and various activities such as whale watching, jazz, kite-flying contests, and sand-castle festivals.