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PORTLAND, OREGON

First impressions have visitors seeing green. The green, that is, of the trees and parks that dominate Portland's landscape. Portland's parks are as much a part of the quality of life as the ubiquitous coffeehouses, bookstores and raindrops.

In this city of eccentricities, fanciful touches harmonize with a reverence for nature. The combination gives Portland a sweetly offbeat appeal. Where else can you find sidewalks paved with famous quotes, more microbreweries and brewpubs than any other city in the United States, a bevy of coffee shops selling unique Northwest blends, or the country's largest independent bookstore, blanketing a city block with more than a million volumes?

Portland is also a pedestrian-friendly city with lots of gathering places. o­n warm days, locals and visitors alike congregate at Pioneer Courthouse Square, nicknamed "Portland's living room." The square features a fountain, a travel bookstore, Portland's official visitor information center, an amphitheater for musical performances and festivals, and a 25-foot weather machine that predicts the weather each day at noon amid a fanfare of trumpets.

For more weather-related fun, head to the weather lab at the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI). This playground for the mind - the nation's fifth largest science museum - also features an earthquake room, a planetarium, an OMNIMAX Theater, national touring exhibitions and tours of the USS Blueback submarine.

When it comes to beverages, Portlanders don't mind if they're served hot or cold - they simply want them to be the best. That's why you can't walk more than a few blocks in any direction without bumping into a specialty coffee shop or a local brewpub where craft brewers are busily creating some of the country's most distinctive beers.

Pittock Mansion, listed o­n the National Historic Register, is located in the West Hills. This chateauesque residence boasts a spectacular view of the city, and the mountains and rivers that surround it. Built in 1914 by the original owner of The Oregonian newspaper, the mansion is furnished with antiques and fine art.

A few minutes away are Washington Park, where the International Rose Test Garden offers dramatic vistas of the city and majestic Mount Hood. Established in 1917, it is the oldest public garden of its kind in the United States. The four-acre garden is home to 9,000 roses of 590 varieties.

Living nearby are some of the rarest animals o­n earth. The Oregon Zoo is home to more than 1,000 animals, representing 200 species. From the mist-filled tropical rain forest and Alaskan tundra to the Asian Elephants and polar bears, the zoo's exhibits make it o­ne of the city's most popular attractions.

One of Portland's best-kept secrets for travelers is the Portland Farmers' Market, a long-standing favorite among locals. The market, which highlights local growers and harvesters, features fresh flowers, seafood, breads, nuts, produce, and locally prepared foods.

In addition to Portland's many land-based attractions, the city boasts several excursion boats. Three sternwheelers, the Columbia Gorge, the Rose and the new Columbia Queen, offer paddle wheel-powered tours along the Willamette and Columbia rivers. The sleek Portland Spirit features lunch, dinner and moonlight cruises. Willamette Jetboat Excursions whisks the adventurous to the impressive Willamette Falls and back.

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