Discover Portland, Oregon

Portland is a city of free thinkers, craft beer drinkers and people who are passionate about treading more lightly on the Earth. It's a place for exciting farm-to-plate restaurants where the chefs go out of their way to waste nothing. It has a festival and events scene that covers art, music, and food of all descriptions. And it has no sales tax, so your travel dollar will stretch further when you're shopping in all the groovy little stores and boutiques.

After you've taken yourself to Portland, you'll arrive home with a fresh view of the USA and a mind jam-packed with new input. For preparation, check out the TV series Portlandia - it's a humorous glimpse of life in this one-of-a-kind city.

Feel good about holidaying in one of the greenest cities in the world

Recognised as America's greenest city, Portland is the perfect place to experience life in an urban centre that has environmental protection woven into its DNA. Way back in the 1970s, Oregon started a global recycling movement by requiring refundable deposits on bottles and cans. At the same time, they established a city boundary to prevent urban sprawl and keep food producing land close to hand. Today you'll see recycling in action wherever you go and enjoy a food scene that's benefitting from the close-at-hand countryside.

Since 2006 Portland has cut its carbon dioxide emissions by 46%. Traffic lights are synchronised to reduce idling and travel time, there's a five-line light rail network from the city centre, and more than 480km of paths, lanes and trails have been created for cycling. Add in dozens of farmers' markets and more than 37,000 acres of green space for easy walking and you have a picture of urban utopia.

To achieve all this, the people of Portland had to think and act differently. You'll notice a lot of innovative thought here, so bring an open mind. After all, the city's slogan is 'Keep Portland Weird'.

Tuck into the farm-to-table and craft beer scene

The Washington Post named Portland the USA's best food city. With rich agricultural land close to town, Portland has mastered the art of farm-to-table dining. At Farm Spirit, for example, tickets are sold in advance for a plant-focused multi-course meal that connects diners to the forest, farm and field. Another option is Urban Farmer, a steakhouse that serves local beef in a chic, rustic setting.

If you prefer to keep things casual, Portland has more than 600 food carts clustered in small groups around the city. Whatever food styles you enjoy, Portland well and truly has your plate and palate covered.

There are more breweries in Portland than any other city in the world - over 75 and counting. The focus on handcrafted ales even extends to 'brew 'n view' movie theatres. And if you're travelling with children, you'll find plenty of pubs and ale houses that welcome youngsters with open arms and kid-friendly activities.

Willamette Valley, Oregon's beautiful wine growing region, is only 30 minutes from the city. The area is known for its pinot noir and a wide range of other varietals. You can even enjoy wine tasting experiences without leaving town, thanks to talented urban winemakers who have set up right in city.

Coffee houses are another part of Portland's thriving food scene. The locals have a longstanding love affair with freshly-roasted premium java, which gets pumped out non-stop from cafes, carts and holes in the wall. And if you feel like something sweet to accompany your long black, Americano or latte, head to the world-famous Voodoo Doughnut for some deliciously innovative treats.

Investigate the weird and wonderful retail scene

Portland's creative vibe is woven into its thriving retail scene, which spans from leading department stores and big brand labels to small local designer boutiques and fascinating specialty shops. And in Portland everything is tax-free, because each state in the USA sets its rates for income, property and sales tax. Oregon chose a higher income tax, but zero sales tax, which is just perfect for visiting shoppers.

Downtown Portland is the main fashion hub, but across the river the once industrial Central Eastside is emerging as a serious rival. For locally-made gifts and souvenirs, check out Old Chinatown and the Portland Saturday Market. Open both Saturday and Sunday from March to December, it's America's largest weekly open-air arts and crafts market.

Another retail institution that's not to be missed is Powell's City of Books - the largest independent bookstore in the world. Located in Pearl, one of Portland's top walkable shopping districts, Powell's is the size of a city block with five floors of fascinating reading material.

Fill up with fresh air

Fire up your pedometer app and see how far your feet can take you in Portland's parks, gardens and outdoor adventure venues. Here are some of the best:

• Tom McCall Waterfront Park is a 2.4 kilometre downtown green belt that was once a motorway. It's named for the governor who set Portland on its clean green path
• Covering an entire block in the heart of Chinatown, the Lan Su Chinese Garden is an authentic Ming Dynasty style haven built by Suzhou artisans and opened in the year 2000
• Washington Park, in the picturesque western hills of Portland, is easily reached by light rail from downtown. It's home to 24km of trails and 400 acres of trees, gardens, playgrounds, a zoo, a children's museum and the World Forestry Centre. Visitors with green thumbs will particularly enjoy the International Rose Test Garden and Hoyt Arboretum
• A highlight of Washington Park is the spectacular Portland Japanese Garden. This 12.4-acre haven of tranquillity, with a dozen separate gardens, has been recognised as the most authentic Japanese garden outside of Japan. There's even a Japanese tea house, the Umami Café, where traditional teas are paired with delicious Japanese delights
• More serious walkers and hikers should check out Forest Park. It's a 5,000-acre city wilderness area with plenty of wildlife and around 110km of trails to explore