This fun, livable city is easy to navigate, and the public transportation is very efficient. Portland is divided into quadrants: northwest, northeast, southwest and southeast; split east-west by the Willamette River and north-south by Burnside St. There are at least four modes of public transportation that locals and visitors use to get around.

Portland is considered the No. 1 "Greenest City in America" by both SustainLane (Oct. '08), a website that ranks the most sustainable cities in America, and Popular Science magazine (Feb. '08). But that's far from the end of the story!

Lauded as the greenest city in the country way before the term was en vogue, Portland remains the leader in eco-friendly living.

Shopping in and around Portland is a lesson in luxury. With high-end shops, sought-after department stores, and one-of-a-kind boutiques carrying local designers, one could spend a whole week just exploring the stores (not to mention the tax-free perks).