Uniquely situated, Portland provides its residents with the best of everything, from windsurfing to wine tasting. Known as "The City of Roses," Portland, Oregon is acclaimed as "one of the best places to live in the United States." Nestled in the beautiful Willamette Valley at the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia Rivers, this remarkable city is located within the lush environment of the Pacific Northwest. Famous for its forests, rivers, lakes, ocean beaches, and extensive recreational opportunities, Portland is a true Pacific Northwest experience. Visiting Portland? Visit www.travelportland.com for hotel and visitor information.

Climate

Although residents may experience year-round skiing, Portland itself enjoys mild winters and spectacular summers. January low temperatures average 34 degrees and July high temperatures average 82 degrees. Despite what you may have heard about how much it rains in the Pacific Northwest, average rainfall is just 37 inches per year.

The People

The Portland metropolitan area has a population of 1.8 million people, with a median age of 35. Portland's livability, natural beauty and urban charm attract people from all over the country and the world, contributing to its increasing cultural diversity.

Culture

Most Portland residents are hard-pressed to keep up with the city's dynamic artistic and cultural community throughout the year. You can choose to hear the Waterfront Blues Festival, the Oregon Symphony, North by Northwest (a festival which attracts rock bands from around the country), Portland Opera, or the internationally-renown Mt. Hood Festival of Jazz. Each night also offers a vast selection of smaller, local performances throughout the city. You can see the NW African American Ballet, Oregon Ballet Theater, Tygres Heart Shakespeare, Oregon Children's Theater, or one of the many local theater companies in residence year-round. For your viewing pleasure, visit Portland Art Museum, the American Advertising Museum, or the Pearl District, the center of Portland's considerable gallery scene.

The city also supports a broad spectrum of activities related to both traditional and alternative healing arts. In addition to East West College, Portland has colleges of Chiropractic, Acupuncture, and Naturopathic, as well as traditional medical and dental schools.

Recreation

Outdoor recreation abounds in Oregon with snow-skiing, water-skiing, hiking, camping, fishing, sailing, boating, windsurfing, river rafting, rock climbing, golf, tennis, and just about anything else you can imagine that is outdoor recreation-related. Portland lays claim to Forest Park, the nation's largest forested urban park (over 5,000 acres) which has over 50 miles of hiking and mountain biking trails just minutes from downtown. Runners are a common sight all around town and many of them participate in the annual Portland Marathon and the 150-mile Hood-to-Coast relay race. Portland is also home to the most bicyclists and bookstores per capita in the U.S.

Not surprisingly, this active crowd also appreciates its professional sports teams. The Portland Trailblazers, a perennial playoff contender, play in the state-of-the-art Rose Garden Arena on the east bank of the Willamette River. The Portland Winter Hawks hockey team, Portland Rockies minor league baseball team, and new Portland Forest Dragons arena football team all draw enthusiastic support. Portland also hosts professional golfers in local tournaments, speed demons at Portland International Raceway, and other such events.

Housing

The variety of neighborhoods around the city are one of the most appealing aspects of the Portland lifestyle. Within walking distance of either campus you will find affordable housing, small cafes, interesting restaurants, antique shops, and the scenic beauty of Portland's numerous public parks. The college does not have on-campus housing or a formal housing service. However, the Admissions Department will be happy to assist those students coming from out-of-state who request help with finding housing.

Transportation

Local transportation around town is provided by the city's bus and light-rail public transportation systems (TriMet and MAX), ranked as some of the most user-friendly mass transit in the nation.