Portland

Dubbed "home of the American coffee culture," the city knows what it takes to make a great brew. In a 2016 survey of 100 American cities, Portland came out victorious boasting the largest number of roasters per capita as well as the highest number of cafés. With that many places to enjoy a great cup of joe, one would think there is little room left for discovery — and that can't be further from the truth. Portland continues to introduce unexpected additions to its coffee scene: see Oracle Coffee Company, run by "vegan straight-edge anarchist" Andy Hurley (the drummer of Fall Out Boy). The choice here is truly endless, but if you want to see where it all began, try the original location of Stumptown Coffee Roasters (now a chain with outlets from New York to LA) at 4525 Southeast Division Street; it's argued Portland's fame as a coffee city first emerged from this very tiny space.

Portland's beer culture goes back to the 80s when the craft beer movement first began gaining momentum. What started as a handful of breweries has grown to be a crucial element of Portland's identity — one of its many nicknames being "Beervana" — with roughly 80 (and counting!) craft operations in the city. A great way to discover this side of Portland is by embarking on a bike tour of a few breweries, but if you want to squeeze a lot into a short space of time, we recommend Loyal Legion (99 local brews on tap) and Apex to sample the finest of local brews.

Saturdays from March until the day before Christmas see this eventful market unfold by the Willamette River. It's not just a place to shop — although there is plenty of that to be had here – the market is essentially a low-key open-air party, with live jazz music, international eats, and local artists and designers peddling their wares for the near-million visitors the market receives annually.

Ranked among the most prominent cultural institutions in the Pacific Northwest, the Portland Art Museum is home to Native American and Northwest art centers, in addition to rotating exhibitions and permanent collections in the Asian and modern & contemporary art wing. Notably, the museum boasts two renowned paintings: Monet's Waterlilies and Van Gogh's Ox-Cart.

Portland is home to the nation's largest wooded urban park: a short hike in, and you'll barely believe civilization is only steps away. 70 miles of trails traverse the forest overlooking the Willamette River, and although you'll have nature all to yourself at times, you're sure to also run into Portlanders out on a jog or walking their pups — prepare to be greeted with a friendly "hello." If you have time, hike up to Pittock Mansion, a French Renaissance-style château that was once occupied by the family of publisher and businessman Henry Pittock, and has now been turned into a historic house museum open to visitors. Another popular hiking destination is the so-called 'Witch's Castle' (pictured) — remnants of an abandoned stone house overgrown with moss, used by local students as a Friday night hangout location. The place is steeped in a bit of mystery, and although there is no record of any ties to witchcraft, its original dweller is rumored to have been the first person in Oregon to be sentenced to execution for murder in 1859.

This museum of oddities is a temple of all things weird, bizarre, and — at times — gross and creepy. From an alien autopsy table and (somewhat disturbing) crime scene recreations to treats served at the on-site café (dessert with crickets and scorpion bits, anyone?), the Peculiarium is a bloody good time if you're not too squeamish (or underage).

The single-block Chinese Garden was constructed as a gift to Portland from its Chinese sister city, Suzhou, complete with decorative rocks brought from home by the Chinese workers. It's a pleasant green oasis in downtown Portland, with public guided tours (included in the admission price), rare plants native to China, a traditional tea house, and a rotating array of cultural happenings.

Before you head out to explore parks further afield, take a stroll through one of Portland's most popular urban spaces: the Tom McCall Waterfront Park overlooking the Willamette River. There's usually plenty of activity here, given all of the cyclists, skateboarders, joggers, and picnickers that come here, but even more, come to attend major outdoor events and festivals held here throughout the year. On hot summer days, many flock to the refreshing Salmon Street Springs.