Ore. Unlike the sprawl of many modern metropolises, Portland has a beating heart and a personality to match. It's a cinch to explore the city from the square.
Great shopping is within easy walking distance.
And there's no sales tax in Oregon. Open every weekend from March through Dec. 24, the market offers a cornucopia of unique Northwestern crafts and eccentric performers. If you're in more of an indoors mood, Powell's City of Books carries more than a million volumes and is worth a browse. For lunch, there's everything from Asian-Continental fusion to some of the best street vendor soups and sandwiches around. Pazzo's gracious dining room is full of the delicious scents of Italy.