Many of the campus buildings have excellent views of downtown Portland and the Willamette and Columbia Rivers. The site also provides spectacular views of Mount St. Helens and Mount Hood. As Oregon's only academic health center, OHSU is devoted to education and research in the health sciences. Portland provides many cultural offerings including the Oregon Symphony Orchestra, the Portland Opera, the West Coast Chamber Orchestra and the Portland Center for the Performing Arts. Performances offer great variety from street theater to live comedy.
Musical offerings span the range from traditional folk music to jazz to alternative and blues.
Many coffee houses and bookstores can be found in the Portland area. The Portland climate is temperate. The surrounding areas provide abundant opportunities for outdoor recreation. There are more than 100 parks within the city limits. The largest city park, the 5,000 acre Forest Park, includes the Japanese Garden, the International Rose Test Garden and the Washington Park Zoo.