Elevations vary from a few feet above sea level to 11,235 feet. Year round activities are always abundant. The view of the Cascades to the east are fabulous, most notably Mount Hood which provides year round recreational activities from skiing to hiking. The city of Portland is divided by the Willamette River and provides many opportunities for water activities. This area boasts of a mild climate with summer temperatures rarely over 80 degrees and very rarely below 40 degrees.
Spring comes early and fall comes late, and the gentle rain keeps the area green and lush.
Outdoor recreation offers camping, fishing, hiking, river rafting, biking, skiing, wind surfing and kite flying. The area offers many spectator sports, from Portland Trail Blazers , Portland Fire , Portland Rockies and WHL's Portland Winter Hawks . The Portland Art Museum, founded in 1892 is the region's oldest and largest visual and media arts center and one of Oregon's greatest cultural assets. The Museum's treasures span 35 centuries of international art and offer one the most comprehensive collections on the West Coast. This playground for the mind includes hands-on fun, live demonstrations, a planetarium, laser shows, laboratory experiments, and classes and camps for all ages.