Vacationers these days are looking for something different - a deviation away from the stereotypical overcrowded beaches and overpriced frozen coconut drinks. Nowadays, people seek a unique experience for their vacation and what better place to relax than Portland, Oregon?

Rapidly becoming one of the country's hippest cities, Portland offers a variety of exciting and unique attractions to please even the pickiest of people. Located pristinely close to the Pacific Ocean on the Northwestern coast of the U.S., Portland offers a gorgeous view of the Willamette River, which runs through the city, as well as Mount St. Helens, Mount Tabor and Mount Hood that envelop its border. The amiable climate and friendly faces of the area are just a few of the many appeals that draw people to Portland year after year.

The city's cuisine, for instance, is quickly becoming a contestable force of ingenuity fused with exquisite flavors. Restaurants such as Higgin's Restaurant and Bar offer a variety of delicious plates including Olive-oil poached Alaskan halibut and Totten Inlet mussels steamed in white wine with onions and crispy chorizo polenta. I think it goes without saying that they offer some of the freshest fish you may ever find as they are located so closely to their supply. Additionally, places like Paley's Place Bistro and Bar and The Heathman Restaurant offer up their own renditions of classic seafood dishes and a few with a twist. Make sure and check out the local culinary masterpieces for a meal you'll be sure to enjoy.

After you dine you may want to walk off a few of those extra pounds and the city allows you to do just that on any one of its many historical and cultural tours. From a walking tour through Portland's Chinese district on the Chinese American Heritage Tour to a stroll through the public and private floral gardens around the city in the Japanese American Heritage Tour, the city offers a diverse range of excursions to enlighten and entertain.

For the avid sports fan, Portland once again doesn't disappoint. Not only does the city facilitate a professional NBA team (the Trail Blazers) but they also have an indoor lacrosse team (the LumberJax), a hockey team (the Winter Hawks), a triple-A baseball team (the Beavers), an A-league soccer team (the Timbers) as well as the Portland International Raceway for racing fans. Sports enthusiasts of every genre will be more than happy to visit the city with so much to offer.

Of course when you're there you can't pass up the Portland Art Museum, one of the nation's top 25 largest galleries. And then there's the Oregon Museum of Science and History that you simply can't miss. The list goes on and on.

So keep Portland in mind the next time you and your loved ones are planning your next getaway. You'll be glad you gave the 'The City of Roses' a chance.