Crisscrossed by rivers, mountains and vineyards, Metropolitan Portland offers more than urban adventure. Within a few minutes’ drive of downtown Portland are Pinot-producing wineries (most with year-round tasting rooms), kayak-friendly waterways that nudge wildlife preserves and, of course, the glorious foothills of Mount Hood. And if it is urban adventure you crave, be warned that Portland, the Rose City, is not your run-of-the-mill urban megapolis. An effervescent arts community, dozens of urban parks and green spaces, a lively downtown, complete with an open air plaza that serves as the community’s living room and a world-class public transportation system, are just few of the reasons that make this one of the country’s most livable cities.