Welcome... to Portland, a beautiul city in the Pacific Northwest. 1 hour to snow & 1 hour to surf. Our skyline is spectacular & our citizens friendly & welcoming. Our services and activities for the Gay community are diverse and plentiful - for everyone from teens to retirees! Portland is an extremely livable city - just minutes to everything and with parks in every neighborhood. Portland offers outstanding restaurants, shopping, and events. We have it all!

I look forward to an opportunity to introduce you to our fair city and help you find a home and neighborhood that pleases you. Please check out my web page by clicking on my name or visit Celia Lyon.com.

Contributed by Celia Lyon

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Greetings and welcome! I'm please that you are considering the greater Portland (Oregon) area as a place to call home. It's fantastic here. The quality of life is consistantly rated in the top 10 among outdoor seekers as well as those with a business focus. Portland is located an hour from the ocean beaches, an hour from mountains, less than an hour from the spectacular Columbia Gorge, home of 'The Gorge Games'.

A ll that and Seattle, S.F., Vancouver BC and of course Palm Springs are just a short plane hop away!! Portland has a variety of unique architectural styles, and people tend to fall in love with "Old Portland" style homes. I look forward to providing you with professional services and introducing you to Portland and "our" community!

Contributed by Reid Martin

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More About Oregon...

Why is it that Oregonians depict their state as a playground for the soul? Is your soul soothed by sweeping rangelands, sunswept beaches, lush verdant forests, or snow-capped mountain peaks? Oregon is one state that has them all!

Perhaps you prefer to live in a thriving urban area such as Portland, yet seek abundant recreational opportunities close to hand? "Outside Magazine" chose Portland "one of the ten best places to live." Why? Five star restaurants provide fabulous dining choices because it has become a magnet for worldclass chefs. The Associated Press dubbed Portland "a destination for connoisseurs of food and drink." Her museums, theater, and music are second to none. She abounds in opportunities to satiate the cultural soul with her visual and performing arts. Indeed, she is a marvel of urban planning and renewal at its best. At the same time recreate with golf since "Golf Digest" ranks two of Portland's golf course among the nation's top 75 public courses. Better yet, "Bicycling Magazine" lists Portland the country's top cycling city. Portland, "the city of Roses" (with over 500 varieties) provides numerous open spaces in this urban area with over 37,000 acres of them. Sitting at the junction of the Columbia and Willamette Rivers, Portland houses a rich cultural diversity provided by a mix of Native Americans, Chinese, Japanese, and African Americans---Portland possesses an extremely rich diverse cultural environment for one and all.

Within an hour from Portland is 11,000 foot Mt. Hood with myriad opportunities to ski, snowboard, hike, or cross country ski. It possesses North America's longest ski season-345 days per year. While there, be sure to splash in white water rapids if you are so inclined.

Gentle ocean breezes coupled with sparkling sunlight and a temperate climate give Oregon the unique environment to be the home to over 50 wineries. With over 350 miles of Pacific coastline she provides numerous hiking havens. Nine lighthouses dot the coastline, with five of them still in use today. Visit the Oregon Dunes National Recreational Area with the Pacific Ocean on one side, lakes on the other side, with your beach in the middle. You may want to hike, camp, and ride off-road in specified areas through the cliffs. One cannot surpass Crater Lake with its crystal blue waters--it is the deepest in the United States. Hills Canyon National Recreational Area beckons hikers, campers, and rafters. With spectacular scenery it is the deepest river gorge in North America. Natural and geological diversity abounds. Everywhere you turn in Oregon you are sure to be amazed.

We could go on, but you should get packing. Oregon awaits!