Portland, Oregon: best city break

One of the USA’s coolest cities, Portland has all the cultural advantages of a major metropolis, but the intimacy of a small town. This sense of affability reverberates from the town’s urban wineries, microbreweries and coffee roasters, where conversation flows quicker than the drinks are poured.

But there’s plenty more to this bastion of counterculture than its love of a good chinwag, with a host of whimsical attractions highlighting its quirky streak, from a museum dedicated to vacuum cleaners to an urban herd of goats.

It’s also a cinch to navigate, with good public transport and a bike-share initiative. While the city is famous for its artisan restaurants, a more social – and undeniably more fun – way to dine is at some of the city’s 500 street food carts.

Epic solo travel experience: Exploring the Alberta Arts District. Time your visit to coincide with the Last Thursday art walk.