1. Portland’s coffee trumps Seattle’s Coffee.

Coffee culture in Portland is borderline snobbish. Stumptown and Division rule the area, and Starbucks is something we settle for when we absolutely have to. A 2011 study found 876 coffee shops brewing in town. That means two things: You will never go un-caffeinated and being a "barista" is a profession.  

2. Portland runs on beer

Portlandians drink a lot: all kinds of alcohol included. But Portland’s beer culture is almost as strong as the coffee culture. Maybe it’s because we rely on caffeine and booze to make it through the gloomy winter months, and we celebrate summer with more boozing. All holidays are celebrated with a pub-crawl and happy hour is so popular that a happy hour guidebook has been published to help us find the best happy hours in the city. Portland is the Number 1 Best Beer City in America according to Travel & Leisure.
Speaking of running…  

3. Portlandians run and bike. Everywhere.

According to Bicycle Magazine, Portland is also the number 1 bike-friendly city in America.  There are more than 180 miles of bike lanes in the city, and finding a place to park the pedals is infinitely easier than finding parking in the city.
On mapmyrun.com, Portland has nearly 40,000 running trails listed. In the next 6 weeks there are over 25 races registered with runningintheusa.com. The Portland Marathon is one of the best in the west, and there can be as many as 10,000 competitors.  

4. Portland is Soccer city USA

A Timber’s match is a must is Portland. The fans, like most Portlandians, are extremely accommodating and accepting as long as you’re willing to sing and cheer and clap with the rest of the Timber’s Army section. Don’t forget your green and gold. Sporting a scarf can’t hurt either.  

5. Spirit at sporting events isn’t just for soccer

The Portland Trail Blazers are having a phenomenal season. The Blazers support in Rip City is a strong as ever. You can find the Blazers home at the Rose Garden (now known as the Moda Center) in the heart of the Rose Quarter.   

6. Get ready for rain

This winter has been exceptionally dry, but normally it rains. A lot. That doesn’t stop Portlandians from enjoying their regular activities. From hiking to happy hour, the rain slows very few residents down. You’ll rarely see a true Portlandian with an umbrella, and galoshes are only for extreme conditions.  

7. Portland is a mecca for hipsters

The rumors are true: we do have hipsters here. Some look like lumberjacks. Beards are almost a requirement. And iconic and memorable mustaches are key. You can expect longer lines for coffee, brunch, food-carts (also a popular destination for foodies,) and just about anywhere else that is considered a cool hole-in-the-wall place.  

8. Our bookstore is the best.

Powell’s bookstore is a must whether you’re just visiting or if you live here. It sits on an entire city block and is the home for more than a million books. Powell’s promotes itself as the world’s largest new and used bookstore. There’s something for every reading level at Powell’s.  

9. Brunch should be an Olympic event

 Waiting over an hour for an omelet? No problem. It’s no secret that Portland is known for great food, and brunch is certainly no exception. It’s more than just an excuse to drink in the morning. Some of the top rated places via Yelp are Tasty ‘n Sons, Screen Door, Simpatica Dining Hall, and the Hazel Room.  

10.  Public Transit is the among the fare-est in the country

Portland is the 24th most populated city in the US, but it ranks 7th in public transit ridership. Portland has been designed to make public transit the easiest and more efficient option for travel. Avoid attempting to find street parking, paying to park, and finding a designated driver all by making use of TriMet. 
RC