Weird, Wonderful Reasons to Visit Portland

Portland, Oregon, might have a reputation for being weird, a mantra brought about by a public relations campaign. However, one could also use adjectives like charming, eccentric and progressive when exploring the city. While walking the streets, a palpable, welcoming vibe of acceptance and warm hospitality, no matter the temperature, is apparent.

Here are eight reasons to visit Portland, which, but for the flip of a coin, was almost named Boston.

Portland is full of enchanting hotels with names that might not be too familiar on the east coast. The Hotel Monaco is owned by Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants, whose founder, Bill Kimpton, coined the term "boutique hotel" referring to his first site in San Francisco, meaning "a place where you could stay that was more like someone's beautiful, livable and stylish home than a big, impersonal hotel where no one really cares if you come or go."

The Monaco is the epitome of this concept, offering a nightly social hour with live entertainment, beer, wine, drink of the night plus appetizers which sometimes include the local fave, Voodoo Doughnuts. If you're traveling with a pet, the Monaco will gladly accommodate you, even placing your furry friend's name on a welcome sign in the lobby. Last year, Architectural Digest named the Monaco Oregon's Most Beautiful Hotel.

Tucked away in the Hollywood neighborhood, you'll find an indie movie theater, built in the 1920s. The Hollywood Theater boasts a Byzantine architecture style with a multi-colored terracotta façade. Recently, Quentin Tarantino made a surprise visit to the theater to preview his "The Hateful Eight" production in Ultra Panavision 70mm. This method of projection has been preserved in the theater and was Tarantino's choice for early release of the film. There are approximately 45 of these theatres in existence in the U.S.

Located in the Alberta Arts District, in the Northeast quadrant of the city, is a funky lodging alternative to the standard hotel experience. How about checking into a tiny house for a night or two?

This enclave of six custom-made houses on wheels is the product of local builders, equipped with all the amenities of a hotel room but with the added feature of mega-charm. Add a gathering area which includes a fire pit, all the fixings for Smores and The Grilled Cheese Grille converted school bus food truck, and you'll never want to leave. The Grille's mantra "Come by for a taste of your childhood. (Unless your childhood sucked, and then we'll let ya have a taste of ours.)" pretty much sums up the vibe of Portland.

A 90-minute road trip west brings you to the Pacific coastline with jaw-dropping views from the Neahkahnie Mountain near the charming town of Manzanita. Located on the Nehalem Bay, this town offers a quaint downtown, the nearby Nehalem River and, of course, several miles of walkable beachline.

Take a 25-mile drive south, along U.S. 101 to the Tillamook Cheese Factory for a look and taste of the area's dairy co-op. Then head east on State Road 6 for a scenic drive back to Portland. Keep your eyes open for deer along the way.

For a more sophisticated palette, the Provenance Hotels group offers several choices in Portland. The Dossier is a stylish alternative to big brand names with a classy yet cozy ambiance. The lobby is home to a nightly happy hour where you'll mingle with a diverse group of visitors, which might include a furry friend. The Dossier is yet another pet-friendly property, which is common in Portland.

Another Provenance property, The Heathman, a few blocks away, has just undergone room renovations, updating an already beautiful National Historic Register site to Provenance standards. In addition to state-of-the-art accommodations, its Headwaters restaurant offers cuisine by Chef/Owner Vitaly Paley, a winner of numerous James Beard (who happens to hail from Oregon) awards.

In addition to Headwaters, Paley is Chef and Owner of Imperial, another Provenance property in Hotel Lucia, as well as his original restaurant Paley's Place. The Heathman also offers a weekend Russian Tea Service, where Paley shares dishes passed down from his grandmother in the hotel's Tea Court.

What looks like mini fountain sculptures, located throughout the city, are functioning water fountains, crafted in copper and bronze. The brainchild of philanthropist Simon Benson, rumor has it that the original 20 bubblers were donated in 1912 to keep loggers out of the saloons at lunchtime.

Another theory is that Benson saw the plight of a thirsty little girl at a downtown parade and decided to hydrate the city. Currently, there are 80 units around town in several variations of the original 4-bowl rendition.

Every year from March through Christmas Eve, the Portland Saturday Market features hundreds of varied vendors such as KattSplat spooky ceramics.

Located next to the Burnside Bridge along the Willamette River, you'll find everything from pottery to packaged foods at this largest continuously operated outdoor market in the United States. The name may say Saturday, but the market is also open on Sunday.