Suburb of Portland Oregon, have lived here all but about 3 years of my life. DH and I bought the modest ranch home I was raised in. Siblings and all immediate family live within 30-45 minute drive of each other.
Within a 1.5-3 hour drive to beaches, mountains, desert areas.
Same day drive I can:
drive along Columbia River to Multnomah Falls, Hood River and the "Fruit Loop" drive around the farms
drive to Crater Lake to spend a day or two
head to the Ocean and walk along the sand collecting rocks, shells, sand dollars
head to the mountains--Mt Hood, Mt Batchelor
head a bit more east and spend time at Kaneeta Indian Reservation and museum
I have never feared downtown Portland, there are places I wouldn't go at night now and in the past. But that may be true in any city. The area is getting a bit more cleaned up, and I do appreciate the more compassionate attitude towards the homeless and those struggling with addiction and other mental illness or causes of homelessness.
There are some wonderful restaurants and food courts downtown, it is a Foodie Mecca!
A place where individualism and weirdness is OK, and folks generally are accepting.
The bagpipe playing unicycle rider is a fun person to see!
Close to major airports (PDX and SEA) and two well known trauma centers, a burn center and two children's hospitals.
A days drive to Seattle and ferries to Canada, a one day drive to Sacramento where our best friends live.
A pretty cool place to be!