It had been about fifteen years since I’d last traveled to Portland. My twin sister lives there, and I was long overdue to pay homage to her fair city.

Portland has changed quite a bit since my last visit. It still sports that earthy scrub, with recycling being the primary religion of the city, but it’s also matured nicely, blending the biking personality of Munich, along with the progressive amenities of major cities like SF, Boston and NYC.

If you’re going to do Portland right, you simply have to get out of your car and indulge in the more localized forms of transportation. Cycling is revered in Portland, so rent a bike or borrow one and hit the streets. Unlike LA, drivers are accustomed to cyclists, so you don’t have the inherent dangers of getting hit by distracted cell phone addicts. I think drivers in Portland actually watch out for cyclists, so the dangerous elements that are so prevalent in LA are pretty much absent.

You’ll see cyclists of all denominations in Portland. Some are simply cycling to work. Others are doing it for exercise. But there are the U-Haul cyclists as well, towing anything and everything.

If cycling’s not your thing, check out the Tri Met, fondly known as MAX, which snakes through the city. The light rail system connects Portland, Gresham, Beaverton, Hillsboro and also the Portland Airport. My twin and I hopped aboard and headed downtown to indulge in a dense display of sights. Transfer, and you’re off to someplace else in a matter of minutes.

Wanna see the Portland sights from another perspective? Take the tram as it ushers you between the lower and upper campuses of the Oregon Health Sciences University. In a matter of minutes, you’re above the fray, watching the Willamette River meander through the city’s rugged terrain.

The architecture in Portland commands center stage. Most of the homes are old, old old, dating back to the turn of the century, when homes were crafted with care and character. Just taking a walking tour of many of the city’s neighborhoods will showcase their charm and sustainability.

There are several places worth staying. If B&Bs are your thing, check out Portland’s White House B&B, where you can surround yourself in a plethora of antiques. Meissen porcelain is prominently postured throughout the property, making you feel like you’re taking a tour of one of the finest museums in Europe.

More creative travelers should look into McMenamins, once the known as Kennedy School. Now converted, this place combines a lodging facility with a concert venue, bar and restaurant. Relive your past, as you stroll the old school corridors and remember the rulers in the classroom.

Portland’s got a great recipe for success, and I wish other cities were as easy to navigate. I had a blast, and I plan to return before another fifteen years goes by.