Start your exploration of Portland city centre in Pioneer Courthouse Square, the beating heart of the city. An incredible number of festivals, concerts and other events are held here, with over 300 taking place each year. Summertime sees the arrival of the free outdoor cinema season in the amphitheatre on the square.Have a stroll, cycle or skate through Tom McCall Waterfront Park, which is also a venue for some of the larger summer festivals and events. These include parts of the much-anticipated annual Portland Rose Festival.One of the most distinctive features of Portland is the number of food wagons working on the streets. Almost 500 different vendors sell tasty, cheap food in the city, often organising themselves into “pods”. Some of these groups also set up covered areas for protection from the notorious local weather. The multicultural nature of the U.S.A. is clearly seen in the wide-ranging dishes on offer – from Mexican tacos to Greek gyros to Central European goulash.There are also plenty of conventional restaurants to choose from, many of which are very reasonably priced. A number of eateries offer organic and locally sourced food – this is very much a part of Portland's eco-conscious culture.Powell's City of Books is the largest independent bookshop in the United States of America, containing over one million books at any one time and occupying an entire city block. Book lovers can easily while away an afternoon or two browsing around here. The wonderful paintings held in the Portland Museum of Art collections are also a huge city centre attraction.With a range of different lodging options to suit all budgets, the downtown area is an excellent choice for your stay in intriguing Portland.