The Japanese gardens are a great place to relax with a 'piney' northeast locally grown smoke, one rock garden has you with a great vista of Mt. Hood.
The whole city of Portland sits right on top of a dormant volcano crater, which shows on a lot of city maps. I think it definitely affects the city vibe.
If you get to Portland you have to take a trip up the Columbia River. Totally gorgeous with waterfalls almost every half mile.
It's also worth while to ride out to Cape Meiras especially if there is a storm on the coast. It's like Big Sur, only much more wild. The last time I went I camped right off the beach and bald eagles would just hang out over the camp.
Since the '90's Portland has seemed to just get more hip despite corporations migrating down from Seattle. There are a good number of swanky boutique hotels in the city and it is usually easy to find a really deep discount deal on a few at any given time if you aren't staying with friends.
I like Seattle but Portland is easier to get around and doesn't have the regionalist attitude.