Portland Shopping (Tax-free)

Here in Portland, you'll find everything you expect in world-class shopping - except the sales tax.

What you see is what you get in Portland. Since there's no sales tax in Oregon, the price you see on an item is the price you pay at the register. Which only begs the question: Isn't shopping a whole lot more fun without taxes taking a bite out of your travel budget?

And to give you another excuse to shop, our merchants have created some enticing offers. Take advantage of the Portland Big Deal package (Oct.-May) or the Cool Summer Deals package (June-Sept.), through which you'll be entitled to "Shop Portland" vouchers good for special savings with Portland retailers.

PEARL DISTRICT

You can sample haute couture and hot cuisine in Portland's Pearl District, which has quickly become the place to see and be seen. The Pearl is composed of 50 city blocks of industrial warehouses turned sleek loft apartments, cutting-edge art galleries and vibrant international restaurants.

Though the neighborhood features outstanding brewpubs, delicious international cuisine and the world's largest independent bookstore, the soul of the Pearl is in its galleries. Check them out on the first Thursday of every month, when most galleries stay open late to showcase the talents of new and established artists.

NOB HILL/NORTHWEST PORTLAND

You can also find great shopping areas in the bustling Northwest/Nob Hill neighborhood, another of the city's hippest hubs. Seemingly designed for people-watching, the main streets never fail to produce an eclectic mix of leather-clad Harley riders congregating outside Starbucks, immaculately dressed West Hills' shoppers searching for imported linens, and boisterous Gen-Xers enjoying pizza and microbrews at sidewalk cafes.

DOWNTOWN

The clean and vibrant downtown is home to three major department stores: Nordstrom, Meier & Frank and Saks Fifth Avenue (the only one other than the original to physically reside on Fifth Avenue).

Nearby Pioneer Place is a multi-level glass-ceilinged mall in the heart of the city that's home to J. Crew, Eddie Bauer and Todai Restaurant, an upscale Japanese seafood and sushi buffet featuring more than 40 types of sushi.

LLOYD CENTER

From downtown, hop aboard a MAX light rail train for a jaunt across the Willamette River to Lloyd Center, where 200 stores wrap around an indoor ice rink. Oregon's largest mall, Lloyd Center houses a 17-restaurant food court, an 18-screen movie house and department stores. Lloyd Center is only seven minutes from downtown Portland, and the ride on MAX is free.

And to give you another excuse to shop, our merchants have created some enticing offers. Take advantage of the Portland Big Deal package (available October-May), through which you'll be entitled to "Shop Portland" vouchers good for 15 percent off your first purchase of $25 or more at participating retailers.

CULTURAL DISTRICT

From late spring to early fall, you can also hit the Portland Farmers' Market, located in the Cultural District's South Park Blocks. Each week the market boasts organically grown produce, fresh-baked breads, seafood and seasonal flowers.