Nestled in Washington County, Beaverton is a picturesque place to soak up the Oregon countryside. There’s plenty to do for the intrepid traveller, from touring the region’s fabulous wineries to hiking up Cooper Mountain and exploring Tualatin Hills Nature Park. It’s also a great base for those in search of an affordable alternative to the Portland city centre.

While Portland may steal the spotlight as Oregon’s trendiest city, Beaverton isn’t far behind. Local chefs maintain that thanks to its multicultural population, Beaverton is a serious culinary contender. For foodies, exploring its smorgasbord of ethnic eateries is all part of the fun.

Beaverton is located 11 kilometres west of downtown Portland, in the Tualatin River Valley. It’s an easy 15-minute drive or 30 minutes by public transport. Light rail stations offer connections to Portland CBD, with local buses also running between the two cities. Beaverton is serviced by its own railway station, with connections to Portland, Seattle, Chicago and Los Angeles.

For sports fans and fashion aficionados, Beaverton is most famous as the home of Nike. The city has played host to the Nike World Headquarters since the brand was founded in 1964, and employed thousands of residents over the decades. While the brand doesn’t have European origins, the name “Nike” was inspired by the Greek goddess of victory.