If you're considering a weekend getaway in the US, I cannot recommend Portland enough. Just a few days in and I'm already thinking about moving to the city. Portland has its charms with great food, cheap rent, and friendly people. Not to mention the beautiful state of Oregon. In just a few hours, you have mountains to the east and the beach to the west. I spent part of the weekend hiking to Angel's Rest and grabbing a drink in the seaside town of Astoria, on the Washing state border.