Last year, around Christmas, I discovered Portland, Oregon’s elusive Santasquatch. And this year? The Octicorn–plus five more reasons to visit Portland.

Drink some beer. Did you know that Portland has more breweries than any other city in the world? Widmer. Hopworks. McMenamins. Laurelwood. Hair of the Dog. Base Camp. If beer isn’t your thing, Portland distilleries are popping up all over town. I recently tried The Bitter Housewife aromatic bitters. I swear–I’m not bitter. And if you’re not the designated driver, there are always plenty of wineries to check out.

Chow down. If ever there was an indie foodie mecca, Portland is it. You’ve got your restaurants, your markets and your food trucks. Over 600 food trucks! Latin, Asian, French, Pacific Northwest fusion, vegan. Coffee–some of the best bean you can sip. Like ice cream? Portland’s got it in spades. If you hit up Salt & Straw, you might even find yourself with a cone full of Pear & Blue cheese ice cream topped with bug brittle on top. For real. Doughnuts? Ditto. You can even get hitched at Voodoo Doughnut. Yep.

DIY (Do It Yourself). Museums, galleries, music, theater, publishing, crafts. Portland is art. Art is Portland. You can visit a hat museum, a puppet museum and a bathtub art museum. Yes, you read that right. You can see art, buy art and make art. Portland is big on DIY. If all else fails, “Put a bird on it.”

Go outdoors. Get yourself a pair of red-laced Danner boots and walk the Pacific Crest Trail just like Cheryl Strayed. Run in the rain? Lace your Nikes up and ‘Just do it.’ Portland is loaded with parks and trails. Biking, hiking or skateboarding. Cycle around a dormant volcano? Take a hike in the largest urban forest in the U.S.? Kayak the Willamette River? It’s all there for the taking.

Get your quirk on. All references to Portlandia aside, Portland is quirky. And proud of it! Facial hair, tattoos, “lumberjack couture.” In Portland you are ‘free to be’ pretty much whatever you want to be.

Which brings me back to the Octicorn. What’s an Ocitcorn you ask? The offspring of a unicorn dad and an octopus mom, of course. And what does an Octicorn eat? Well, from what I gather, Octicorns are partial to plankton, fresh clover and cupcakes. Because everyone likes cupcakes.

What are you waiting for? Portland is Happening. Now.

Take the road less traveled, Beth