There are not a lot of maps or photos in this city guide, but that won't bother the person who is primarily looking for information. This is a guide designed for someone interested in learning as much about the Portland metro area as possible.

Yes, there are the usual suggestions on where to sleep, eat and shop, where the hot nightspots are located and what the "in" brewpubs and coffeehouses are. But any decent guidebook will offer these listings.

What sets this one apart is the information you will need if you might be relocating to the area. The author, herself a Portland resident, offers sections on health care and wellness, child care and education, retirement, worship, and even the local media.

If you are planning a vacation to Portland then you'll want to check out the kidstuff, the monthly calendar of festivals and other special events, and the ideas for day trips around the area.

Portland is a city known for its beautiful parks, so be sure to check the lengthy "Parks" chapter as well as the "Attractions" section. You'll discover a whole range of places to visit like the Pearson Air Museum in nearby Vancouver, the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI), the Oregon Zoo and the Hoyt Arboretum.

An inexpensive volume crammed with an eclectic array of material both residents and visitors will find useful—I haven't seen a more comprehensive guide book than this one. When you factor in that it retails for under $20, how can you not purchase the Insiders' Guide: Portland, Oregon if you are searching for information on this northwest metro area?