Portland International Airport (PDX) is the largest in Oregon and just four minutes from downtown. Getting there is effortless by taking the MAX light rail or an airport shuttle. You can also drive to the airport on the 30B bypass or I-205 and following the signs.

Typical flight times are four-and-a-half hours to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA). You can catch an Amtrak train, take a taxi or take the Metrorail to the city. If you rent a car, I-295 or I-495 will get you into D.C.

Attractions and tips

Washington, D.C. is a major American tourist attraction and business destination, with easy access to the White House, the Washington Monument, the National Cathedral and Ford's Theater. You'll also be close to the Jefferson Memorial, Washington Memorial, the National Air and Space Museum, the Smithsonian, the Vietnam War Memorial and the Holocaust Memorial Museum.

Catch sporting events at the Verizon Center or Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium. Annual events include the National Cherry Blossom Festival, Restaurant Week, the White House Easter Egg Roll and the Smithsonian Folklife Festival.

Washington, D.C. weather conditions are humid and seasonal. The spring and fall see relatively mild and pleasant temperatures, while the summer reaches 80 degrees and the humidity peaks. Winters are cold and snowy, with temperatures dipping as low as 38 degrees. Look for a hotel in the popular Woodland or Capitol Hill neighborhoods.