Every city has a fringe, but Portland maintains an unusually visible odd streak. From a fiercely independent music scene to clowns riding tall bikes and marching bands on stilts, Portland prides itself on its quirky nature. Here are a few of the annual festivals that give the Rose City its unique atmosphere.

There's something different about San Francisco, and I'm not just talking about its Victorian architecture, its cable cars or the fact that the Golden Gate Bridge is painted orange. If anything, these are the end results of something that runs much deeper through the city's seven by seven mile area: its eccentric spirit.

As a resident of Portland, Oregon I have no excuse that I have never visited Seattle. I have always wanted to go but have never taken the time to plan the trip. Having only lived in the Pacific Northwest for four years I guess it’s reasonable, but I am embarrassed to admit it.

With Halloween approaching, you may already have visions of ghosts on your mind. But if you want the opportunity to learn more about the paranormal, and maybe even catch a glimpse of a ghoul or two, head down to Charleston, SC.

Situated halfway between Myrtle Beach and Hilton Head Island, Charleston is famous for polite manners, great down-home cooking and exquisite nineteenth century homes. But it is also known as a hotbed of paranormal activity.

From the massacre at Fort Dearborn in 1812 to the famous gangsters of the Prohibition, Chicago is a city steeped in history-and not all of it is savory. Every neighborhood has its scary stories and sordid histories, and there's no better time to explore the seamier side of Chicago's past than on a blustery fall day as Halloween approaches. Wear something warm, bring a camera and someone's hand to hold, and spend an evening finding out just how scary the Second City is.