Portland Attractions

The Crystal Springs Rhododendron Garden in Portland contains rhododendrons, azaleas, Japanese maples, dogwood, and magnolias on almost ten acres of land. While the main attraction is of course the spring bloom, the garden is a lovely place throughout the summer. In winter admission is free and it is still a peaceful place to spend some time. The garden has many lovely features such as waterfalls and ponds along with many coniferous trees.

The garden holds its early show in April, with several hundred blooming rhododendrons, azaleas, and other shrubs and trees. The colors are simply incredible and the spectacle continues into early summer. During the spring and summer months the Rhododendron Garden does charge a small admission fee.

The property, originally the Crystal Springs Farm in the 1800s, was developed into a garden in the early 1950s by the Portland Chapter of the American Rhododendron Society. In 1964 the property was named the Crystal Springs Rhododendron Garden. The grounds are maintained by volunteers and various associations who donate their time and effort.

The Lan Su Chinese Garden opened in the year 2000, after much effort and commitment by local officials. The intention behind the garden was to shed light on Chinese culture and history after the city developed a relationship with its sister city of Suzhou,China.

The resulting garden is a tranquil environment containing rocks, plants, trees, and gardens, and a lake on about 40,000 square feet of land in central Portland. Artisans who came from Suzhou constructed traditional buildings and walkways. Native Chinese plants were brought in allowing for a truly authentic experience. Completing the garden is a teahouse, the Tao of Tea, located in the Garden's Tower of Cosmic Reflections.

The Lan Su Chinese Garden offers a number of interesting activities in the park, from music and various arts presentations at the teahouse to plant shows and the annual spring plant sale.

The Audubon Society of Portland Wildlife Sanctuary is a 143-acre wildlife sanctuary located just outside Portland. It features a rehabilitation center for injured wildlife, bird observation areas and more than 4mi/6.4km of trails for hiking.

Duniway Park in Portland was named for Abigail Scott Duniway, a leading feminist. It has an excellent track for running.

Vancouver National Historic Reserve incorporates the historic Fort Vancouver, a supply depot of the Hudson's Bay Company, and tells the history of the local area. Also part of the park is the McLoughlin House, moved here from its original location in Oregon City.

The Hoyt Arboretum is located on a 187-acre site just west of downtown Portland. It features more than 1,100 species of trees and shrubs. There are more than 12 miles of hiking trails, a picnic area, public gardens, and an educational facility. The Arboretum is an important research area for scientists and students, and is in essence, a living laboratory.

Visitors can come here to enjoy a walk through the trees and relax in the peaceful environment. For those who want to learn a little more, there is a guided tour, lasting approximately 1.5 hours, offered during some months. Hoyt Arboretum offers something different each month. The facilities calendar shows what trees are in bloom each month and other seasonal highlights.

During the summer the Arboretum offers a variety of activities for children, including day camps and educational walks designed to entertain youngsters.

The James F Bybee House is located in the Howell Territorial Park in Portland. The house was built in 1856 and is now a museum of pioneer life with an emphasis on agriculture.

The Kidd's Toy Museum in Portland houses the toy collection of Frank Kidd. It features a collection of toys related to transportation dating back to 1869. The museum also features dolls, toys, and other children's collectibles.

The Leach Botanical Garden in Portland showcases the study of botany and horticulture on almost 16 acres of beautiful land. It features plants from the Pacific Northwest. There are also children's classes and a reference library.

The OMSI complex in Portland includes an OMNIMAX domed screen theater, a planetarium, a U.S. Navy submarine, and educational hands-on displays in a variety of fields. This is a great facility for children and the whole family. Among the five galleries visitors will find colorful, entertaining, and educational exhibits for young children, as well as hands on and interactive displays for all ages. Some of the fields covered include energy, environment, health, chemistry, engineering, and technology.

Docked just outside the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry is the USS Blueback, a non-nuclear submarine which was in use for over 30 years. This submarine was also used in the filming of the motion picture Hunt for Red October. Today visitors can climb aboard for a guided tour.

When you're ready to relax, check out the Planetarium or the OMNIMAX Theater. Also see the museum's calendar for information on special events, usually held on the weekends, and the various programs on offer.

Oaks Park in Portland has been in operation for more than 100 years, making it one of the oldest operating amusement parks in America.

The Oregon Zoo is located in Washington Park in Portland. It features more than 64 acres of land with hundreds of species, many fine exhibits with animals from all over the world, an elephant museum, a photo and art gallery and a zoo railway.

The zoo has long prided itself on its focus and efforts towards conservation. It was begun in the late 1800s by one man, Richard Knight, an animal lover who put together a private collection of animals. This eventually became the foundation of the zoo. However, the zoo initially did not do well and only really began to flourish in the mid 20th C, when it moved to its current location. Since that time the animal collection has grown, and now also includes many birds and a marine exhibit with Steller sea lions and sea otters.

Visitors may also want to take the time to learn about the Oregon Zoo's conservation programs and research. One of the primary focuses of the zoo is on preserving the species of the Pacific Northwest.

PGE Park is a multi-use facility that plays host to football games, concerts, and major-league soccer.

The Peninsula Rose Garden in north Portland is one of the largest sunken rose gardens in the United States with more than 9,000 roses in two acres of land.

The Portland Children's Museum offers hands-on activities and experiences for children.

The Portland International Airport is located approximately 20 minutes from downtown Portland Oregon. There is a conference center, restaurants, shops and other services.

The Ross Island Bridge in Portland was completed in 1926. It is a a cantilever truss bridge across the Willamette River.

The Steel Bridge over the Willamette River in Portland is considered unique because it is one of the only known dual-lift truss bridges in the world. It is the second-oldest vertical lift bridge in North America.

The current bridge was finished in 1912 and replaced the Steel Bridge swing span bridge that was built in 1888 in the same location.

The Grotto is a beautiful 62 acre Catholic Shrine and botanical garden located in Portland.

The Washington County Historical Museum in Portland features Washington County local history, including Native American history and artifacts, as well as other exhibits. Main exhibit changes three to four times per year. The Print Arts Northwest gallery features new artists monthly.

The World Forestry Center is located in Washington Park in Portland. It features more than 20,000 square feet of space with interactive and hands-on exhibits related to forests from around the world.

The Bridal Veil Falls State Park is located on the Columbia River Scenic Highway. The park offers hiking opportunities to the Bridal Veil Falls and to a viewpoint over the gorge of the Columbia River. From the falls visitors can view the Pillars of Hercules, a basalt tower.

The small town of Clackamas is located southeast of Portland.

CLOSED.

The Oregon Military Museum is located on the grounds of Camp Withycombe in Clackamas. The museum contains a collection including weapons, artillery, vehicles and weapons which depict the state's military history,

The town of Columbia City is home to the Caples House which was built in 1870. Today the house and buildings occupy an entire city block and function as a museum depicting pioneer life and the history of the town.

Vista House is an interpretive center featuring educational exhibits as well as displays relating to Vista House, the Historic Columbia River Highway and local flora.

Vista House was completed in 1918 as a memorial to Oregon pioneers and was used as a rest station for highway travelers.

The Philip Foster Farm in Eagle Creek was built in 1882 and is on the National Register of Historic Places. The farm features a barn and farmhouse from the 1800's, a pioneer store and gardens.

The small town of Estacada (pop. 2,370) is located 30mi/48km southeast of Portland. It is the gateway to Mount Hood National Forest and a great place for outdoor recreational opportunities.

The Eagle Creek National Fish Hatchery is located east of Estacada. Visitors can view trout and salmon. The best viewing time is during steelhead spawning from March to June.

The town of Gresham (pop. 94,000) is the fourth largest city in Oregon. It is located east of Portland and is the gateway to the Columbia Gorge and the Mount Hood area. The surrounding area offers excellent hiking, fishing, boating, and skiing opportunities.

The Gresham Pioneer Museum features a number of displays related to the town's history which began in 1852 with the arrival of the first settlers.

Hillsboro (pop. 84,000) is located just west of Portland and is a high-tech center and companies such as Intel have operations in town. It is the center of Oregon's Silicon Forest.

Newberg (pop. 18,000) was the first city in Oregon to hold Quaker services. Quakers settled in this area in the 1870's and founded what is now the George Fox University. The surrounding area is known for its agriculture, particularly hazelnuts.

The Hoover-Minthorn House Museum in Newberg is located in a restored 1881 house which was the former home of Herbert Hoover. He lived in the house for only four years while growing up but the home is on the National Register of Historic Places. It contains original furnishings and photographs.

St Helens (pop. 10,000) is located on the Columbia River on the Oregon and Washington border. The town is named for nearby Mount St Helens and features an historic downtown district on the waterfront.

The Troutdale Depot was rebuilt in 1907 after the original building burned down. The building was moved to its present location in Depot Park after it was donated to the town by the Union Pacific Railroad in 1976. The museum contains a number of railroad items.