Portland, Oregon, is a beautiful city poised on the edge of the Willamette River with intriguing architecture and alluring landscapes. Every season brings forth an abundance of activities and events that draw visitors to experience the artistic synergy and multi-cultural environment of the Rose City. From biking, hiking, museums, the Zoo, art galleries, music, shopping, unique boutique hotels, fine dining, mysterious undergrounds, and stunning gardens, Portland stands as the premiere travelers’ destination of the Pacific Northwest.

Activities

The garden leads visitors through the paths of a harmonious tapestry of nature that evokes the five senses and separates the outside world. Pavilions with elemental purpose and designations such as Painted Boat in Misty Rain and Celestial House of Permeating Fragrance, reflect the essence of Chinese artful design and intention. Beauty and quietude fuse with the aromatic flora of Chinese Paper Bush, Star Jasmine and numerous floras that encircle the garden and add to the colorful milieu.

Serenity is also found in the art of Chinese tea. The Tower of Cosmic Reflections teahouse is a wonderful respite for visitors. The teahouse offers authentic Chinese tea and teacakes in a traditional setting with a lovely view of the garden.

Portland Classical Chinese Garden offers visitors an opportunity to experience rich traditional Chinese culture and nature in an inspirational landscape that is as delicate and spiritual as the lotus flower. Best time to visit spring through fall.

The Oregon Zoo, located on S.W. Canyon Road has gone through multiple incarnations and expansions over the years since its inception in 1887. Once called the Washington Park Zoo, local residents could hear the sound of the lion’s roar on warm nights when the south wind blew. Today, the zoo is a wonderful cohesion of popular elements from its past with incorporated technology, contemporary and modernized animal habitats.

The authentic steam engine Zoo train is one of the most appealing attractions in the park with a four-mile ride through the grounds and the lushly forested Washington Park. The journey is a great way to take a breather before heading back to the wilds of the zoo. Don’t miss the zoo’s newest addition, the Black Bear Ridge exhibit, which recently opened in the Great Northwest section. The Oregon Zoo is a wonderful experience for visitors of all ages and is one of the most remarkably picturesque and fascinating zoos in the west. Plan to spend a full day to see the entire zoo.

Explore the World Forestry Center, located on Canyon Road next to the Oregon Zoo’s parking lot (in the circular building). This fun and interesting museum is great for all ages and especially appealing to families. The center’s water raft ride is a blast and the Canopy Lift exhibit (seated ride) is sensational. Loads of interactive exhibits, programs, field trips and forestry info will have your kids clamoring to investigate the entire center.

Gardens are prevalent in the Rose City and a visit to the Portland Japanese Garden, located S.W. Kingston Ave. in Washington Park, is well worth the visit. Every season offers a new impression of the Japanese Garden but spring and early fall offer the most poignant displays of vibrancy and color. Paths loop through manicured trees and flowering shrubbery, with the musical cascade of waterfalls flowing over mossy stones in a tranquil setting. Look for the tipping bamboo fountains and the Koi pond off on the side paths; these features offer wonderful photo opportunities.

One of the city’s largest draws is the superb Portland Rose Gardens, located in Washington Park across from the Japanese Garden. The rose gardens can be a bit difficult to find; however, their website affords visitors easy direction options. There is no place in Oregon as beautiful as the Rose Test Gardens in summer with tremendous views of Downtown Portland and Mt. Hood in the distance. The heady fragrance of thousands of roses deepens during the warm afternoons and the walking paths and park architecture set a perfect backdrop for the roses’ visual allurement. The rose garden paths meander through some 550 varieties, planted in sweeping beds and cultivated over storybook arches. The romantic gardens have long been the scene for wedding photography and a popular trysting site.

The Wildwood trail in Forest Park, located on N.W. 29th Ave. and Upshur St., runs over 30 miles and loops through some of the most scenic forested footpaths in Portland. There are many entrances into Forest Park in addition to 29th and Upshur St. A great place to begin a hike is just past Portland’s most famous and exquisite historical home, the Pittock Mansion. Located on N.W. Pittock Drive, the Mansion was built in 1909 and completed in 1914 by Portland Newspaper magnet and civic icons Henry Pittock and his wife Georgiana. The Pittocks were in their ‘80s when they moved into the mansion and only lived there for a sum total of five years before passing away. Today the European- crafted mansion is a designated museum and owned by Portland Parks and Recreation Department. The mansion sits atop Portland’s west hills and has an incredible view of the city and Mt. Hood. The mature landscaped grounds are stunning and the richly, detailed interior is breathtaking. A Grand marble staircase winds its way to the upper floors, where visitors will find amazing innovative designs that were non-existent or not common in the Pittocks’ day. The innovative features included an elevator, a surround shower system in the main bathroom, sleeping porches and a central vacuum. The Pittock Mansion is enchanting and gorgeously decorated in original and authentic period pieces throughout the house. The mansion offers a rare opportunity of a glimpse into Portland’s past and a gracious bygone era.

The Oregon Museum of Science and Industry, located on S.E. Water Ave. (near downtown Portland) is a science extravaganza with over 200 interactive exhibits. From exploring galaxies to submarines and virtual reality, OMSI is a long-time Portland favorite with parents and kids. The domed IMAX Theater is five stories high and presents shows of global content.

Arts and music, inextricably linked to Portland’s multi-faceted cultural personality, appear in every form, style and genre in the city. The opportunities for artistic pursuits are available day and evening in this often-bohemian metropolis and the best place to start is the Portland Art Museum, located on S.W. Park Ave. The museum’s large and diverse collections of art, ranges from European paintings and sculptures to Native American and pre-Columbian. The permanent collection of photographic art is located in the Modern and Contemporary Art building and features numerous fascinating daguerreotypes. The Portland Art Museum is the oldest in the Pacific Northwest and their impressive collections are worth the visit.

Patrice Raplee is an experienced travel photojournalist and editor of Travel Excursion and Seattle Spotlight for Positively Entertainment magazine. She is a member of North American Travel Journalists Association (NATJA) and the Recording Academy. Her photographs and articles have appeared in numerous international publications, as well as NW newspapers such as the Seattle Times, the Stranger, Seattle Weekly and the Oregonian. As a freelance photojournalist, she has also worked with acclaimed musical entertainers, such as Santana, Billy Joel and Steven Tyler. Patrice has written several children’s short stories and is currently working on an adult fiction novel for publication.

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