One of Portland's oldest, most popular, and frequently visited parks is Washington Park. The Japanese Garden and International Rose Test Garden are located in Washington Park and are close to one another on the park's more developed east side.

New rose varieties are grown in the well-known International Rose Test Garden. Roses bloom in the city's mild climate throughout the fall, but tourists should plan to attend the annual Rose Festival in May and June. Another all-day retreat in Washington Park is the Portland Japanese Garden. It is one of the biggest parks outside of Japan and is built on the grounds of an old zoo. The park's modern zoo, Portland Children's Museum, and Hoyt Arboretum are among the other well-liked attractions. Animals from all over the world, such as Asian elephants, American beavers, and African crocodiles, can be found at the Oregon Zoo in Washington Park. With 190 acres of forest, the Hoyt Arboretum has 12 kilometers of hiking trails.

The Columbia River divides the states of Oregon and Washington, and its entire length is a spectacular tourist destination perfect for leisurely drives and enjoying the outdoors. One of the most popular day trip destinations from Portland is the massive 292,500-acre Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area, which is located along the region's biggest river.

The journey includes locks, views, and hiking routes. Numerous travelers like stopping to take pictures of the waterfalls that line the route, such as the majestic Multnomah Falls (which is always flowing), the picturesque Oneonta Gorge, and the Latourell Falls at Guy W. Talbot State Park. The hiking trail at Angel's Rest and Vista House at Crown Point are additional attractions. Ainsworth State Park offers camping in the gorge. But the Columbia River Gorge offers more than simply breathtaking views. Both hand-crafted beer and farm-fresh food are readily available. Due to its distinctive geography, the Gorge produces a wide variety of wine, from tempranillo and syrah in the east to chardonnay and pinot noir in the cool western hills.

This opulent residence was constructed in 1914 by Henry Pittock, the founder of the Oregonian newspaper, just west of the center of Portland. Before passing away in 1919 at the age of 80, Pittock only spent five years living here. The neighborhood came together to persuade the City of Portland to buy the mansion, which was scheduled for demolition in the 1960s.

Thanks for that, visitors today have the opportunity to explore this impressive and eclectic home. Through private fundraising, the mansion was restored to its full glory. The Pittock Mansion featured a number of remarkable features, particularly for its time, such as a central vacuum system, intercoms, and indirect lighting. The house is situated on 46 acres at a 1,000-foot elevation above Portland. On clear days, this makes for spectacular city views. The mansion was renowned for its magnificent gardens when it was at its peak. That trend continues today, and the house is situated halfway between Washington Park, the Hoyt Arboretum, and the numerous trails of the massive Forest Park.

The oldest continually running public rose test garden in the United States is the Portland International Rose Test Garden. More than 10,000 roses can be seen in the area, which is unofficially called the Portland Rose Garden. Every year, hundreds of thousands of tourists from all over the world enjoy its sights and smells. The garden also provides breathtaking views of Mount Hood and the city.

There are numerous portions of the grounds with various interesting plants to explore. In what is known as the Gold Award Garden, which also has a lovely gazebo, the garden cultivates new rose varieties, even miniatures, and past award winners are planted. Visit during the late spring bloom for the greatest benefits. The gardens provide a clear view of Portland's downtown area and Mount Hood on days with blue skies. The International Rose Test Garden has limited parking, however, there are many public transportation alternatives in the city that can get you there. On the other side of the river, in a sunken landscape, is Peninsula Park Rose Garden, another lovely Portland rose garden.

A convenient retreat from the city is offered by Forest Park, which borders the west side of the city and offers more than 5,000 acres of Northwest forest to explore. One of the biggest urban parks in the nation, it spans the eastern slope of the Tualatin Mountains.

Forest Park’s extensive system of trails, fire lanes and roads provide excellent opportunities for hiking, walking, running, and simply escaping the urban atmosphere. An abundance of wildlife (more than 112 bird and 62 mammal species) can be found in the park. The park has more than 80 miles of hiking and walking paths, including several of the greatest in the Portland area. Newcomers should bring a map with them to help with navigation. The 30-mile Wildwood Trail is well-liked because it links to other city-circumnavigating footpaths. The Maple Trail Loop is another well-liked loop that highlights some of the tallest flora in the area. You can also reach the famous Pittock Mansion by hiking through Forest Park from Lower Macleay Park.

At this famous used bookstore, bookworms will enjoy exploring more than a million titles. To make a slightly chaotic but pleasant atmosphere, shelves mix new and used books together. Nine color-coded rooms house more than 3,500 different sections, offering something for every interest, including an incredible selection of out-of-print and hard-to-find titles.

It's simpler to choose a book when there are staff picks, clever displays, and lots of places to read while leaning against a wall. And, in addition to shelves upon shelves of books, the store also stocks wonderful gifts and souvenirs. There is a spacious coffee shop at the Burnside site where you can relax and read your new book selection. Nearly every day is filled with activities on Powell's Books calendar, which also lists author readings, panel discussions, writing workshops, and numerous different book groups. Of the independent chain's five sites in the Portland region, this store on Burnside Street is by far the biggest.

The Portland Japanese Garden is a haven of meticulously kept, serene beauty located close to the International Rose Test Garden and on the picturesque West Hills of Portland, above Washington Park. The 5.5-acre (2.2 ha) area is known as one of the most authentic Japanese gardens outside of Japan and features a traditional Japanese tea house, meandering streams, private walks, and an unparalleled view of Mount Hood.

Portland Japanese Garden was designed to provide Portlanders with a peaceful retreat from their busy lives and to honor the expanding cultural ties between Oregon and Japan when it was first made available to the public in 1961. Both impressions are still present today at the Japanese Garden, which is exquisitely designed in a variety of architectural styles to provide visitors with a particularly tranquil experience. The Flat Garden, a picture-perfect setting, the Strolling Pond Garden, and a Tea Garden with a magnificent ceremonial teahouse are some of the garden areas. The park hosts cultural performances, lecture series, and mindfulness tours among other events. In a spacious, contemporary cafeteria, the Umami Café in the garden serves tea and Japanese finger foods.

The Portland Art Museum was established in 1892 and is the oldest museum in the Pacific Northwest. Since then, a sizable and diverse collection has grown. Over 112,000 square feet of gallery space is only used to display a small portion of the more than 50,000 items.

The museum contains substantial collections of Northwest art, Asian art, Native American art (particularly art from the Pacific Coast), prints and drawings, and photographs. Its European and American collections, particularly those from the 19th and 20th centuries, feature some exceptional individual artifacts. The enormous collection of prints and drawings, which includes works by Old Masters printmakers like Dürer and Rembrandt as well as more contemporary artists, was mostly collected by the late Gordon Gilkey. Cart with Black Ox by Vincent Van Gogh is one of the most famous works at the Portland Art Museum. The museum also includes the Crumpacker Family Library, which focuses on visual arts, and the Northwest Film Center. Every month on the first Thursday in the evening, the museum offers free days.

After the city established ties with its sister city in Suzhou, China, the Lan Su Chinese Garden was established in 2000 to offer light on Chinese culture and history. The garden offers infinite paths to discovery, whether you are a visitor simply taking in the beauty of the garden for the first time or a member who comes back day after day to sip tea in the teahouse.

On around 40,000 square feet or roughly one city block, of land in central Portland, this serene setting includes rocks, plants, trees, gardens, and a lake. Chinese natural plants were imported, while Suzhou-based artisans constructed traditional structures and walkways. The garden is completed with a wonderful tea house. There are both guided and self-guided tours available, and there are frequently scheduled special activities like mahjong, tai chi, and tea tastings. The gardens welcome visitors with their own cameras, but tripods are not permitted.

The Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI) is ranked as one of the top science centers in the United States and has an international reputation for its innovative exhibits and educational programs. A planetarium, a US Navy submarine, educational hands-on exhibits, and a theater with a four-story screen are all part of the OMSI complex in Portland.

The museum contains five exhibit halls, hundreds of interactive exhibits and eight laboratories, 300-seat, four-story Empirical Theater, 200-seat Harry C. Kendall Planetarium/Laser Light Venue with state-of-the-art video projectors. Children's exhibits that are vibrant, amusing, and informative can be found among the galleries, along with displays that are hands-on and interactive for people of all ages. Energy, the environment, health, chemistry, engineering, and technology are some of the subjects covered. The USS Blueback, a non-nuclear submarine that was in service for more than 30 years, is docked right outside the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry. The film Hunt for Red October has a scene with this submarine.