Serenity is in the very brick and stone of this elegant 1903 Georgian Revival landmark designed by the masterful A. E. Doyle, considered one of the most beautiful buildings in the city. Honoring historians, philosophers, artists and scientists, the exterior walls and benches bear the names of those who continue to shape the Western mind. [...]
Locals and visitors are certainly made comfortable in every nook and cranny of this multifaceted plaza, literally by design. All week long people of all ages and walks of life enjoy the Square’s features, which are equally diverse: chessboards built into stone columns, a collection of public art, food carts and even a flower stand. [...]
Wedged between the Willamette River and a wall of steep, forested parks, Portland’s downtown is compact enough to explore on a two-hour walking tour.
Allow extra time to stop at museums and shops and if you tire along the way, simply catch a streetcar, train or bus - they’re all free.
Difficulty: An easy, 2.3-mile round-trip walk, [...]
The Grotto is located in East Portland and offers everything from a place for quiet contemplation to a good brisk walk through the trails - and during the holidays it’s known statewide for the incredible Festival of Lights that fills the sanctuary with holiday songs and the glow of thousands of little lights.
For most of [...]
Located in the cultural center of downtown Portland, the Portland Art Museum offers endless hours of discovery.
The museum features 40,000 objects in its 112,000 square-foot museum that spans two buildings. Fronted by the park blocks, you can enjoy a wonderful day inside the museum and then take a walk in downtown.
What to bring: Comfortable shoes [...]
Cities like Amsterdam and Leipzig may compete for the title, but Portland, Oregon, claims the prize itself: the City of Books.
Proudly anchoring the west end of the tony Pearl District, it has grown and flourished along with Portland: when Walter Powell opened his shop in 1971, this was Skid Row. Now this landmark is considered [...]
A 16,000-square-foot mansion with 44 rooms (23 which are open to viewing) in Portland’s West Hills that is rooted in history. Visitors can enjoy the architecture, stunning views or the history of the Pittock family.
What to bring: The Pittock Mansion is a walking tour that can take anywhere from 45 minutes to two hours. Bring [...]
Now one of Oregon’s most popular museums, OMSI has been around since 1944. Today it is one of the top ten science museums in the country. Not only is OMSI a learning playground for all ages, it also houses Oregon’s only IMAX theater, a laser light planetarium, a motion simulator, and is home to the [...]
Crater Lake National Park has been recommended as a wilderness preserve, a place where we may forget ourselves for a time and enjoy a surge of healthy outdoor exploration. Here, we may rediscover ourselves and learn that material things do not necessarily constitute our richest possessions. This blue gem of the Cascades certainly moves us [...]
Just blocks from the Oregon State Capitol on the banks of the Willamette River, the Salem Riverfront Carousel is a must-see for those interested in old-fashioned entertainment. With a classic band organ playing music from a bygone era and handcrafted horses, the carousel is fun for young and old alike.
What to bring: The carousel operates [...]
