Things to Do in Portland, Oregon, the City of Roses

Popularly called The City of Roses, Portland, Oregon offers more than fragrant blossoms in May (although the Rose Festival is something you must also definitely check out). Read on to find out more about five destinations you must check out in this environment-friendly city.

1. Speaking of The Rose Festival, you may want to make a day of visiting historical sites and landmarks by going on Portland’s History and Roses Tour. Locations vary from year to year, but include important historic homes, museums, parks and gardens, all related to Portland’s Rose Festival from its beginnings. In 2011, the tours will be open from May 21, 2011 to June 12, 2011, with prices depending on the kind of tour or destination ( 2010 prices ranged from $3.00 to $19.00 ) . A few of the stops featured in this tour are the Architectural Heritage Center , a nonprofit information center on historic conservation and preservation, the Pioneer Rose Garden and Lone Fir Cemetery , where the mayor during the first ever Rose Festival is buried, and the Ladd Circle Park and Rose Gardens. If you are a rose gardener or enthusiast, this tour is definitely something you don’t want to miss.

2. If you love the great outdoors, then you’ve come to the right city. Portland, Oregon offers bountiful and dynamic forests and trails to satisfy the hiker and nature lover in you. A must-hike in Portland is the Wildwood Trail in Forest Park, the largest wooded park located within a city in the United States. Hikes in the Forest Park are free to members of the Forest Park Conservancy, while non-members pay $10.00 per hike. You can go on the 30-mile long Wildwood Trail to see a variety of animals and forest creatures, or explore other hikes with guides. Check out the Discovery Hikes they have lined up from August to November. As with any hiking trip, be ready to enjoy yourself but also remember to protect and respect the forest you will be exploring and discovering, so more generations can enjoy its beauty.

3. Visiting Portland, Oregon in the Winter Season? Don’t worry about being trapped indoors because of snow; Portland offers plenty of fun activities for Winter visitors as well. Be sure to check out Mount Hood Oregon for winter activities and sports. From cross-country skiing to snowboarding and downhill skiing, Mount Hood offers a variety of options for you and your family to enjoy Portland’s winter season. The Mount Hood Meadows Ski Resort is a great choice for fun activities, with package deals such as a $99 3-Time Passport to help you learn how to ski in three days (package includes lessons, rentals, and lifts). You can get more deals on their website. With Portland’s magnificent terrain, you can not go wrong with spending winter in this city.

4. If you want a more educational day in Portland, Oregon, then you must visit the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry, one of the best science museums in the United States. You can take your family to see spectacular exhibits such as the Lost Egypt: Ancient Secrets, Modern Science , featured from January 29 to May 1, 2011, watch shows in their Omnimax Dome Theater , which features a variety of shows on a humongous screen, or – everyone’s all-time favorite – enjoy a show of starts in the Kendall Planetarium . The Museum is open on Tuesdays to Sundays from 9:30 am to 5:30 pm, with a general admission ticket price of $12 for adults and $9 for the young ones (3 – 13 y.o.). Shows and special tours have additional fees that you can check out on their website. So when you find yourself in Portland, Oregon, don’t forget to drop by and spend a day at one of the finest science museums in the country.

5. Last but definitely not the least, be sure to drop by and spend a great deal of time at the Portland Art Museum. In a city where art and artists thrive, this museum offers a rich collection of artworks and historical artifacts. Internationally renowned, the Portland Art Museum features exhibits such as the Threads of Time: A Gift of Japanese Textiles from Terry Welch, showcasing amazingly beautiful hand-crafted textiles from Japan, donated from Terry Welch’s collection. The Museum’s permanent collection include American Art, Asian Art, Modern and Contemporary Art, and Native American Art, as well as a Photography Collection and Silver Collection. The Portland Art Museum is open from Tuesday to Sunday (closed on Mondays) from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm most days, except Thursdays and Fridays when they close at 8:00 pm, and Sundays when they open at 12:00 pm. General admission ticket prices are $12 for Adults, $9 for senior citizens and college students (with ID), and children get in for free.

So whether you’re looking for a walking trip, a hike, or just a quiet day at a world-class museum, Portland, Oregon has a lot to offer visitors like you. Enjoy!


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