Destinations

Looking for a quick little get away that won’t break the bank?  Portland, Oregon is it. There is so much to do and see in Portland the whole family will come away satisfied. 

If the peaceful tranquility of a garden setting is what appeals to you, there are two choice and both close by.  Visit the International Rose Test Garden in Washington Park where you can see 7,000 rose bushes and spectacular views of the city.  Next to the International Rose Test Garden is the Japanese Garden.  It has been proclaimed as one of the most authentic Japanese gardens outside of Japan and has an unsurpassed view of Mt. Hood.

Museums are a plenty with oldest museum in the Northwest, the Portland Art Museum, which is internationally renowned for exciting art experiences.  Located in the heart of downtown’s cultural district, the Museum’s campus includes an outdoor sculpture court and historical interiors. Tour the world and travel through history in magnificent permanent collection galleries, six stories of modern art and special exhibitions.  Each Sunday features activities for families.  In the World Forest Center Discovery Museum you can see the forest from a bird’s-eye view or take a wet-free raft ride in Class IV rapids. Climb underneath the forest to see the life below, or try your smoke jumping skills! Round out your adventure with video journeys to Siberia, China, South Africa, and Brazil.  If you are the scientific type , one of the nation’s leading science museums, Oregon Museum of Science and Industry is 219,000 square feet of brain-powered fun! Five enormous halls bring science to life with hundreds of interactive exhibits and displays. You can experience an earthquake, take part in live lab demonstrations, see a movie in the OMNIMAX Dome Theater, explore the universe in a world-class planetarium and even tour a real submarine!

No town big or small is complete without activities for kids and of course Portland has that.  Trek through the tropics amid the sounds of birds, monkeys and other creatures. You’re not in West Africa, you’re in Portland at the Oregon Zoo’s African Rain Forest exhibit. After you’ve survived the steamy tropics, dry off in the savanna, where giraffes, rhinos and hippos graze. From the crest of the Cascade Mountains to the coastal waters of Peru, travel around the world in an afternoon.  Want to cool down?  Enjoy indoor ice skating at the Lloyd Center Ice Rink, located in Oregon’s largest mall. The ice rink is a fun place to skate and build memories.  If you prefer a good old fashion Amusement Park, Oak Amusement Park has rides, go-karts, roller skating, picnic grounds, an historic dance pavilion and waterfront views making this jewel of an amusement park only minutes from downtown Portland.  Safe, wholesome, affordable family fun is always on the menu along with fries, hamburgers, corn dogs, cotton candy and more. Families can come for a whole day of fun without breaking the bank.

This is just a small sampling of what Portland has to offer.  

So if you are looking to get there, just think planes trains or automobiles. One can either take an hour and a half flight from Oakland, a scenic 8 hour drive from San Francisco, or a ride on the Amtrak Starlight Coast.

One Response to “Portland, a small town with a Big Punch”

1. Cindy Madden Says:
   July 2nd, 2009 at 9:07 am

   Dear Helen,
   Great photos and story introduction to a fine travel opportunity. Thank you for sharing.
   Did you find pisco as an ingrediant in the coctails at the dinner party? (always interested in the dining experiences)

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