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Things To Do in Portland, Oregon

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Portland Places of Interest

International Rose Test Garden
Founded in 1917 as a place to safeguard European rose hybrid varieties from possible destruction during World War I, the International Rose Test Garden now features over 550 varieties of roses across 4.5 acres. The blooms are arranged in garden displays such as the Shakespeare Garden, the Gold Medal Garden and the Miniature Rose Garden. Peak blooming time is usually June, with certain plants blooming as early as April or as late as October.

The International Rose Test Garden is open daily from 7:30 AM to 9 PM. Guided tours run Tuesday at 10 AM and 1 PM and Saturday and Sunday at 1 PM. Admission is free. Guided tours for groups over 10 people can be arranged in advance for a nominal fee. For more information: 503-823-7529

Pioneer Courthouse Square
Referred to by locals as "Portland's Living Room," Pioneer Courthouse Square is the most visited place in the city with 9.5 million visitors per year. Built in 1869, the courthouse itself is the Pacific Northwest's oldest federal building, while the surrounding square is home to two brick amphitheaters, making it a popular site for public concerts and gatherings. Some 300 events take place in the square annually, such as the opening of the Festival of Flowers Celebration in June and Portland's annual New Year's Eve celebration. Other attractions in Portland Courthouse Square include a waterfall fountain, echo chamber and the fascinating Weather Machine, which forecasts the weather daily at noon with a display of flashing lights and mist. Pioneer Courthouse Square is a full-service event venue, able to host events throughout the year. For more information: 503-223-1613

Powell's City of Books
As the headquarters of the Portland-based Powell's Books Company, this downtown bookstore claims to be the largest independent bookstore in the world. Covering an entire city block and approximately 1.6 acres of retail floor space, with additional expansion plans in the works, Powell's City of Books sells both new and used books, as well as DVDs. Visitors can roam the aisles of the store, searching through the one million books on display. So as not to overwhelm guests by its sheer size, Powell's offers maps to guests and guided walks around the store. Powell's City of Books is open daily from 9 AM to 11 PM. For more information: 503-228-4651

Portland Restaurants

Bluehour
The high-style Bluehour Restaurant in the Pearl District serves Mediterranean cuisine with a Northwestern twist in a posh setting converted from a former warehouse. Opened in 2000 by restaurateur Bruce Carey, Bluehour has been called "the most sophisticated, contemporary food in town" by Gourmet Magazine. Diners can choose to dine under the dramatic loft ceilings of the glamorous dining room or in the more casual bar and café accented with blue and gold lighting. The menu changes daily, with favorite dishes including bacon-wrapped sea scallops, potato gnocchi with black truffles and an artisanal cheese tart. Bluehour can accommodate private events for up to 100 guests.

Bluehour serves lunch Monday through Friday from 11:30 AM to 2:30 PM and Saturday and Sunday from 10 AM to 2:30 PM. Dinner is served Monday through Thursday from 5:30 to 10 PM, Friday and Saturday from 5:30 to 10:30 PM and Sunday from 5:30 to 10:00 PM. Lunch entrees range from $13 to $17 and dinner entrees range from $25 to $39. The three-course lunch menu is $21 and the four-course "chef recommends" dinner menu is $56. For more information: 503-226-3394

Meriwether's Restaurant
Situated in the historic site of the 1905 World's Fair, Meriwether's presents European country dining with ingredients fresh from the restaurant's own Skyline Gardens farm. Its three separate dining areas, the covered patio, the open garden, and the gazebo, feature continually blooming flowers and plants. Guests can savor favorites such as the famous James Beard's Razor Clam Chowder, Alder smoked salmon or burgers made from naturally-raised beef. The restaurant can accommodate private events of up to 300 people, with the option of pre-set menus, buffet menus or prix-fixe menus.

Meriwether's Restaurant serves lunch Monday through Friday from 11:30 AM to 3 PM and dinner Sunday through Thursday from 5 to 9 PM and Friday and Saturday from 5 to 10 PM. Brunch is served Saturday and Sunday from 8 AM to 3 PM. Lunch entrees range from $14 to $17 and dinner entrees range from $19 to $30. For more information: 503-228-1250

Salty's on the Columbia
Frequently called Portland's best seafood restaurant, Salty's is situated on the Columbia River, affording spectacular views of the river and a steady stream of passing sailboats. Oysters and clams are harvested from nearby beaches, Maine lobsters can be seen swimming in the restaurant's tanks and Wild Alaskan salmon is served in season. The restaurant's interior echoes the menu, with lively nautical décor and bright colors.

Outdoor seating on the deck provides al fresco dining during the sunny season, while the Bar-Café offers cocktails and evening live entertainment. The North Shore View Room can seat up to 150 for a private event and the Private Wine Room can host 40 people for a reception. Also available for private events is Salty's covered deck, with seating for 30 people.

Satly's serves lunch Monday through Saturday from 11:15 AM to 3 PM. Dinner is served during the winter Monday through Thursday from 5 to 9:30 PM, Friday and Saturday from 5 to 10 PM and Sunday from 4:30 to 9 PM. During the summer, dinner is served Monday through Thursday from 5 to 10 PM, Friday and Saturday from 5 to 11 PM and Sunday from 5 to 9:30 PM. Lunch entrees range from $14 to $22 and dinner entrees range from $20 to $32. For more information: 503-288-4444

Other Portland Attractions and Activities

Hoyt Arboretum
Known as a "living museum," the Hoyt Arboretum is a 187-acre exhibition of more than 1,000 tree and plant species from around the world. Only two miles from downtown Portland, the arboretum offers visitors a wide selection of self-guided or guided walks. One tree of great interest on the grounds is the Dawn Redwood, once thought to be extinct, which the arboretum has successfully reintroduced to the Americas. The Hoyt Arboretum offers unique rental spaces for events, including a covered picnic shelter and a private meadow.

The Hoyt Arboretum grounds are open daily from 6 AM to 10 PM. The Visitor Center, where guests can find trail maps and a research library, is open Monday through Friday from 9 AM to 4 PM and Saturday from 9 AM to 3 PM. Parking is available at the Visitor Center off of Fischer Lane. Admission is free. For more information: 503-865-8733

Oregon Museum of Science and Industry
Composed of five exhibit halls and eight science labs, the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry has hands-on displays and activities for visitors of all ages that highlight a range of sciences, including biology, physics, chemistry, technology and astronomy. Highlights of the museum include the region's largest planetarium, an OMNIMAX theater, and a decommissioned US Navy submarine that was featured in the film The Hunt for Red October. Visitors to the Life Science Lab can view and sometimes handle a variety of creatures, including Pacific Tree Frogs and Australian Walking Sticks. The museum has several venues for private events of up to 2,500 people.

The Oregon Museum of Science and Industry is open daily during the summer from 9:30 AM to 5:30 PM. Admission is $11 for adults and $9 for seniors ages 63 and older and children ages 3-13. Admission for children under 3 is free. Discounted group rates are available. Parking is available at the museum. For more information: 503-797-4000

The Oregon Zoo
Founded in 1887, the Oregon Zoo is the oldest zoo west of the Mississippi and today is Oregon's largest paid attraction. About 1.4 million people visit the zoo annually to see some of the 200 species of animals, 21 of which are endangered. The zoo boasts open exhibits and animal habitats, using sunken pits to keep visitors and animals separated while eliminating many of the cages seen in other zoos. The Oregon Zoo also boasts the most successful zoo Asian elephant breeding program in the world and as of spring 2008 is home to six elephants. Regional-themed exhibits include the African Rain Forest and the Great Northwest, where guests can walk through simulated environments complete with authentic vegetation, simulated rain and mist, and recreated animal habitats and ecosystems.

The Oregon Zoo is open daily during the summer from 9 AM to 7 PM and during the winter from 9 AM to 5 PM. Light Rail passengers should exit at the Washington Park stop that is adjacent to the zoo's entrance. Admission is $8.25 for children ages 3-11, $9.75 for adults and $8.25 for seniors ages 65 and older. Admission for children under 2 is free. Parking is available for $1 per vehicle, but visitors can receive a $1 discount on zoo admission by showing proof of ridership on either TriMet bus or MAX Light Rail. For more information: 503-226-1561

The Pittock Mansion
For a look at the former splendor of Portland's trading heydays, guests should visit the historic Pittock Mansion. Built in 1914, this 22-room French Renaissance mansion was the home of pioneers Henry Pittock, publisher of The Oregonian, and his wife Georgiana, a founder of the Portland Rose Festival. From its location on a hilltop overlooking the city, the Pittock Mansion affords spectacular views of the downtown area and is also a prime birdwatching location. Guests can tour the mansion's historic collection of furnishings, art and artifacts, and hear stories of how these items were acquired. Many items on display originally belonged to the Pittock family, including the Steinway grand piano, Henry Pittock's ceremonial sword, and portraits and photographs of Henry and Georgiana Pittock. The mansion is available for private events of up to 250 people.

The Pittock Mansion is open daily, February 1 to June 30 and September 1 to December 31, from 11 AM to 4 PM. It is open daily, July 1 to August 31, from 10 AM to 4 PM. Admission is $4 for children ages 6-18, $7 for adults and $6 for seniors ages 65 and older. For more information: 503-823-3623

Tom McCall Waterfront Park

Tom McCall Waterfront Park
A 37-acre park located in downtown Portland, the Tom McCall Waterfront Park hugs the west bank of the Willamette River injecting a dose of nature into the bustling city. The park features miles of bike and walking paths and several points of historic interest such as the Battleship Oregon Memorial. Commemorating the USS Oregon's heroic legacy as the "Bulldog of the US Navy," the memorial sits atop a time capsule scheduled to be opened in 2076. Children and adults love the Salmon Street Springs, a pattern-changing, 185-jet fountain controlled by an underground computer. On sunny summer days, the park is the perfect place to read a book or even surf the net using the park's wi-fi access. The park is open daily from 5 AM to midnight. Admission is free.