Portland is the largest city in Oregon and a cultural hub, blending indoor museums with outdoor activities, such as its numerous parks. During the summer months, Portland is ideal to visit with its endless sunny and long days. Always a hit with families, head to a park first. Portland offers several. There are also several National Park sites within an hour or two. Here are the BEST things to do in Portland, OR.
15 BEST Things to Do in Portland OR
Washington Park
Oregon Zoo
International Rose Test Garden
Portland Japanese Garden
Lan Sun Chinese Garden
Pittock Mansion
Forest Park
Portland Aerial Tram
Powell’s City of Books
Oregon Museum of Science and Industry
Portland Art Museum
Burnside Skate Park
Fort Vancouver National Historic Site
Multnomah Falls
Mount Hood
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Washington Park
As the premier urban park in Portland, it’s the place to start your travels with kids. In Washington Park, families will find the Oregon Zoo and Portland Children’s Museum.
There is also the famed International Rose Test Garden and the Portland Japanese Garden. Remember, kids love to explore gardens. Visitors will also find the World Forestry Center Discovery Museum.
Located east of downtown Portland, off W. Burnside St. Free to visit, admission to attractions extra, and there’s a park shuttle.
Oregon Zoo
Opening in 1888, this 64-acre zoo is the oldest zoo west of the Mississippi River. Located in Washington Park, families can find Asian elephants in Elephant Lands. The primate exhibit is another favorite, with lemurs. The Portland Zoo is also home to Polar Bears.
Kids can learn more about local wildlife, including black bears, river otters, bald eagles, and snowy owls, in the Great Northwest exhibit. There is a zoo train and a carousel
Located at 4001 SW Canyon Rd, Portland. Open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (and 6 p.m. during the summer season). Adult admission is $26 and kids (2 to 11) are $21. The Oregon Zoo is cashless.
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International Rose Test Garden
Founded in 1917, the International Rose Test Garden is home to over 10,000 rose bushes, from approximately 650 varieties. The roses bloom from April through October, with the peak coming in June.
During my visit, I enjoyed walking among the rose beds, in full bloom. My kids kinda ran around, but stayed close by. I told them if they were nice, we’d stop at the nearby playground.
The International Rose Test Garden is a must for flower lovers. There is a free tour, departing at 1 p.m. in the summer.
Located at 400 SW Kingston Ave, Portland. Open from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. Free to enter.
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Portland Japanese Garden
Designed in 1963, the Portland Japanese Garden includes eight separate garden styles across its 12.5-acre site. It features an authentic Japanese Tea House, constructed in Japan and shipped to Oregon in pieces.
It was designed by Professor Takuma Tono of Tokyo Agricultural University. The Cultural Village opened in 2017, designed by Kengo Kuma including a learning center.
It features a moon bridge, a moon gate, a sand-and-stone garden, and Heavenly Falls. On a clear day, you can see Mt. Hood from its overlook.
Located at 611 SW Kingston Ave, Portland. Open Wednesday to Monday from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Adults are $22.50, students are $18.50 and kids (6 to 17) are $16.50.
Lan Sun Chinese Garden
Opening in 2000, the Lan Sun Chinese Garden is located in Portland’s Chinatown and occupies a city block. Designed by Kuang Zhen and assisted by 65 artisans from Suzhou, Portland’s sister city.
It is a Ming Dynasty-style “scholar’s garden” with a central 8,000-square-foot Lake Zither. Visitors will find the Tower of Cosmic Reflections and the Painted Boat Terrace. There is also a tea house.
Located at 239 NW Everett St, Portland. Open daily from 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Adult admission is $18 and kids (6 to 18) are $15 with those 5 and younger entering for free.
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Pittock Mansion
Built in 1914, the Pittock Mansion is in the French château style with expansive views of downtown from the gardens. And a must-see old house fans, including the garden.
Located at 3229 NW Pittock Dr. Open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (noon on Tuesday). Admission Adults are $16, seniors (65+) are $14, youth (ages 6 to 18) are $12 and kids 5 and younger are free.
Forest Park
At 5,200 acres, Forest Park is one of the largest urban parks in the U.S. Where Washington Park is more developed with the Oregon Zoo and the Rose Garden, Forest Park is more of a wilderness, with hiking trails.
The Wildwood Trail connects Forest Park to Washington Park. It runs for 30.2 miles and is a National Recreation Trail. It starts at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington Park to the Northwest terminus of the trail at Newberry Road.
Located northwest of the Pittock Mansion and Washington Park. Open from 5 a.m. until 10 p.m. It is free to enter.
Portland Aerial Tram
While in Portland, you can take the Portland Aerial Tram. Portland’s Aerial Tram travels 3,300 linear feet from South Waterfront to Marquam Hill.
Its lower terminal is located at South Moody and Gibbs along the South Waterfront. It terminates at the North Terminal at Marquam Hill.
Traveling at 22 miles per hour, the Tram cabins rise 500 feet during the four-minute trip. Each of the two cabins has a capacity of 79 people, including the operator.
Open Monday to Friday from 5:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (closed Sunday). Round-trip fare is $8.75.
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Powell’s City of Books
Book lovers need to browse through Powell’s City of Books to find a city block full of new and used books. It is one of the most famous bookstores in the U.S.
It offers a great kids’ book section too. During my visit, my kids explored Powell’s for over an hour.
Located at 1005 W. Burnside St. Open daily from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Oregon Museum of Science and Industry
The Oregon Museum of Science and Industry offers hands-on activities for families. There is a submarine to tour and the Kendall Planetarium.
While at the OMSI, families can tour the USS Blueback Submarine, a US Navy submarine used in the film The Hunt for Red October. It is docked in the Willamette River.
For younger kids, there is a science-inspired playground. Students can tour the Turbine Hall, the Natural Sciences Hall and the Climate of Change, centered on the Pacific Northwest.
Located at 1945 SE Water Ave, Portland. Open Tuesday to Sunday from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Adult admission (14 +) is $22.50 and youth (3 to 13) are $15.50. The submarine is an additional ticket for those 3 and older for $8.50.
Portland Art Museum
Founded in 1892, the Portland Art Museum features 240,000 square feet with 50,000 works of art in its collection. The PAM features Native American art, art from PNW artists, contemporary and modern art, plus an outdoor sculpture garden.
Its current location opened in 1932, at the corner of SW Park Avenue and Jefferson Street. Visitors will find one of Monet’s Water Lilies and Van Gogh’s The Ox-Cart.
Located at 1219 SW Park Ave, Portland. Open Tuesday to Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Adult admission (22+) is $20 and those 21 and younger enter for free.
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Burnside Skate Park
So, skaters will have to make a pilgrimage to this iconic skate park. Originally built as a rogue skatepark, it’s located under the Burnside Bridge and is a bucket list skatepark for kids.
Located at SE 2nd Ave. Free and open 24 hours a day.
Fort Vancouver National Historic Site
Typically, in Washington, this national park site is right across the Columbia River. During our visit to Portland, we visited the Fort Vancouver National Historic Site.
There, we learned about the fur industry from this fort along the shores of the Columbia River. During our visit, we took the self-guided tour and walked through several reconstructed buildings, staffed with costumed historical interpreters.
We learned more about the Hudson Bay Company, its blankets and the fur trade. We also walked through cultural demonstrations like the blacksmith shop, carpentry shop or the bake shop. Also, I recommend you stroll through a large garden planted with seasonal vegetables.
Located at 1501 E. Evergreen Blvd. in Vancouver, Washington. Open Tuesday to Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Free to enter.
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Multnomah Falls
The Columbia River Gorge’s waterfalls offer spectacular hikes and enviable photo opportunities. The most well-known waterfall, Multnomah Falls, is just the beginning. As a ribbon of water plummets 620 feet, it’s the second-highest year-round waterfall in the U.S. Best of all, visitors can hike up close to it.
The hike to the Benson Bridge is a .25-mile hike from the visitor center. It is an option for most visitors. If you want a longer hike, you can take the 1.2-mile one-way hike to the top of the falls. Don’t forget your water bottle.
The U.S. Forest Service Rangers hand out Columbia River Gorge Junior Ranger booklets for the kids and award nifty patches at the visitor center. I walked through Multnomah Falls Lodge, next to the falls. It has a regionally inspired menu and a separate bar. Restrooms, a snack bar and a gift shop offer the necessities.
Located at Exit 31 on Interstate 84. This site requires a timed-entry reservation from early May until Labor Day from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. They cost $2. Parking is limited. There is no cost to enter besides an online timed-entry reservation.
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Mount Hood
About an hour-and-a-half drive from Portland, Mount Hood stands as a beacon along the Columbia River Gorge. Rising from the evergreen landscape with glaciers and year-round skiing, it is an active stratovolcano in the Cascade Volcanic Arc at 11,249 feet tall.
Mt Hood National Forest encompasses over 1.1 million acres. Timberline Lodge is an historic National Park lodge and sport for hiking or winter sports.
Located about 60 miles east-southeast of Portland. A day-use pass is $5.
