|
 Portland is a unique city with the Columbia River and
the Washington / Oregon state line as its Northern border. The Willamette River cuts Southward right
through the heart of the City. Portland is also the
Western end of Interstate 84 a main East / West Interstate highway and
Interstate-5 intersects I-84 on its north / south track through the city.
Portland was founded in 1851, has a population of around
440,000 and is 77 feet above sea level.
Click
on the map for a larger version
|
|
Interstate-5 in downtown Portland with
the convention center towers in the background
 Portland is located just south of the
confluence of the Columbia and Willamette Rivers. It is also at the north end of the Willamette Valley, one of the most fertile
agricultural areas in the world.
Today wine grapes are one of the major crops grown in the region.
Portland is surrounded with tourist activities
and scenery. Vineyards and wineries
to the south, Mt. Hood with its
skiing and hiking to the east, Mt.
St. Helens with its volcanic activity to the northeast, the Pacific Ocean
Beaches to the west and Crater Lake
and the national forests to the southeast to mention only a few.
|
|
The Portland skyline from a bridge
over the Willamette River
 Portland is a college town with four universities;
Portland State
University, the University of Portland,
Lewis & Clark College, and Reed College.
Portland is also a city proud of its parks. The city abandoned a four lane highway on
the west bank of the Willamette
River and constructed
the Governor Tom
McCall Waterfront
Park. This park runs through the entire
downtown along the river bank. There
are concerts, picnickers, sightseers, and festivals in the summer months
and runners and walkers through out the year. Visit the park’s web site:
Portland
Parks - Gov. Tom McCall Park
|
|
The Portland Chinese Garden
The Portland Chinese Garden is
a joint project of the Cities of Portland and Suzhou. It is the largest Chinese-style garden
outside of China. It is bounded by 2nd and 3rd
Avenues and Everett and Flanders
streets.
Set aside about four hours to view this garden, it
is extraordinary. Visit their web
site: Visit their web site.
|
|
One of the Bridges over the Willamette River
Children’s Museum – a facility designed for children from 6 months
to 10 years old with displays in which the children can participate.
Take I-405 Exit 2A onto
The Sunset Highway westbound (US-26) go to US-26 Exit 72 and exit, then
turn right onto Canyon Road
and into Washington
Park via the south
entrance. The Children’s Museum is
at 4015 Canyon Road.
Visit their web site: http://www.portlandcm2.org/
|
|
Oregon Zoo
This world class facility has exhibits that
replicate the natural habitat of the animals in the zoo. Allow a minimum of 4 hours to absorb this
wonderful place.
Visitors can also board a train for a 4 mi. ride
through the hills of Washington Park and view the Japanese
Garden and the International Rose
Test Gardens. The Zoo is located in Washington Park.
Take I-405 Exit 2A onto The Sunset Highway (US-26)
go to US-26 Exit 72 and exit then turn right onto Canyon Road and into Washington Park. The Children’s Museum is at 4015 Canyon Road.
Visit their web site: http://www.oregonzoo.org/
Oregon Historical Society
The Historical Society has permanent and changing exhibits about the history
of Oregon. Besides the exhibits the
society maintains a large research library on the history of the
state. Eight story tall western
theme murals decorate the exterior of the building. It is located at 1200 SW Park Avenue. Visit their web site: http://www.ohs.org/
Portland Art Museum
The Portland Art Museum is Oregon’s oldest visual arts museum. Founded in 1892 it has developed an art
collection consisting of 32,000 pieces.
Its collections include northwest, American Indian, Asian,
contemporary and European art works.
It is located at 1219
SW Park Avenue. Visit their web site: http://www.portlandartmuseum.org/
|
|
The Grotto
This 62 acre sanctuary and
shrine were erected in 1924. It is
the National Sanctuary of our sorrowful Mother.
 The Grotto is a peaceful spot to stop and reflect
on your journey. The Grotto is an outdoor
cathedral located at the bottom of a 10-story cliff and there is an
elevator to take you to the gardens located above the Grotto.
Located at the
intersection of NE 85th and Sandy Boulevard (US-30) in northeast Portland. If you take I-205 Exit 23 onto US-30 and
head west it is only 0.7 mi. Visit
their web site: http://www.thegrotto.org/
|
|
Hoyt Arboretum – is located in Washington Park (above). This 183 acre area of the park contains
more than 1100 varieties of shrubs, flowering trees, and coniferous It has more than 12 mi. of trails. Visit their web site:
http://www.hoytarboretum.org/
Pittock Mansion – is nearly 1000 feet above the city
below with a view of the city, rivers, and cascade mountains. This restored 1914 home built by Henry
Pittock, the founder of The Daily
Oregonian, has French Renaissance architecture and is filled with 17th
& 18th century antiques.
It is located at 3229
NW Pittock Drive. Visit their web site: http://www.pittockmansion.com/
Washington Park – this 130 acre park in northwest Portland is the crown jewel of Portland’s parks. It contains the Children’s Museum and the
Oregon Zoo (see both above) along with many memorials and statues. The park’s main entrance is at the west
end of Burnside (The Burnside Bridge and Burnside St is at the northern end of
downtown). Travel west on Burnside
to 23rd Ave.
(23rd on the right & Vista
on the left) turn left onto Vista
Ave. and go 1 block to SW Park Place and turn right, the
entrance is at the head of Park
Place.
Visit the
park’s web site:
Portland
Parks - Washington Park
|
|
Oregon Museum of Science and Industry – has a planetarium and a 330 seat Omnimax theater with a
5 story domed screen. As if that
isn’t enough there is food available and five exhibit halls. Interactive
exhibits are featured with more than 200 hands-on exhibits on subjects from
the internet to fossils and earth quakes.
The USS Blueback is docked outside the museum. This Navy Submarine is the last
diesel-electric sub built for the US Navy and was decommissioned in
1990. The sub starred in the film
“The Hunt for Red October.” There
are tours daily. It is located at 1945 SE Water Ave.
Visit their web site:
http://www.omsi.edu/
The Forest Discovery Center – has educational exhibits about
forests both in Oregon
and worldwide. Exhibits include
petrified wood and children’s exhibits.
Located at 2033 SW
Canyon Road in Washington Park. (see above for directions.) Visit their web site: http://www.worldforestry.org/
The Portland
Oregon Visitors Association, 26
SW Salmon St., 97204 has a great web site:
http://www.pova.com/visitors/
|
|
 The Trolley
One of the many modes of
transportation in Portland
that you should try.
Oregon Maritime museum – is located on the sternwheeler Portland. The museum displays the history of the
Columbia River and Portland
through the use of photos and models.
Located at 198 SW Naito
Parkway on the river at the foot of Pine Street.
Visit their web site:
http://www.oregonmaritimemuseum.org/
|
