My second time at this Garden, and I wanted to take my fiancé to try it out. We had waltzed through…read morethe Chinatown district in order to approach the entrance. In order to enter to purchase admission tickets, you had to ring a doorbell and someone will buzz you in. Well walked the garden counterclockwise and were able to see historical replications of alters and interior decor. The garden itself was relaxing, peaceful, and clean. There were koi fish being fed, large lotus flowers blooming, and lovely sounds of water. We passed by their tea shop which you can purchase a drink to sit and relax across their pond. Overall, very lovely to see when you're visiting Portland!

This garden is an urban oasis in the middle of a seedy area in Portland. As such, it is a welcome…read morerefuge. It was absolutely beautiful. It's not old, but rather new, and very well done with tremendous attention to detail and lush plantings. The tea area is lovely! If I lived in Portland, I would get a membership!

Been a good few years since I visited the Japanese Gardens, and a lot has changed. But wow if they…read morearen't still worth a visit. The plants and water features are outstanding, and it is such a delight to just wander around and soak it all in. Really, what can I say that hasn't been said by many other visitors? If you aren't captivated by the running water, the intricate rock gardens, or the lovely koi fish, then there is something wrong with you. This is such a gorgeous gem, and a must-see attraction in Portland, especially if you are already wandering around the Washington Park area. Some of the changes in the years since I visited are a whole new entranceway, with an amazing water foundtain. Plus, a redesigned plaza with new gift shop, cafe, and a library. Oh, and speaking of the the cafe, do try out some of the excellent teas and Japanese snacks on offer here. Plus, all the staff and docents working here were very friendly and helpful. As for a few things to be aware of: First, the parking situation is a pain. There are pay-to-park spots, but not enough for the crowds. So you should really plan to either walk over to the gardens from somewhere else in the park, or take the park shuttle service. Also, as some have also noted, the number of people visiting can sort of harsh the serenity a bit. So do your part, and be a courteous visitor, and try to keep things mellow, chill, and quiet enough for others to also enjoy. In a city so full of other gorgeous gardens, I have to say these stand out. It's a city favorite for a reason.

Was a well maintained garden. Super pretty but not sure if it's worth the price tag for it. If you…read morepartner it with the rose garden it seems a bit more reasonable but probably closer to being worth a $10-15 experience. We took our time strolling through and were out around in an hour. Highlights were the waterfall and view of Mt Hood. They do have a shuttle that also takes you to the gardens itself. Parking can get busy in the area.

It's Portland Heritage and History!!! We should always seek out knowledge and what a great place to…read moregain a little history and knowledge. The house is a time capsule it's a little eerie, it's staged as if they went on Holiday and never returned. From the authentic period clothing on mannequins that can also be found in photos, to their Knick-knacks and memorabilia. It's like stepping back to the early 1900's. The house isn't Pittock Mansion Status, but it shows the working family farm life and the docets are very informative and point out little tidbits of history to watch for as you wander the property on a self guided tour. Total time in the house was about 30minutes and another 15 exploring the gardens and farm area. Pretty good activity on a cloudy day we took 2 teens and they found everything interesting. 4 stars because the building is in dire need of repairs.

We visited the house for the Winterville holiday festival. Based on the website, it seems like 2016…read morewas the first year this took place, so it's a new event. Essentially, the event is only for two weekends in December. The house was decorated for the holidays a la Pittock Mansion. In one of the rooms they had amateur string players playing holiday music, and there were a few docents around the house providing historic information on the home. The house itself was decorated with Christmas lights, and they also had a sort of Christmas light garden out front. Outdoors next to the house they had a cute wooden sleigh with a decent Santa. Pictures with Santa (with your personal camera or phone) were included in the admission price. Next to that was a tent with concessions and live holiday music. They had alcoholic beverages for purchase as well as hot chocolate and non alcoholic cider for the kids. While we were there we heard choral music from what looked to be a high school choir. There was a vendor fair as well, but, frankly, it was terrible. Not sure if they normally have more vendors and no one showed up due to concerns over road conditions, but there were like three booths, and the tent was mostly empty. Parking was at the business center across the street, and there were volunteers to safely walk you across the road. Overall, this was a cute little event. The price was a little high for a winter event, in my opinion, but it was pretty reasonable considering the fact that it also included the tour of the historic home as well as all of the Christmas displays.

A place of peace,prayer and natural beauty place for all religions every one is welcome hereread more

I really wish I had more time here. This was one of the very last places to visited before I had to…read morefly home. I got here late about 30mins before closing so I only walked around for a little. It's so Beautiful, peaceful, & calm here. The Grotto is a 62-acres sanctuary founded in 1924. There are so many beautifully carved statues. All the statues are made from marble, granite, bronze, wood, polyester resin and fiberglass. On their webpage, The Grotto's Vision is To forever be a place where the human spirit can seek peace and consolation. The National Sanctuary of Our Sorrowful Mother embraces and supports people of all cultures and all faiths who seek a place of prayer and meditation; The Grotto values the dignity of everyone. I'll definitely come back here the next time I'm in town so I can spend a bit more time exploring. There's a decent sized parking lot. It was empty as I got here close to closing but I'm sure it gets very busy here.

Visiting Sunderland Acres Lavender Farm was the highlight of our 2-day stay in Portland! We love to…read morefind unique experiences when we travel and this private tour piqued our interest. If you love gardening, appreciate homegrown beauty, adore animals and people with heart and soul, then this is the place for you! I booked online last-minute (the day of, and likely via an online bot, but was not given a time slot to choose from). I called, only to find out Ramona was not even there for most of the day. Since we were flying out the next morning, she was so very gracious to squeeze in a time slot for us later in the afternoon when she returned. Our private tour was nothing short of perfect. Ramona has used her interior decorating background to cultivate a landscape that exudes beauty and peace, and was happy to share her wealth of knowledge in all things lavender, as well as the stories behind the other areas and elements on her property. Being animal lovers, a highlight was getting to see, feed, and love on the donkeys, sheep and other animals that she caringly tends to. Although not actually part of the tour, she even let us take a peek at her fabulous and cozy Airbnb (Urban Donkey Studio) she has on-property, which was unoccupied at the time. Now we have another place we have put on our go-to list! After 2 weeks of hiking and being on the go-go-go, touring Sunderland Acres and getting to know Ramona was an exceptional way to decompress, calm our spirits, and bask in the beauty, peace, and love before heading back to real life. Do yourself a favor and experience the farm's gentle magic - you'll leave entirely enchanted!

I have the most adorable wife, no offense to the other fellas out there. This farm is her dream,…read morethe amazing animals and flowers bring her peace and beauty and she loves to share this with others. Come visit, I promise you will feel it when you come.

Beautiful lavender that smells like heaven on a mountain by the rivers, what could be better! I…read moregrabbed a nice size load of lavender (because I was instructed I could do so last year) and went over the "normal amount." I was charged +3$ more when I checked out. They should tell you how much you can pick before, because the amounts I could pick were different from the year before unbeknownst to me.

Pretty amazing place. They sell bundles of lavender, soaps, honey, bath bombs, lotion, and…read moreessential oils. Sarah was incredibly helpful and super nice. We just happened to be driving by to see the falls, noticed the signs and decided to stop in. We are so glad we did. We were able to pic up some little gifts for people back home and got some pictures.

I drive by here all of the time and decided to look it up. Well, I'm glad I checked into it. I…read morebelieve this is a 4000sq ft warehouse and it houses a variety of artwork. The exhibit is changed out about twice a year. This is a free exhibit, it just has limited hours so plan accordingly. When you walk up, the front door is locked, you may have to wait a bit to be let in, but they saw me right away and let me in. The ladies that were there were very friendly and helpful. I love that this place is free and can maybe inspire people to go visit other museums as well. It's nicely laid out with good lighting and plenty of space. I can't wait for the next exhibit. Worth your time!

A steel magnate married an art gallerist, Arleen Schnitzer. Her gallery was the Fountain Gallery,…read more1961. The late couple collected broadly, with some collections now permanently held by the Portland Art Museum. The remaining and ongoing collection is held in a nonprofit foundation. The Schnitzer son launched a philosophy to only collect multiples. An original is a one of a kind painting, sculpture, or other work. Some originals appreciate astronomically. Examples are da Vinci of the Renaissance, the old masters, think Rembrandt, the impressionists, like Monet, or modern artists like Rothko or Pollock. A multiple is a print, often numbered; a photographic print, many from the same negative or digital file; an electronic or video work with multiple copies, or sculptures where several are made from the same mold. The advantage of multiples are they appreciate more slowly and they are easier to ship and share across museums and galleries worldwide. They are more democratic! Schnitzer is collecting smartly supporting the career of Marie Watt, a native artist brought forward in her career by RACC, James Lavadour, Hank Willis Thomas who the Portland Art Museum gave his first museum show, and painter Kehinde Wiley. The Schnitzer Collection has its endowed museums at regional universities: in Eugene at the University of Oregon, in Portland at Portland State University, and in Pullman Washington at Washington State University. Hint: they all have shows which are a selfie goldmine for you and a famous picture in the background. They all have educational programs, and often participatory programs for children. This gallery space, smaller than the museums, but much larger than commercial galleries, changes up their exhibit, often on a theme, every several months. They welcome school groups with advance reservations. Without reservations it has limited but convenient hours listed on the website. It is vast museum level collection you can see a bit of and learn a little about art. It has free parking and is always free to see!

Super cool historical site in Oregon City…read more There was a great and informative guide and games to play in the living room. We learned about the family who used to live there and then my husband was allowed to play the piano and found some sheet music for two songs all about Oregon. He played the songs and we did our best to sing along. Later the guide told us that the women who used to live in the house, loved music, played the piano herself and often hosted musical evenings in that very same living room. How beautiful is that!

This hidden-gem should not be overlooked by visitors to Oregon City nor residents. It offers an…read moreopportunity to step-back to another century and take in the architecture, amenities and lifestyle that our ancestors enjoyed.