They'd even bring a smile to Scrooge!…read more Gray Line Railroad did a phenomenal job of reigning in the Christmas sprit. From the steam train all decked out for the season to the hot chocolate, candy canes, bells, elves, trees and yes...the big man himself even joined in the holiday fun! The train ride went a smidge past Oaks park. Enough for a good taste of the Christmas spirit but not too far to wear out the kiddos. Loved every second! Even after the ride, the fun continued. A dedicated space to write letters to Santa (and yes, he did write back!!! My little one loved getting his letter), hot cocoa/coffee booth (they hand decorated each cup!). I'll be back every year. I appreciate their dedication and warmth to all ages.

Free drop by after the oms1 to visit this train rail center. Brought the kids over and they enjoyedread more

We arrived at Portland Union Station from Seattle via the Amtrak train. At first glance, the…read morestation and the platform appeared so picturesque. Inside the station, the interior was stunning, with artifacts on the high ceiling, marble walls and lots of space for passengers to sit. There was a small cafe and gift shop in the station. We had couple of luggages that the staff carried from the train to the baggage pick up. We had them handed over to us within five minutes. Once we stepped outside, the historical building looked old and had signs of aging. It also had a huge clock tower The waiting area was also little shady. But we debarked and left the station without any issues.

Amtrak Cascade between Portland, Oregon and Olympia, Washington is affordable, easy, relaxing, and…read morebeautiful. Coach sets offer plenty of leg room, reclining back, and foot rest. Booking online was simple and fast. Attendants in both stations were kind and helpful. The ride was a much more enjoyable journey than making the drive. Will definitely do this again.

These guys are the best!!! Friendly, eager to help,…read moreknowledgeable... I'm headed over there again today.

Ok nice place and they like trains BUT, I needed an engine repaired - I called the lady and she…read moresaid to bring it right down. I got there and the repair guy looked at it - didn't give me an estimate or any idea how much it would cost or even if he could fix it - HE SAID, I'm backed up 3 months we will call you when we can see you - he wrote my name in a book - and then he said if we don't call in a few months give us a call- WTF they clearly don't care that much. ALSO, they have a website full of reviews but they ONLY post the 5 star ones- I wrote a review it didn't get posted that's false advertising https://wsor.com/reviews/page/7/

Very knowledgeable and helpful staff. Wide selection of models in variety of scales. Good for…read morebeginners and aficionados alike ..like Thomas, who was shopping there this week, and was willing to share history of U S Railroads with me. Worth the trip if you live outside of Hollywood neighborhood. You will appreciate the owner and staff and maybe be lucky to cross paths with enthusiastic customers like Thomas. If you are collecting N scale, ask about the N Scale user group that meets here regularly. Oh, and added bonus of ice cream shop next door :)

I not a railroad hobbyist, but I've found interesting supplies here for building dioramas and other…read moreminiature displays for work. The folks here are very considerate and helpful, and open to helping me bring some of my crazy ideas to life. I'm so happy specialty stores like this still exist, and I hope as a community we can continue supporting them. There is no replacement for the years of expertise these shopkeepers bring to the retail experience. There is a large parking lot in front of the store, which is convenient because the neighborhood tends to be pretty busy. And the parking enforcement can be quite unforgiving in the area.

Our handsome conductor! We really enjoyed our trip. Scenic. Also, it felt like we were on a hidden…read moregem of an afternoon trip.

Looking for something new to do with your train buff? You might want to give the historic…read moreWillamette Shore Trolley a try. We took this ride several times when the kids were little and just rediscovered it yesterday when they had an Open House since I'm always looking for free activities in our area. Normally the route goes from downtown Lake O to Bancroft Street in the S. Waterfront area of Portland and costs around $10/round trip for adults and less for kids. It is a 40 minute trip each way with a break on either end to allow you to stroll, shop or get a bite to eat. The trolley itself is a 1932 streetcar that was originally used on the Portland Broadway line, but restored and operated by volunteers of the Oregon Electric Railway Historical group. For the Open House the volunteers were out in full force, all dressed up, since the entire group uses the day to get re-certified for operations. Lots of nice folks sharing their passion for rail travel and local history. The trip itself gives you a great view of some amazing mansions, and little cottages, along the Willamette River. You'll go through a long tunnel, over bridges and see how the other half lives. I actually saw a seaplane parked in one garage. This isn't the most thrilling ride, but if your kids are in a train phase it is a good activity for them. Since this is run by volunteers on a tight budget there aren't any fancy touches and the gift shop, etc. is bare bones. The trolley is operated seasonally (May-Oct), but is available year round for special events (birthdays, school trips, church outings, etc.). My favorite trip was taking the trolley one December when the Christmas ships were out on the river.

I have been shopping at Kids at Heart when I come to Portland on business for quite some time. I…read moredid again this weekend. I have experienced a pattern of somewhat unfriendly behavior by some staff working at this store before, but really thought nothing of it until a recent experience both in their store and outside of. I will add however that not all employees here can be blamed for the actions of others. I also just happened to attend a birthday party early Sunday evening for my daughter's friend. Another individual was there, who coincidentally owns a retail store in the same area as Kids At Heart, and was explaining after the party to a few of us how he bought some Needoh there and how he was texting other parents ahead of this party that they could find them there too. He went on to say that days later, the owner of Kids at Heart barges in to his store during business hours, in front of his own customers, and accuses him or buying Needoh from her store and selling them at his. Mind you, he is showing us video footage from his phone to back up how outlandish the Kids At Heart owners behavior was and I watched in confusion because he tried calmly explaining to her that it was simply coincidence and she didn't seem to care. What was tacky was how she had no visual proof of her claim, only some he said-she said story, then started going off about prices of items in his store and on his website while shouting some type of action against his store. I could only wonder if she was there for more competitive or territorial reasons, but then I would be guilty of assumption as well. This behavior was all over an extremely popular $5-$15 toy sold at hundreds of other stores, which I see listed on Walmart and Amazon for $30-45. Many of the parents have had to drive around for weeks hunting for these things in preparation of the party, time was running out, and this other business owner kinda saved the day for us by making sure every kid (and some parents) at this party had a Needoh, or ones to gift, so everyone could have the same experience as the birthday girl. The picture I took at this party with one of the same Needoh styles this man purchased from Kids at Heart (and other stores too) kinda proves my point because they clearly ended up at a personal event, not in his store. After hearing this story and seeing proof to back it up, I was shocked by the owner of Kids At Heart and her behavior. I am not one to typically review retail stores and I was not asked to leave this review by anyone involved, but I certainly felt it needed to be done since the owner of Kids At Heart acted in such a hostile way towards another business that supported them. Overall, my experience this weekend combined with the above - I now choose to look elsewhere for children's gifts (and so will a handful of other parents).

If you're looking for Jelly Cats, this is the place to be. They have a ton of cute and soft…read morestuffies. I use to come here as a kid while I adventured down Hawthorne with my sister. I had very fond memories of this spot. I have taken my nieces here many times and I can tell this spot will also hold a special place in their hearts. Theres a ton of toys and they are really good at rotating out their merchandise. There's a lot of toys that will appeal to a variety of age groups. Sometimes they can be on the pricier side, but nonetheless a very fun spot to take the kiddos. There's a variety of fun charms too for the children to build their own charm bracelets. This is an activity my nieces enjoy every time we come by. The staff here are always so friendly and patient with the kids as well.

This tram ride is the cheap and convenient way of enjoying the horizontal landscape view of the…read morecity of Portland. The tram car goes from upper to lower level every 15 minutes interval. We bought the tickets and boarded the car from upper level, entrance right next to OHSU Hospital. Ticket prices were $9 for round trip. The tram was really popular for locals, especially for the employees working at the hospital. The upper terminal had multiple lookout spots to see the city skyline and also up close watching the tram heading to the lower terminal. As we started heading down the hill, we saw stunning view of the city's greenery, houses, buildings and Willamette river. In the horizon, we could also see the snowy Mount Hood. The ride was about 5 minutes. At lower level, everyone had to exit the lower level terminal. Then we used our round trip ticket to enter the terminal again and board the same car. At the lower terminal, there was a huge parking stand for bicycles. Trip from lower to upper terminal was little longer, took about 8-9 minutes. Being a sunny bright day, we absolutely loved the short round trip for such a decent price.

If you're wandering around the South Waterfront and find yourself with a little time to kill, the…read morePortland Aerial Tram is one of those why not experiences that turns into glad I did that. It's a quick ride, but don't let that fool you. The moment that cabin lifts off, you're floating over the freeway, climbing straight up the hill like you've somehow cheated gravity. And when you hit that height, get your camera ready because the views don't ease in they hit you all at once. The river stretches out, the city stacks itself in layers, and on a clear day it feels like you can see half of Portland laid out below you. Now let me tell you about those towers. Nobody prepares you for that part. You're cruising along thinking this is smooth and peaceful, maybe even getting a little too confident, and then the tram rolls over one of those support towers and suddenly this thing pitches and rocks and gives a little bounce like it just remembered it's hanging from a wire. I watched a grown man go from leaning cool against the glass to grabbing the rail like it owed him money. I'm not saying I did the same thing, but if there were security cameras, I hope they enjoyed the show. It feels like you're dangling from a high wire in the sky, and for a split second you start making life decisions and promises you have no intention of keeping once your feet are back on the ground. I don't even know what the ticket runs these days, but even if it's around ten bucks, it's money well spent. There's also that move people talk about catch a bus up near Washington Park or the zoo, hike your way through the trails, and ride the tram down. Hard to argue with that kind of finish. Sure, it technically drops you off at a hospital, which isn't exactly a tourist destination, but honestly that almost adds to the charm. It's practical, a little strange, and somehow still one of the cooler quick things you can do. Five stars. If you're nearby and not doing anything, go take the ride. Just know that when that cabin hits those towers and starts swaying around, you might discover a whole new level of respect for gravity and your own grip strength.

I'm not here all that often. My barbers who were right next door died (yes, all three of them) and…read moreI don't own the train set that brought me in for parts. That said, these guys always had everything I needed--controls, new track, extensions--and always had product I could inspect. No shipping/return ping-pong with online sellers. But what I've grown to love best about them is their outright disdain for the lowest form of "hobbyist": The drone bro. Call it a "multicopter" all you'd like, pal, but your cheap piece of plastic trash is, at best, flying camera gear and, at worst, a suburban air rights debate just waiting to be solved in the most hostile way possible. I'm pleased that Hillsboro Hobby has never catered to these plugs, and I wish them continued success in selling the exact type of anti-air countermeasures that make these guys think twice about flying them over residential areas.

Disappointed. Went in looking for some parts for a RC car that has been on the market for two…read moreyears. Employees there said the model is too new for them to have parts. They were NOT helpful at all. Drove to a competing Hobby shop and picked up the parts. Not sure how they are THIS mis informed?!!

Admission was $22.50 per person. It's best to park all day here and take the shuttle to different…read moreareas at the park i.e. the rose garden and zoo. We were able to find parking around 10am but it got more crowded as the day went on. The information people were really helpful and provided us the shuttle info. Theres so much greenery in the garden. The zen gardens were very serene. No rambunctious people so the vibes were good. There's a restroom at the entrance once you go through the gate. They were very clean. It took about an hour to hour and a half to explore the whole garden. Lots of photo ops. People around are really nice and offer to take photos. The gift shop had post cards, puzzles, washi tape, magnets, and etc.

Date of visit: May 10, 2026…read more A wonderful, expansive garden, or rather series of gardens, built into the hillside, featuring a variety of flora over several acres. Despite its size, you can get through the entire property in about an hour, but if you have time, definitely take it. Use the various benches around the property and people watch or enjoy the various water features and waterfalls. While the website says otherwise, the gift shop is not available to non-members until 10 a.m., a disappointing oversight that ended up wasting some of our time when we came to visit. And plan ahead for parking, it can be a challenge. I wanted more explanation of the various plants on site, there were very few signs of any kind and staff were nonexistent so I felt that I lost out on some opportunities to learn more about what I was seeing throughout the grounds.

It's slow. It's good for getting from point A to point B, but don't be in a hurry. More…read moreambassador/security staff on board would make it more comfortable.

A great way to get around Portland. On my last visit, we utilized the Portland Streetcar a few…read moretimes to get from South of the Waterfront to the Pearl District. Each station has a ticket machine, which were all down for some reason the weekend we were there, but you can always tap to pay with your phone when you get on. It's an honor system. We tried our best to abide by the rules, but as with most of these kind of public transit, a lot of people don't unfortunately. According to their system map, they have three different lines. Two lines cross the river to the East side of Portland while the other goes from North to South of Portland. The ride was like $2 valid for 2.5 hours.