I heard high praises about this zoo and had no idea it was a big deal! But we actually had a great…read moretime and it was definitely one of the better zoos that we have been to. I feel like often times the zoo in the summer can be pretty empty and most animals are either asleep or not even visible. But on this visit, we pretty much saw every animal available with the exception of the polar bears - but they have a camera on them in their room so we technically saw them sleeping. I especially loved the elephant area because of the large outdoor space, and the indoor viewing where you can sit on stadium style seating and just watch them roam. We were lucky enough to view a baby elephant during our visit too. The layout of the zoo itself is pretty self-explanatory and I really liked the different areas for little kids. We came across two separate sandpit areas that made for a nice break for both the kids and parents from all the walking!

I've been to the Oregon Zoo twice. The first time was last December for Zoo Lights (highly…read morerecommend!), and a couple of weeks ago, my daughter and I made new core memories on a summertime mom-and-daughter day at the zoo. You're never too old for a mom-and-daughter zoo outing! The Oregon Zoo has a lovely layout, and the animals seem to have room to move and be. The Great Northwest zone was especially captivating and preserved a feeling of being in the wild. I was especially happy to see the expansive habitat for their elephants. I grew up going to the San Francisco Zoo, which always made me sad because the elephants were kept in a small enclosure with cinderblock walls. The Oakland Zoo had a decently-sized elephant enclosure, but sadly, they no longer have elephants. It was such a privilege to see this happy herd, especially Tula-Tu and Mama Rose. Since moving here, I've missed the sea otter raft at the Monterey Bay Aquarium, so I was delighted to experience sea otters again. They have a sizable habitat. The harbor seals exhibit was also a favorite! It looks like they're expanding the on-premises food offerings/seating, which is great. During our two visits, the food trucks didn't appear to be open during their posted operating hours. We arrived at opening time to ensure parking and to get a jump on the summer crowds. We comfortably spent a few hours lingering at favorite exhibits and treated ourselves to some "elephant ears" (cinnamon-sugar donuts). The Oregon Zoo is well worth a visit for kids of all ages. :)

Washington Park (in Oregon) is way more than a park -- it's mini attractions with the park -…read moreresidential area. So, within the "park", there's Oregon Zoo, Portland Japanese Garden, Hoyt Arboretum, International Rose Test Garden, and Children's Museum -- all require admission feee. The park and trails are free. Washington Park is hands-down one of the most incredible urban parks but I only had time to check out Portland Japanese Garden (separate review). I did walk the perimeter of the Hoyt ArboretumFor hikers and nature lovers, this is a gem.Washington Park has a free shuttle that loops around all the major attractions (seasonal). Parking can be a little tricky during peak times, so plan ahead or take public transit. The cool thing is getting around Washington Park -- there's free shuttle that's takes you to all these places within the park so you don't have to stress about limiting parking spots. Yelp Tip:There are plenty of quiet spots with tables and open lawns to relax between visits -- so do a picnic. Highly recommend carving out time in your Portland trip to explore it properly.

Huge forested park on the west side of the city. It's near our hotel and always beautiful…read more Trails and rose garden make this special. Places for kids to Play and families to picnic. Also, the new water retention pond is nearly finished and will provide a unique place for people enjoy the sounds of water and all for practical purposes while being aesthetically pleasing. Rose garden was in full bloom and had to Take some pics as usual. Definitely a great place to visit regardless of time of year.

STUNNING Japanese Garden. My fiancé and I always make it a point to stop by a Japanese garden to…read moreexperience the different renditions of Japanese traditional gardening and planting. For an admission price, you walk up toward the cafe for the Garden. We drank some tea nearing the wonderful view of the uphill battle we encountered. You can arrive at the Japanese Garden by taking the hiking trails or using their free shuttle that loops around Washington Park. The Japanese Garden is across from the Rose International Garden, too, which you can walk around to see during the warm seasons. They have a cute little gift shop, too. This is one of the bigger Japanese gardens we've been to, and it definitely is tranquil. My favorite part was the large zen garden you can see. Definitely a great experience when in Oregon!

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.

What to say? Well let's just say I couldn't think of one bad thing to say even if I tried. Would…read moredefinitely recommend!! Super fun activity for kids, teens any animal lover.

We had an amazing time here! Absolutely highly recommend for an intimate petting zoo experience. We…read morereally enjoyed our time here and the hosts are phenomenal! We got to pet the 2 miniature horses which was my favorite part. The kids had a blast petting and playing with the goats. They are all so friendly and have loving personalities. I could have stayed all day. The happy come straight up to you and asked to be brushed and sit in your lap. Then you get to let the big huge pigs and feed the male goats. Lastly we got to feed the piglets. The property is well maintained and all the animals are loved and clearly happy. I would 100% recommend and will do it again. We all had a really fun time!

The place is really beautiful and peaceful. Its a nice couple hours admiring the surrounding and…read morebeautiful statues. You dont need to be religious to enjoy and respect how breathtaking this are is.

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.

OMSI is a museum that is full of natural sciences, physics, and innovation. Though very large with…read morea theater and planetarium, I'd heed the warnings from other Yelp reviews: this museum is for kids!! Not adults!! I truly didn't look at Yelp before buying tickets to the museum and a showing of the planetarium. My fiancé and I finished walking the museum in 30 minutes because it was full of children from camp. We weren't going to play or interact with the museums when children were there and it was sciences we already knew. I was saddened thinking it was a museum for adults. In addition, we absolutely bought the wrong tickets for the planetarium. We ended up at a KPOP Delon Hunters Laser Show. We didn't know what to expect. Whoever made the show did an exceptional job, but we wanted to see something that completely encompasses the entire planetarium. Ultimately, perfect for children. Not adults. The 4 stars is that it is still a great museum.... For children.

I think for the value of the Family Membership, OMSI gets 5 stars. Hot tip, purchase the year-long…read moremembership during Black Friday when it's 20% off and stretch your dollar even further! My kids can spend the whole morning or afternoon here. There's something for everyone, from toddlers to high schoolers, adults and beyond. I always learn something new here too. Bonus, mention that you're a member in the gift shop and get 10% off your purchase.

Beautiful hiking trails, perfect for walking your dog! Parking can be a little scary (but then…read moreagain, it is on Germantown road - what can you expect haha). However, there is usually room in the parking lot on Germantown or along the sides of the road. I love how large the walking path is. It's definitely easy to pass another walker, even if you both have dogs. The path is well-maintained, and it didn't have any large fallen branches or trash when I visited. It's a straightforward path, so you don't have to worry about accidentally taking a wrong turn and getting lost if you are new to hiking. Very beginner friendly! The forest itself is beautiful. So much greenery, little birds, and a wonderful sense of peacefulness. I would recommend visiting on a weekday if possible, as the parking lot and trail can get crowded on weekends.

Really big and refreshing not lots of parking and no service be prepared for backpacking adventure…read moreif you plan on it- not extremely far. It's worth it.

I randomly found this gem while looking for things to do in Portland. I found parking on the street…read moreright outside of the street that The Belmont Goats were on as per the website to not park on that specific street. It's free, but donations accepted to help out with the goats. The people running the place were friendly and informative. I was able to pet and brush the goats. The goats were cute, and I enjoyed getting to spend some time with them. :)

It's free and something to do with the kids so why not? I wouldn't make a trip out just for this…read morebut if it's closeby sure let's check it out. Can take pictures and brush them as well

International Rose Test Garden is a must-see in Portland, admission is free, recommend arriving…read moreearly, as parking is limited. This rose garden is absolutely beautiful, with many varieties of roses in every color. My favorite parts was the labeled fragrance roses, remember to stop and smell each one. It's a fun way to experience the garden. Be extra careful, car break-ins can happen in this area. We saw a car with its window smashed during our visit. Don't leave any valuables or visible items inside your vehicle, even for a short time. Overall, it's a gorgeous place to walk around, take photos, and enjoy the variety of roses.

I had no idea this wonderful place existed! When my husband told me about it, I was skeptical but…read moreit was a magical wonderland! The moment you stepped in the garden, you could smell the roses. It was so powerful for being a natural scent and not a concentrated spray. It was very popular, lots of people about taking photos or even painting within. I had a lovely time and saw so many cool flowers.

Fantastic experience here, that I would highly recommend. Kinda blew my mind that this place is…read moreonly located 15 minutes from Beaverton, which makes it super convenient. The alpaca's themselves are super fun. They are primarily food driven so don't expect too much love unless you are feeding them. BUT that being said if you are feeding them, prepare to be surrounded. They are increadibly friendly and SOOOO soft to pet. They do kick, and you are warned before hand not to pet them without them knowing to avoid situations like that.

They encourage appointments but we showed up and got a chance to say hi to the adorable alpacas. A…read morefun little stop after being a bit wined out.