This place is a MUST SEE when visiting Portland! I was shocked by how special and beautiful the…read moremansion and grounds were. If you are interested in interior decor/architecture/history the self guided tour of the mansion is a must! The spaces were beautiful and I learned so much about Portland. The organization who runs the house has done an amazing job maintaining and displaying this magical home. The grounds are also incredible (and free, although parking is paid), and worth seeing just for the view. The gardens are maintained by UofO gardening students and they have done a great job. All together I think we spent about $60 to see the tour and the gardens and it was well worth it. The staff was knowledgeable and loved talking about the homes and the residents! I also appreciate the tour being self guided so we could go at our pace.

Fabulous and beautiful historic house above Portland - restored and with period furniture. Those…read moreinterested in the details of living at that time will find much to see. One caution fir visitors. Our car in the Pittock parking lot was broken into. Nothing to take but expensive to repair the window. There are plenty of warning signs about leaving no valuables. This is a paid parking lot. Wish they would arrange for some security at a popular tourist destination.

My hubby and I had a wonderful time with Peter from Oregon Tour Co.! We were especially grateful…read morethat, even with just the two of us, Peter still picked us up and took us on the tour instead of canceling. Peter was courteous, knowledgeable, and genuinely fun to hang out with. He first drove us around Portland and explained the geography of the city, then we visited Pittock Mansion, where he shared a bunch of interesting facts and history. Next, we went to the International Rose Test Garden, where we got to walk around and literally stop to smell the roses. Afterward, Peter continued showing us around Portland and sharing interesting facts along the way. Since we had a little extra time, we also stopped at Mt. Tabor Park, and we ended the tour with a visit to Voodoo Doughnut before Peter dropped us back off at our hotel. Overall, we had an amazing time! Peter made the tour informative, relaxed, and really enjoyable. Thank you so much, Peter!

Truly one of the highlights of our trip. We loved touring the waterfalls of the Columbia River…read moreGorge with Peter, a local who knows all the best viewing spots, local history & amazing facts about the flora, fauna, & waterfall formation.

Booked a private tour…read more Had a fantastic time. Thom was the best. I expected a great experience, and got even more. Money well spent.

When: July 7, 2015 - Pearl District Walking Tour…read more Our host, Theresa was an excellent tour guide filled with Beer 101 Knowledge, PDX Historical Fact tidbits, Friendliness and most importantly Patience. When we began the tour, in the Deschutes Brewery Restaurant, Theresa filled us with Beer 101 knowledge and even one of the Deschutes Brewmasters came out for a Q & A session. He answered all questions, no matter how mundane or stupid they may have been. While we were walking to our next destination, Theresa filled our time with PDX Historical facts, that most people may know or not and by the time we reached our final destination, Rogue Brewery, everyone was already feeling jolly & talking loud, she patiently let all parties be themselves and enjoy the moment. This walking tour takes you to three (3) Brewery Restaurant Pubs, 1) Deschutes Brewery 2) Pints Brewing and 3) Rogue Brewing. This tour is an easy walk through the Pearl and Old Town districts with no hills etc. Additonally, you may even be able to make new friends, just like us...We stayed at Rogue Brewery long after the tour ended and became real good friends with this other couple from Winnipeg Canada, who was on the tour also, whom we traded email addresses with. I definitely recommend this tour for any beer lover, whether a novice or expert, in craft beers...you will definitely appreciate the depth and understand why Portland and the Pacific Northwest in general, is the mecca for the Craft Beer Industry.

If you ever find yourself in Portland wondering what it all means and whether anything beautiful…read morestill exists in the world, I suggest you take the Full Day Guided Oregon Coast Tour with Infinite Oregon Tours. I did. It reminded me that the Earth can still knock the wind out of you with its splendor. Also, the van had air conditioning, which helped. Our tour guide, Cameron, was something of a poet laureate of the Pacific Northwest. He communicated with clarity and warmth before, during, and after the tour, encouraging us to reach out for restaurant tips, activity suggestions, or perhaps answers to life's larger questions. He was also a masterful driver, piloting that oversized tour van with the precision of a brain surgeon threading a needle in a windstorm. The roads were narrow, the turns tight, and yet we floated along like a leaf in a very friendly breeze. We were picked up right from our hotel lobby, which I found easy & efficient. The van was indeed full and perhaps a little cozy, but we were strangers together for only a moment. Camaraderie forms quickly when you're chasing wonder. Our first stop was Ecola State Park. If you've ever looked out across a vast seascape and felt something stir in your gut that wasn't just breakfast, you'll understand. Green cliffs dove headfirst into the Pacific. We hiked along trails that flirted with the edge of the continent itself. Also, if the site feels familiar, its because a few scenes from The Goonies was filmed there. Then came Indian Beach, our first touch of sand and sea. The Pacific was doing its eternal breathing in and out, and we stood in awe. Next was Cannon Beach, where we had ninety minutes to roam, eat, and pretend time wasn't real. Cameron gave us a narrated lap of the town, tossing out recommendations like a benevolent game show host. Our group found seafood that tasted like it had been caught moments before and ice cream that somehow made you nostalgic for a childhood you might not have had. The afternoon brought us to Haystack Rock, where we gazed upon it from different angles like museumgoers admiring a sculpture that just so happened to be part of the Earth's own anatomy. We wandered tidal pools that teemed with creatures: sea stars, anemones, crabs, fish, alien and familiar all at once. It was like watching the planet whisper to itself. The return to Portland took about ninety minutes. We were dropped off back at our hotel, full of stories and maybe even a little wisdom. The tour does require walking over uneven ground, so if you have mobility concerns, be aware. That said, Cameron showed great compassion and made adjustments for a fellow traveler who needed them. That kind of care is rare and beautiful. In about nine hours, we saw more beauty than some people see in a lifetime. If you're short on time but hungry for meaning, this tour is a hell of a good place to start. Five stars. No question.

This trip to the coast was so much fun and so educational. Our guide Cameron kept us engaged with…read morelots of information and fun facts all the way to the first stop along the coast and then some. The stop for some refreshing water along the road was so unique. The van picked us up at the designated downtown location right on time and after that the fun began. The Oregon coast is very beautiful and the coastal town we stopped in for lunch (Cannon Beach) offered lots of restaurants and lots of shopping opportunities. At one stop we were surrounded by moose, who casually strolled along posing for photos while eating. The weather on the day we went was absolutely perfect and everyone in the completely full van got to know each other a little bit. It was a very enjoyable trip that I really recommend as a way to see the Oregon coast.

What a blast! I had no idea this outfitter existed until last night - when our friend Holly rented…read moreit for her birthday party for s 2 hour tour (think the theme song for Gilligan's Island). The owners were so nice, they actually gave us an extra 30 minutes for a 2.5 hour tour. Yes, there is a toilet on board. Yes, there is a bar. No hard liquor but they have beer, wine, hard ciders and a wine made to taste like tequila for their version of a margarita. We got the watermelon ones. Mmm... Yes, you can bring your own food n board. Our birthday girl brought a stack of pizzas, chips, dips and a birthday cake. Yes, they get you as up close to the falls as legally allowed. Yes, there are plenty of tables and comfy sofa style benches to relax on while you take in the sunset. Yes, they have bluetooth speakers so you can all jam to your favorite tunes. Yes, they provide a karaoke machine so your party can garble the 2 whole hours if they want. I really can't think of a downside except that the birthday girl kept saying that she wished the night wouldn't end. Thanks to the great staff who kept the drinks flowing and go us off on time and gave us a little extra time to enjoy ourselves.

Went with this outfit for my friend's birthday. It was so fun! Very relaxing ride on the…read moreWillamette. No hard liquor, but they have a nice selection of wines, beers, and they can mix wine cocktails that taste like the real thing. I would definitely do this again!

This was a find on the way to check out the Wildwood Crows. It's a museum that has interesting…read moreitems and Ouija boards themes. You buy your tickets and wait a few minutes to go behind a door. There was a group in front of us. So we waited a minute. Stepping inside was like another dimension. Everything was supernatural themes items. Clowns, werewolves and others. It was quite fun to explore and read about stuff. The front of the store has a lot of items too. Old couches and knick knacks. Old photos and more items. It's quite fun to have a break from Wildwood Crows hunting to explore this museum.

Very fun spot, if you are into "dark" stuff. I know for a fact that this place is haunted. I didn't…read morereally see any paranormal activity myself, but with the items they have on display......yeah, it's haunted. The temperature in the back area was cold, compared to the main entrance which appeared to be warmer. If you know the significance of cold rooms regarding paranormal activity, you know what I'm talking about. There were a lot of interesting displays and fun things to read. The place was not very big, but I still had a good time. The staff was great, the selection was as on pint and the value of place was legit. Check it out if you are into paranormal activity.

On a recent visit to see my daughter in Portland, we ventured to this memorial site, in Washington…read morePark near the Japanese and Rose Gardens. (It took a while to find the nearest parking lot and, even then, we had a bit of a walk, including down a steep pathway. FYI for those who are mobility-challenged). The memorial itself is open to the public and free; parking in the nearby lots carries a nominal charge. It is difficult to convey how powerful this memorial is. One truly has to visit this site and experience it to feel the weight of the magnitude of the terror and atrocities and sadness and madness that the Holocaust created. As one approaches, it simply appears to be a stone curvilinear bench on a granite, brick-like ground, with a large, curvilinear granite memorial stone ahead, with engraved quotes and names on the granite. However, when one gets nearer, one sees objects, apparently random, everyday things, scattered about. Said objects are life-size and made of bronze. There's a child's doll on the bench. There's an abandoned pair of eyeglasses on the ground, and a nearby toddlers shoe. Just one shoe. A violin that appears to have seen better days. A valise on its side on the ground with a pronounced crack in its side. Perhaps most poignantly, a lone teddy bear. One can only imagine the nightmare of the people who these objects belonged to, and what fate befell them all. The front of the curved memorial contains quotes on smooth stone surrounded by rough brick-like granite. The reverse side of the monument is all smooth granite and it contains the names of all the Oregon families who've had relatives who've perished in the Holocaust. I had no idea there were so many Oregon families affected; you don't really see a lot of synagogues or Jewish delis or shops in OR (or the rest of the Pacific Northwest, really. I grew up on the east coast, where there is more of a Jewish footprint in the cities in the US and Canada out east). I was especially moved to see a pair of wreaths recently placed at the foot of the memorial with signs that read "Oregon and Humanity stands with Israel" and "Never Again is Now". In light of recent events and the global rise in antisemitism, these wreaths, in front of this memorial, really touched me, more than I can articulate here. (I encourage readers to check out the other reviews of this site, especially Tom V's review, as it is way more articulate than mine and gives the reader a better sense of the gravity of this memorial).

It takes your breath to see some of this memorial. The cast bronze of everyday items, scattered…read moreabout as if they were left behind in a hurry. Eyeglasses...a satchel...a child's doll...if you imagine hard enough, you can see these inanimate items attached to their owners as they fled capture or were led to camps. I'd say your breath is taken away, but it's not that; rather you find yourself holding your breath in. You just can't not feel the overwhelming gravity of the memorial. I've visited the traveling Auschwitz exhibit in Kansas City, and can say without equivocation that the power of its display could not match the terror that the Jewish people had to have felt. The Oregon Holocaust Memorial captures the magnitude of the stretch of years where armies of evil marched all over Europe, eradicating lives and forever altering history. There are samples of soil & ash from each of the six extermination facilities, such as Auschwitz & Treblinka, interred under a quiet memorial. Give that a look and attempt to understand the brutality of those moments decades later. Chances are very good that you will remember the time you spent here in reverence to those lives forever impacted. Quotes, simple anecdotes, and perspective are etched in granite for all to see in perpetuity and, hopefully, never to see repeated. It's a simple memorial, but unlike so many sites, the less said, the better. It stands for remembrance, a bitter reminder of chaotic, xenophobic times, and the solemn respect we should all have for those who perished and, more accurately, those who lived through nightmare only to have to recall it. May they find peace.

Hazel Hall was a Portland poet who registered nationally. This small parklet, dedicated in 1995 by…read morethe Oregon Cultural Heritage Commission, is a memorial to her, next to her historic home. It's a little walk-through between Elephant's outdoor employee lounge and 22nd Place. So many homes like this in NW were demolished. Hazel Hall died young in a wheel chair since a childhood disease at 12. Though she began writing at age 9, and continued; her national poetic career only registered age 30-38. She lived at home, this home, operating a sewing business from her chair. Portland OG DIY. There are some plaques with her poems in this parklet, but no seating or camping is allowed. Portland poet Walt Curtis has written of her at http://www.ochcom.org/hall/.

IT'S A PORTLAND TREASURE! You could spend as few as 20 minutes or as long as an hour or more if you…read morewant to look at everything & read all the stuff. There's a greatmust-do selfie -- hanging off a building (spoiler: not really ) and lots of other peculiaria. I think they don't charge admission if you show up in costume, but that may no longer be true?

I found this place on Atlas Obscura and I felt like visiting with my partner and our dog. To our…read moreluck, our well behaved dog got us 1 free admission! We spent about 15-30 minutes in here just taking it all in and reading as much information as we could. There are plenty of photo ops as well as interactive things to play with. We were lucky to find a parking spot a few steps away and paid about $1-$2 to park for almost an hour. The person behind the front desk was kind and welcoming. The merch selection was vast and interesting. I just wish they had a photo booth because it would tie into the place perfectly. Overall, highly recommend as it is a fun spot to hangout for under an hour.

Five stars for the Oregon Historical Society Museum. Honestly stumbled in for that Portland Penny…read moreI'd heard it was must-see. Spent ages wandering halls, nearly bailed, then asked at the desk. Turns out, cheeky thing's mounted right there by the till, no fuss. Simple, stylish, almost poetic against the brick. Love me some proper old tales, and this place dishes them neat. If your day's wide open, treat yourself classy joint, zero regrets.

I finally made my first visit to the Oregon Historical Society and what a very surprising space. It…read moreseems so small on its exterior but, even just the lobby is a pretty grand presentation. I was very anxious since an exhibition they were featuring was on its last two days and I wanted to check out the Crossing Boundaries: Portraits of a Transgender West exhibit which was in its last two days. A very telling section stated that yes, the exhibit is small which says so much. Their permanent exhibit on Portland's Past and Present feels like it has a lot of space to expand. I was very exited for their 'A Fountain of Creativity: Oregon's 20th Century Artists and the Legacy of Arlene Schnitzer' exhibit and I was swooning at the collection. The guide pamphlet for the exhibit is so well written that it brought me to tears. Since I was pretty young and first got into art and the art scene in and around Portland I have treasured the Schnitzer name as I was lucky that my experience in the arts involved getting back stage tours of the Arlene Schnitzer concert hall and learning how everything was funded and brought to Portland. She and her family are why we have such an amazing and thriving art scene here. The Oregon Historical Society space that this is in really displays the art so beautifully. Another great thing about the Oregon Historical Society is that it is always free to residents of Multnomah County and SNAP benefit recipients but they have many free or discount days as well. As they are conveniently right by the art museum, maybe make a museums wander day and grab some lunch at something nearby.