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.

Loved it. Museum tour is totally worth it and they have a lot of excellent pieces for purchase as…read morewell. If you are into the dark and morbid you will enjoy it.

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.

When it comes to Keep Portland Weird, this is the place I think of first and a must see if you like…read moreodd things. They have a quirky collection of oddities and I love the interactive pictures you can take. Make sure to look at every corner high and low. It's a fun use of an hour of your time. Free popcorn too while you peruse the displays. Since the last time I was here they changed out a few of their things which is great. Also make sure to check out their gift shop.

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?

Fun family activity for a couple hours. Twelve mostly large scale or interactive exhibits that you…read morecan puruse at your leisure. Our family highlights included any dancing videos (of yourself). Unsurprisingly, the kids loved the ball pit and 'trampoline' room, we loved the music and ball light installation as well. As they will remind you of you but tickets ahead of time, remember to bring socks as they are required for a few rooms. Not quite the TeamLab experience, more refined than Meow Wolf, but still a lot of fun.

Super interesting place! While we did have fun, I was a bit underwhelmed. Honestly, I was thinking…read moreit was more a "Meow Wolf" type of place... so I guess I should've just entered the space without any expectations. The bar in the beginning was a nice touch. You can walk around with your drinks and explore the different rooms they had. You can even take a break and grab food- once you get in your time there is unlimited! One of the best rooms was the Secret Garden. This is where you stand under a cloud like dome and hear secrets from people who have recorded them from a month or two ago. They have a recording booth within the room and you sit there and confess things. Then it plays it back after a couple of months to make sure you remain anonymous. The secrets we heard were gnarly... Won't repeat any, just go there and see! That was probably the best room we went into. The other rooms were super cool, which included a ball pit, infinity room/light looking room as well as a semi-bouncy room. Really interactive and creative space. Entrance fee is not bad for the type of space it's in [Around $22ish?]. Just don't be a jerk and be respectful of peoples' spaces. Not that anyone was disrespectful to us, just saying!

I came with my friend and her family. I had been to Mike Bennett's art exhibits before and was…read moreexcited to check out this immersive experience. It was so much fun! I really enjoyed all the cool stories behind each cryptid and learning about new ones. I also thought the wall of Bennett ancestors was funny. It was such a nice event to bring some bright peculiarity to the world. Thanks so much, Mike Bennett and team for putting this together!

Do you like weird things? Do you like cute things? Do you like to learn? If the answer to any of…read morethese is yes than you should check it out! If you're not familiar with the artist, Mike Bennett, this is a great time to see his work. The admission is free and the tour is at your own pace. If you can you should really check out this exhibit while it's still up.

Pittock Mansion viewpoint is absolutely stunning and a place that makes you just stop and stare for…read morea second (or ten). Perched above Portland, it gives you that sweeping city + mountain view that feels almost unreal on a clear day. Fun fact: the mansion was built in 1914 for Henry and Georgiana Pittock, and it played a big role in Portland's early publishing history. Another fun one... it was nearly destroyed in the 1962 Columbus Day Storm but was fully restored, which feels very fitting for something this iconic. Gorgeous, peaceful, and 100 percent worth the stop.

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.

The Portland Art Museum sits directly in front of the South Park Blocks, a historic 12-block green…read morespace stretching through downtown Portland. It's a beautiful area within the Cultural District. The museum itself is easy to navigate, it's well-curated, and well-designed. There are several outdoor pavilions - the doors to which are contact free (you just wave to open them). My only complaint is the "All User" bathrooms which lack privacy and feel awkward to use. The Hockey exhibit is worth seeing - as is the Rothko collection, NW, and european collections. The Vancouver Art Museum may want to take note...

This is probably one of the best museums I've been to. I'm surprised it isn't rated higher! The…read moremuseum is large and features a cornucopia of visually stunning and creative art. My favorites were pieces of art creatively combining modern and traditional aesthetics.

I hadn't heard of Respaldiza before. I love the bright colors and use of maps in her work. It's so…read moregood! I'm looking forward to the new exhibit coming to the Portland's Miniature Museum in May.

The cutest little hidden museum right on my dog walk route! Is it a miniature museum or a museum of…read moreminiatures? I'll take either!

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.

Hubs & I love visiting Japanese Gardens whenever we get the chance. Portland Japanese Garden is…read morequite unique in that it can take advantage of its location within Washington Park and all its trees add to its beauty. I also love looking at bonsai trees, and the collection here did not disappoint. Loved the sand garden. The entire layout was a bit smaller than I imagined from the guide. There are a few steeper / hilly climbs, so I would recommend wearing good walking shoes. I wouldn't say this is the most handicap/wheelchair friendly, though they do have a shuttle that can take you up from the ticketing area to the main garden entrance...but inside the garden there are some spots that have a lot of stairs and some paths & walkways are quite narrow. They have their own designated parking lot that seems to fill up fast. We found parking near the Rose Garden and walked over. It's incredible to think that this garden is just a mile or so away from the city! They also have a tea house and a cute gift shop. A couple of restrooms available located throughout the garden.

What a beautiful hidden gem in the middle of a neighborhood in Portland…read more This is a little sweet piece taken out of Scandinavian children's books in the heart of Portland. Great artwork made by the artist. You actually feel disconnected from the US and in another country. Cute short walk around the houses and the Troll sculpture made of recycled wood. The place also has a small coffeeshop and if you are interested in connecting with Scandinavian community there is a lot of information there.

We are huge fans of Thomas Dambo's trolls so whenever we're near one it's pretty much a guaranteed…read morestop. Ole Bolle definitely stands out for me as one of the more whimsical Dambo experiences. You follow a path into the woods and then all of a sudden you spot this giant troll lifting the roof off a tiny house like he's trying to sneak a peek inside. It's such a fun scene and you can't help but smile. You can actually go inside the Little House and look up at Ole Bolle from a completely different perspective. This it makes the sculpture feel more immersive than some others we have seen. The setting is also beautiful and the wooden trail makes you feel like you've wandered into a fairy tale. There are shaded picnic tables nearby if you want to sit and relax for a while. There is also a nice spot at the beginning of the trail to have a good lunch that I just reviewed as well. This place will make you feel like a kid again and I definitely recommend a visit.