If you go to the Oregon Zoo, you should not miss this train. Only people who pay zoo admission can ride these rails. Try both routes. The Washington Park Run a quick, 35-minute 4-mile jaunt from the zoo to the Rose Gardens offers a unique tour of the park. The Zoo Loop is much shorter (one mile) and runs the perimeter of the zoo grounds. Schedules for the three trains that run are complicated, so call ahead.
Get a glimpse of the oriental culture right in the heart of Portland at Oregon Nikkei Legacy Center. Established in 2004, this center works towards conserving and promoting the glorious history of Japanese immigrants in the city. The museum has a vast space dedicated entirely to 'Issei immigration' (first generation). Named after the Japanese term meaning 'descendants', this museum traces the origins and cultural changes that the community has seen through the years. Thriving on donations and the meager admission fee, this museum has maintained its exhibits with great care.
When you stroll across the Kruse Oaks Boulevard, this angelic white church located here is hard to miss. With its pristine-marbled walls and slate roof, the LDS Temple Portland Jesus Christ Church of Latter-Day Saints is one of Lake Oswego's most-visited attractions. The majestic aura that surrounds this structure is known to emanate peace. Not only is the structure breath-taking and strikingly beautiful but also the area around the church is equally worth a walk. There are gardens that line the church and its inviting promenade will leave you in awe, and the message shared by the volunteers of the church will give you a new perspective on things.
The history of the Portland fire department dates back more than 150 years. The department came into existence in the 19th Century and has been serving the community of Portland since. The Historic Belmont Firehouse is a testament to the heritage of firefighting in Portland. The firehouse building has undergone renovation many times but still manages to hold on to its historic charm. Inside the building is the Jeff Morris Fire Museum, which has displays of many kinds of firefighting equipment. Unlike other museums where touching exhibits are strictly prohibited, you can touch and handle several of these artifacts to understand how they work. Some interesting elements include the Jeffers Sidestroke Handpump Fire Engine from 1859 and the Hose Cart from 1860. Timelines of the milestones of the fire department's history adorn the walls and an audio guide is also available for those who want additional information.
Tilikum Crossing, Bridge of the People is a Portland landmark and the first of its kind in the United States. The bridge is unique in that it allows no private vehicles or cars, and is exclusively for public transport, services, pedestrians and bikers. The Portland Streetcar and MAX Orange Line trains operate across the bridge. This bridge is a cable-stayed structure and a unique addition to the city's skyscape.
Portland is called the "Rose City" for a reason. These public gardens were established in 1917 and set above the cityscape of Downtown Portland. They are the oldest official public rose gardens in the United States and the only place in North America that can officially issue recognized awards for hybrid roses grown around the world. The best time of the year for viewing is during the summer, when the fragrant blooms begin to appear and continue until frost.