Top Rated Attractions in Portland

Resembling a community garden you would find in Suzhou, Portland's sister city, Lan Su Chinese Garden is a beautiful green space near the bank of the Willamette River. The garden is complete with winding pathways, gorgeous plants, a lovely tea-house and a gift store. You can take a tour to get insider knowledge of the garden and try to come during one of their many interesting events, including exhibitions and lectures. This place is a must-visit for its unique beauty. You can even hire this garden for private events such as weddings and receptions.

Formerly known as The Rose Garden, Moda Center is home to the Portland Trail Blazers professional basketball team, and the premier indoor sports arena in Portland. Portland State University’s hockey team Winterhawks also play games here. The arena has room for nearly 20,000 spectators, though the number changes depending on the event, and is popular for concerts, shows and other entertainment productions. The Rose Quarter features an impressive array of bronze statues and the dancing water fountain is one of the stadium's most important facilities along with the Veterans Memorial Coliseum and the Theater of the Clouds.

Great entertainers such as Marvin Gaye, James Brown and the Grateful Dead have performed in this historic ballroom that is now owned by the McMenamin Brothers. Three on-site bars—including a popular nightclub, Ringlers - will satiate your hunger and thirst. It is worth a visit just to behold the local landmark's ornate chandeliers, picturesque windows and a 7500-square -foot (696.7728 square meters) dance floor that floats on ball-bearings.

Dating back to 1927, the "Schnitz," as referred to by the locals, is a Portland treasure. Part of Portland'5 Centers for the Arts and home to the Oregon Symphony, it was overhauled in the 1980s and now provides a multitude of amenities. The concert hall seats 2,776 people with an upper and lower balcony for special views. Visit the concession stand for sandwiches, drinks and a selection of beer or wine. Located off the lobby is a gift shop offering a wide selection of Oregon Symphony merchandise that includes recordings.

This venue is a part of the Portland'5 Centers for the Arts, located inside the Antoinette Hatfield Hall. The impressive Edwardian-style venue is the only one of its kind, and houses 880 comfortable and well-positioned seats, none of which are more than 65 feet from the stage. Get a close-up of the action underneath an impressive ceiling, beautifully lit by scores of tiny lights that adjust according to the act. Dance performances, kids' shows, concerts, lectures, opera, Broadway acts and symphonies help keep up the vibrancy.

Walk through the grand plaza and step into Oregon's past. Located in Portland's cultural district, The Oregon Historical Society has bountiful collections of historical artifacts, photographs, moving pictures, maps and more. Many exhibits are interactive, and the atmosphere is friendly. The museum is very well-maintained and curated in a way to provide easy navigation, it appears as though you are living history as you navigate your way through the interior. The center's shop is full of Native American jewelry, baskets and pots. The book collection covers all of the Northwest's history for adults and children.