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.
The Oregon Zoo houses animals from all parts of the world. Spread over 64 acres of land, there's always something to see. Here one can observe animals in their natural habitats, including elephants, bears, penguins and monkeys. Hop aboard the train for a zoo tour or rent a special stroller wagon for the kids. After a busy day of animal watching, enjoy a waffle ice cream cone from the snack bar, dine at the on site cafe or enjoy a picnic lunch on the lawn.
Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI) offers halls dedicated to earth science, life science, computers, chemistry, traveling exhibits and hands-on exhibits, a planetarium, the Empirical Theater, a submarine to tour, a motion simulator ride and a cafe. The museum, through its various games and interactive displays, offers an opportunity to exercise the grey cells and leave with more knowledge and information.
Created in 1892 primarily to promote visual arts, the museum is set up with several large and open viewing rooms. Do not miss the Native American collection, and the artists' works featured in the European collection will also surprise you. Also check out the North Wing's Jubitz Center, which houses modern and contemporary art. In the spring, the museum's Northwest Film Center hosts the annual Jewish Film Festival.
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.
Portland Japanese Garden includes waterfalls, koi filled ponds, a wisteria arbor and even a tea-house that was built in Japan with ancient construction techniques. It features five unique gardens. The Strolling Pond contains the five-tiered stone pagoda lantern given to Portland in 1963 by Sapporo, Portland's sister city in Japan. Many events are observed in the gardens, including Children's Day, the Tanabata Star Festival and the Obon Spirit Festival. Garden curators also offer classes in Japanese culture and gardening techniques.
If you're curious about what exactly makes Portland the brewing capital of the country, it might be a good idea to sign up for a tour with the Portland Brew Bus. After gathering with your group in the lobby of DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Portland, at 1.30p, you are taken on a four-hour journey of breweries like Widmer Brothers Brewing Company, The Old Lompoc, Bridgeport Brewery and Pyramid Brewing, and you get to sample many of their famous creations. If you don't wish to participate in the public tour, you can opt for a charter tour that will begin from a destination of your choosing.
If you are a dance enthusiast then the Studio 2 at Zoomtopia is one place you must explore. This studio space is dedicated towards encouraging budding choreographers and dancers. A variety of dance forms ranging from Tango to Classical Indian and contemporary disciplines are practised and hosted here throughout the year. The studio is quite spacious and it's very well lit which adds to the charm of every performance. In addition to performances, dance workshops occupy a significant number of dates on their calender.
The Falcon Art Community is the brainchild of Brian Wannamaker and is a unique platform for artists of all kinds. It is distinct in the city as it offers not only studios and work spaces but also apartments to stay in. You will find musicians, actors, composers, sculptors, writers and painters at this facility creating notable work. Set in a building dating back to 1911, the interiors are decked with pieces made by its resident artists. The Falcon Art Community also hosts live performances regularly.