5 Amazing Vistas Around Portland
Need a spot to take in the world and clear out your mind? Active Junky’s list of the 5 best things to do in Portland has something for everyone—from bikers to bookworms.
International Rose Test Garden
Image via Lauren Dees
Looking to stop and smell the roses? The International Rose Test Garden was founded in 1917 to preserve European rose varieties threatened by World War I bombings. Now, the striking garden serves as a place to test and develop new rose variations. Free and open to the public from April through October, the garden features 7,000 gorgeous, fragrant rose bushes. Shakespeare said it best, his words now etched in the garden’s brick wall, “Of all flowers, methinks a rose is best.”
Best For: A long, winding walk and a rest at one of the park’s hidden benches
Powell’s City of Books
Image via Lauren Dees
This list would be incomplete without Powell’s. It’s more than “just a book store.” Wander the aisles and you’re likely to get lost – it’s THE largest used and new bookstore in the world, sprawling across an entire city block. Open 365 days a year, visiting Powell’s is definitely one of the best things to do in Portland as it is the perfect place to browse over a million (you read that correctly) books without worrying about the rain outside. Don’t forget to peek inside the rare book room—it’s packed with hidden treasures and rare editions, some over 600 years old.
Best For: Getting lost. Seriously, there are 3,500 different sections.
Portland Japanese Garden
Image via Lauren Dees
Made up of 5 distinct gardens, the Portland Japanese Garden authentically adheres to Japanese styles. Designed with Shinto, Buddhist and Taoist philosophies in mind, each composition features the three essential elements: stone, water and plants. Pagodas, waterfalls, bridges and stone lanterns lend to the meditative air. Pick a private nook underneath a Japanese Maple and contemplate life’s big questions, or just take a nap.
Best For: Getting Zen and catching Zs.
Forest Park
Prefer your meditation on the go? Forest Park is the place to do it with over 80 miles of forgiving, runnable trails. The largest urban forest in the U.S., the aptly named Forest Park is home to 5,157 acres of unparalleled Northwest beauty. Run, walk, cycle or ride (horses, that is) while admiring views of the Columbia and Willamette rivers, the Tualatin Mountains and Northwest Portland.
Best For: Beating the heat or avoiding the rain under towering green trees.
The Springwater Corridor
This developed trail allows bikers a gorgeous commute sans emissions. A former railway line, the Springwater Corridor stretches from the not-so-boring town of Boring, Oregon through Gresham to Portland, crisscrossing Johnson Creek and the Willamette River along the way. All but about 3 of this path’s 21 miles are paved, yet it’s still surrounded by greenery and wildlife.
Best For: soul-searching, pedaling and commuting.
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