Sylvan-Highlands, OR

Portland

Golden Breasted Starling From the African Rainforest Aviary.
Golden Breasted Starling From the African Rainforest Aviary.
I'll post other photos from the zoo from time to time, but, for now, I'll leave you with this story. While heading for the exit after a long day of walking, and looking, and taking pictures, I was drawn to something out of the corner of my eye. A female mallard was calmly sitting in the waters of a rushing fountain, the kind of thing wild fowl generally tend to do. Standing by the fountain was a boy, and sitting a few feet away, his mother. The boy was doing everything in his power to bother the duck. -- splashing it, yelling at it, jumping up and down. His mother sat by, watching mutely. On the pretext of setting up to take photographs, I walked over and began to focus. In as polite a voice as I could manage, I told the boy that it was probably best to stop bothering the duck, that it wasn't a particularly nice thing to do, and, after a pause, I asked him, with a pointed glance, how much would he like it if someone did that to him. Emerging from her seemingly somnambulistic state, the mother urged the boy away, and the two left quickly together. It is not always easy to tell the difference between the animals and the noble souls in a place like this, or perhaps anywhere, for that matter. Wild animals behave the way they do because they have to. To see a crane dancing alone in a field, completely in thrall to its instincts, without even a partner to make sense of the thing, is to understand just how little choice it has over what it does. But we do have a choice. We are the creatures who invented choosing. That we have chosen to set aside places to preserve and protect some of the rarest animals on earth is a testament to our most noble faculties, and to our ability to choose well when the right choice presents itself. I hope we can continue to choose well, that our less noble faculties don't get the better of us, and compel us to make choices that those judging our actions on some future date consider only with confusion and despair. Perhaps it was a little less than noble of me to school a small boy in the humane treatment of animals, but judging from the context, that lesson might never have come. Chances are it went into one ear and right out the other. But if he had grown up without ever hearing those words, he might never have had the chance to learn the lesson they attempted to instill. Moreover, and more sadly, he might never have cared. As I dismantle my soapbox and walk away for the evening, I will leave you with a modest bit of preaching: to my mind there is really only one choice when it comes to that lesson. We all need to learn it. We all need to care.
This species goes unidentified on the zoo's web site. It lives in the African rainforest aviary.
African Red-billed Hornbill With a disposition to match its countenance. Hoo boy!

Popular places to visit

Visitors enjoy a sunny day at Oregon Zoo in Portland with family and friends exploring the lush surroundings

Oregon Zoo

4.5/5(610 reviews)

Awesome beasts native to America have a home alongside exotic and endangered species from around the world at this picturesque Portland attraction.

Oregon Zoo
Portland Children\'s Museum showing signage

Portland Children's Museum

4/5(9 reviews)

Kids and adults can enjoy the interactive exhibits of this museum, which encourages creativity, exploration, imagination and expression.

Portland Children's Museum
So much #Green for March. Awesome trails throughout the Hoyt Arboretum made for a fantastic day. Best city park I've ever seen.

Hoyt Arboretum

Enjoy a stop at Hoyt Arboretum, an entertaining place to visit in Portland. Discover the area's top-notch restaurants and its acclaimed art scene.

Hoyt Arboretum
World Forestry Center featuring signage

World Forestry Center

Get insights into all aspects of forests and trees, learning how they grow and how they are used around the world.

World Forestry Center
Moda Center

Moda Center

4.5/5(1,165 reviews)

See sporting teams do battle and rock out to musical legends at one of Portland’s major venues for sports and big-ticket entertainment events.

Moda Center
Aerial View of Portland Cityscape with Solar Panels and Highway

Oregon Convention Center

4.5/5(569 reviews)

Learn about the events happening at Oregon Convention Center during your trip to Portland. Attend a sporting event or simply enjoy the top-notch restaurants while you're in the area.

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Sylvan-Highlands Hotel Deals

The Paramount Hotel

The Paramount Hotel

3.5 out of 5
808 SW Taylor St Portland OR
The price is NT$2,957 per night from Feb 8 to Feb 9
NT$2,957
NT$3,447 total
Feb 8 - Feb 9
includes taxes & fees
Book a stay at this business-friendly hotel in Portland. Enjoy free WiFi, breakfast (surcharge), and a 24-hour fitness center. Our guests praise the restaurant ...
9.2/10 Wonderful! (3,167 reviews)
Clean room, quiet, nice restaurants. Our only complaint was the parking charge and difficult garage to maneuver in ( elevator was not working).

Reviewed on 2026/1/30

The Paramount Hotel
The Duniway Portland A Hilton Hotel

The Duniway Portland A Hilton Hotel

4.5 out of 5
545 SW Taylor St Portland OR
The price is NT$4,688 per night from Feb 8 to Feb 9
NT$4,688
NT$5,438 total
Feb 8 - Feb 9
includes taxes & fees
Book a stay at this luxury hotel in Portland. Enjoy a rooftop terrace, a 24-hour fitness center, and valet parking (surcharge). Our guests praise the helpful ...
8.6/10 Excellent! (1,001 reviews)
Super comfortable beds and a beautiful hotel!

Reviewed on 2026/1/28

The Duniway Portland A Hilton Hotel
Radisson Hotel Portland Airport

Radisson Hotel Portland Airport

3.5 out of 5
6233 NE 78th Court Portland OR
The price is NT$2,915 per night from Feb 6 to Feb 7
NT$2,915
NT$3,539 total
Feb 6 - Feb 7
includes taxes & fees
Book a stay at this golf hotel in Portland. Enjoy free WiFi, breakfast (surcharge), and a free airport shuttle. Our guests praise the breakfast and the restaurant ...
8.8/10 Excellent! (2,960 reviews)
I can't recall if I stayed at rennison before but this, this Radisson in Portland Oregon, was everything I could hope for for a place. This day, staff was a seriously helpful, friendly, very, very friendly. The rooms the hotel, everything was very clean, and I could not even find an issue if I wanted ...

Reviewed on 2026/1/31

Radisson Hotel Portland Airport
Park Lane Suites and Inn

Park Lane Suites and Inn

2.5 out of 5
809 SW King Avenue Portland OR
The price is NT$2,506 per night from Feb 8 to Feb 9
NT$2,506
NT$2,907 total
Feb 8 - Feb 9
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this hotel in Portland. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and a fitness center. Our guests praise the helpful staff and the clean rooms in our reviews. ...
8.6/10 Excellent! (1,607 reviews)
Room was very clean and friendly stuff, very closed to the restaurants, easy to go roam around. Also nearby hospital :) i recommend to everyone

Reviewed on 2026/1/29

Park Lane Suites and Inn
Mark Spencer Hotel

Mark Spencer Hotel

3 out of 5
409 Sw 11th Ave Portland OR
The price is NT$2,641 per night from Feb 2 to Feb 3
NT$2,641
NT$3,064 total
Feb 2 - Feb 3
includes taxes & fees
Book a stay at this business-friendly hotel in Portland. Enjoy free WiFi, breakfast (surcharge), and a fitness center. Our guests praise the helpful staff and ...
9.2/10 Wonderful! (1,983 reviews)
Great location, friendly staff and nice rooms!

Reviewed on 2026/1/29

Mark Spencer Hotel
Holiday Inn Airport - Portland by IHG

Holiday Inn Airport - Portland by IHG

3 out of 5
8439 Ne Columbia Blvd Portland OR
The price is NT$1,982 per night from Feb 9 to Feb 10
NT$1,982
NT$2,299 total
Feb 9 - Feb 10
includes taxes & fees
Book a stay at this business-friendly hotel in Portland. Enjoy free WiFi, breakfast (surcharge), and a free airport shuttle. Our guests praise the helpful staff ...
8/10 Very Good! (2,898 reviews)
Clean hotel. Great customer service. Great location to the airport.

Reviewed on 2026/1/26

Holiday Inn Airport - Portland by IHG
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Other neighborhoods around Sylvan-Highlands

Aerial drone view of Northwest Portland, Oregon, showing Forest Park, Nob Hill, and Willamette Heights with greenery, homes, and industrial areas along the Willamette River

Nob Hill

While you're in Nob Hill, take in top sights like Trevett-Nunn House or Mission Theater, and hop on the metro to see more the city at NW 23rd & Marshall Stop or NW Lovejoy & 22nd Stop.

Nob Hill
Nob Hill showing signage and outdoor eating as well as a small group of people

Alphabet Historic District

4.5/5(136 area reviews)

Consider a visit to Nathan Loeb House and take some time to enjoy the abundant dining options during your time in Alphabet Historic District. If you want to see more of the city, jump on the metro at NW Lovejoy & 18th Stop or NW Lovejoy & 21st Stop.

Alphabet Historic District
Relaxing afternoon by the waterfront in downtown Portland with views of boats and the city skyline

Downtown Portland

4.5/5(4,488 area reviews)

Explore the Portland Art Museum, Oregon Historical Society, and Tom McCall Waterfront Park in this central business district with high-rise buildings. Enjoy walkable streets, and easily access public transportation like MAX light rail and Portland Streetcar.

Downtown Portland
Pearl District which includes outdoor art

Pearl District

4.5/5(527 area reviews)

Discover art galleries like Elizabeth Leach Gallery, dine at diverse restaurants, and unwind in public plazas such as Jamison Square. Easily navigate with the Portland Streetcar and explore nearby iconic Powell's City of Books.

Pearl District
Sunrise from the upper tram terminal at Oregon Health Science University. Timing is everything in photography. I have waited a year to get the right timing and weather for this shot. For those fortunate enough to ride the tram daily this is a common sight. Mount Hood in the background.

Southwest Portland

Downtown Portland boasts cultural, educational, and retail hotspots, with attractions like Tom McCall Waterfront Park, Portland Art Museum, and Pioneer Place mall. Enjoy pedestrian-friendly streets and unique residential areas in Southwest Portland.

Southwest Portland
Don't miss visiting the USS Blueback while at OMSI. View the I-5 Marquam bridge. Portland names all their bridges. I guess we go across bridges so often we feel a personal connection to them. It's one of the things that makes our city "special"

Central Eastside

While you're in Central Eastside, take in top sights like Grand Central or Oregon Museum of Science and Industry, and hop on the metro to see more the city at SE Grand & Taylor Stop or SE Grand & Belmont Stop.

Central Eastside

Sylvan-Highlands, OR