Since 1871, Washington Park has provided a lovely escape from the bustle of the growing city of Portland. Today visit for fresh air, educational sites, inspirational spots or simply a chance to smell the roses.
The International Rose Test Garden is known world-wide as a garden of distinction for rose cultivation and testing. From Memorial Day to Labor Day, join a guided tour with a volunteer to see and smell the glorious blooms of over 500 named roses, from Abbaye de Cluny to Zephirine Drouhin.
Just west of the roses, the Portland Japanese Garden offers a different perspective, with a peaceful design and experience typical of gardens in Japan. Immerse yourself in Japanese culture and arts, sipping tea, studying moss growing on a stone or listening to the gentle sounds of a harp.
Enjoyment of the natural world continues in the Hoyt Arboretum. Walk among 6,300 individually identified plants, many grown from seeds harvested in the wild. Join a tour or check the website for monthly highlights. Stop at the World Forestry Center to learn even more about trees, from multiple perspectives of propagation, growth and uses as products.
Follow the park’s 15 miles (24 kilometers) of trails to discover numerous memorials. The Lewis and Clark Memorial Column and Sacajawea and Jean-Baptiste statue honor those who explored the Pacific Northwest for U.S. interests. Coming of the White Man honors Native Americans. At the northern end of the park, look for the Oregon Holocaust Memorial, which memorializes the suffering and millions of deaths during the Nazi persecutions of World War II.
Bring children to the south end of the park to visit the Oregon Zoo, with nearly 2,000 animals from all parts of the world. The nearby Portland Children’s Museum has fun and educational activities for younger kids.
Washington Park is about 2 miles (3 kilometers) from downtown Portland. While some parking is available for a fee nearby, consider walking, biking, doing a rideshare or taking the bus, train or shuttle to reach the site. The park is open daily and free to enter. Check info for individual attractions, which may charge admission and have shorter hours.
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