C.R.A.F.T. Free Trips: Portland Oregon

I have lived in Oregon all my life and I LOVE it!  There is so much to do and see.  This is one place you have to visit!!

 I was so excited when Jamie from C.R.A.F.T. was asking people to post fun things to do in the cities which they live.

There is so much to do in the Portland area!  Here are just a handful of things my family loves to do:

1.  Portland Rose Gardens.  These gardens are beautiful!  Located just minutes from downtown Portland in Washington Park, the Rose Garden features nearly 7,000 rose bushes, spectacular views of the city .

Local tip: During summer, visit in the early evening when it’s cooler and less crowded.

2.  Portland Saturday Market.  If you love to shop....this place is for you!!

Kids love to scour the booths at this festive weekend arts-and-crafts market (open Sundays too) in search of a handmade souvenir or three. Hours: Open rain or shine, Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., March through Dec. 24.

 Admission: Free

3.  Portland Children's museum.  My kids absolutely love this place!!  It's also right across the street from the Portland Zoo!

One of the oldest children’s museums in the country, this beloved institution is filled with a collection of interactive exhibits where little ones can build, sculpt, and splash in the name of discovery. Popular attractions include the Play It Again Theater, which never goes dark, and the Dig Pit, filled with rubber gravel and located next to the Caterpillar Café.

Hours: March 1 - Sept. 6, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. daily. The rest of the year, open Tuesday-Sunday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Thursday 9 a.m.-8 p.m. Open until 8 p.m. the first Friday of every month, year-round.Admission: Youth and adults (ages 1-54) $9, seniors (55+) and military $8, members and children under age 1 free. Free on the first Friday of each month from 4-8 p.m.

4.Multnomah Falls.  A waterfall as magnificent and memorable as any in the country is located just a 30- minute drive outside of Portland. Visiting Multnomah Falls, a 611-foot-tall roaring, awe-inspiring cascade of icy water, lets you experience the power and beauty of nature up close and with ease. From the parking area off of I-84, a 5-minute 

walk is all that separates you from the exhilarating spray at the base of the falls.

5.  Oregon Coast!  It's as close as a 1 hr. drive and if you visit Oregon, you HAVE to go to the Beach!  It's true that it's colder than just about any other beach you go to, but it is BEAUTIFUL!  This picture is of the Astoria Column in Astoria, Oregon.  This is on the Northern Oregon Coast.  It is gorgeous!  One of my families favorite places to visit!  

6.Forest Park

This park is gorgeous!  So many hiking trails and places to have a picnic!

The 30-mile Wildwood Trail in Forest Park is part of the region’s 40-Mile Loop system that links Forest Park to pedestrian and trail routes along the Columbia River to Gresham, through southeast Portland, along the Willamette Greenway, and back to the Marquam Trail in southwest Portland. 

7.  Smith Berry Farm

Smith Berry Barn is a destination farm and garden market featuring the very best of Oregon’s bounty. Seasonal offerings include U-pick berries, farm fresh fruits and vegetables, specialty herbs and perennials, hanging baskets and more. The historic barn is filled with gourmet foods, distinctive gifts, an espresso bar and milkshakes made with fruit fresh from the farm.

8. Portland Farmers Market

Founded in 1992, Portland Farmers Market is a  nonprofit organization operating six vibrant farmers markets in Portland, OR. Our markets provide a direct connection to over 250 vendors with deep roots in Oregon and Southwest Washington, including farms, nurseries, bakeries, meat and seafood providers, cheese makers and specialty foods producers.

9. Powells City of Books

Spend an afternoon exploring Powell’s City of Books, the world’s largest independent bookstore, covering an entire city block. Boasting more than a million titles, Powell’s is a mecca for bibliophiles searching for used, out-of-print, rare or autographed books. While the browsing isfree, book-lovers will be hard pressed not to purchase something — especially from the bargain tables. Browsers are welcome to take up tothree titles into the coffee shop for perusing. Ride Powell’s three-door elevator – one of only a handful in the United States – or check out the Rare Book Room. Because Powell’s is located in Portland’s Free Rail Zone, transportation between Powell’s and the downtown hotels on the Portland Streetcar is free.

10.  The Grotto

This 62-acre Catholic sanctuary is one of Portland’s most visited attractions, greeting more than 175,000 guests of all faiths each year. Visitors can stroll through this natural gallery in the woods; view the marble replica of Michelangelo’s famous Pietà, carved into the base of a 110-foot cliff; or ride the elevator to the top of the bluff for an impressive, panoramic view of the area’s highlights, including the Columbia River Valley, the Cascade Mountain Range and Mount St. Helens.

Hours: Open year-round; hours vary. Admission: There is no charge to see the lower-level gardens and structures. To access the upper gardens, each visitor must purchase an elevator token. Tokens are $4.00 for ages 12-64, ages 6-11 $2.50, and seniors over 65 $3.00. Children under 6 are free.

I hope you enjoyed seeing some of my favorite places to visit in the Portland, Oregon area.  There is so much more to see, you just have to come visit and check them all out!!