Portland Vacations

As the largest city in Oregon, Portland offers a wide and unique variety of attractions and activities for visitors to the city. Many begin their vacations by heading to Washington Park. Spread over more than 400 acres of land, it is home to some of the city’s most popular destinations such as the Oregon Zoo, the Hoyt Arboretum and the Portland Japanese Garden. The zoo is home to over 200 species of animals, with its most popular exhibit being its large paddock of Asian elephants. The Hoyt Arboretum was opened in 1928 and displays over a thousand species of trees and plants, most of which are native to the area. Designed by Takuma Tono, the Portland Japanese Garden is the second largest such garden in the United States and is widely admired for its adherence to traditional Japanese style. Those interested in exploring the city’s rich artistic culture flock to the Portland Art Museum. Established at the close of the 19th century, it holds more than 40,000 works of art in its permanent collection, including works by masters such as Renoir, Monet and van Gogh. Though slightly off the beaten path, Powell’s Books remains one of the city’s most enduring attractions. Within its 68,000 square-foot flagship store, it holds more than four million books in its inventory, making it the largest used bookstore in the world.