500 N.E. Captain Michael King Smith Way, McMinnville
503.434.4180, http://sprucegoose.org/

At the Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum, innovation and imagination are behind every propeller blade and rocket engine. Watch your family's eyes light up as they listen to stories from veterans who flew the aircraft, and experience 3D movies chronicling an astronaut's journey in space. With more than 150 aircraft, spacecraft and exhibits, including the famous Spruce Goose and SR-71 Blackbird, there's something for everyone at the Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum. What will inspire you? Open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.

239 N.W. Everett St.
503.228.8131, www.lansugarden.org

Lan Su Chinese Garden is one of Portland's greatest treasures. Built by Chinese artisans from Suzhou, it's the most authentic Chinese garden outside of China. Much more than just a beautiful garden, Lan Su is a creative wonder - a powerfully inspiring experience based on a 2,000-year-old Chinese tradition that melds art, architecture, design and nature in perfect harmony. Once inside the garden's walls, you'll feel as if you've traveled through time to another era in a faraway world. Ever changing, Lan Su always has something new to offer...by the minute, by the hour, and with the seasons. Enter the wonderland.

110 Railroad Ave.
Sixty miles east of Portland via I-84
800.872.4661, www.mthoodrr.com

Take a scenic rail tour from Hood River in the Columbia Gorge to the foothills of majestic Mt. Hood. Vintage coaches take passengers through four beautiful seasons in the Hood River Valley. Ride the narrated Excursion Train or dine leisurely aboard the Dinner and Brunch Trains. Special trains include the Western Train Robberies, Holiday Christmas Tree Trains, Murder Mystery Dinner Trains, The Polar Express and many others. Round trip train tours are two or four hours in length. East of Portland via I-84 at exit 63 in Hood River.

Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area
503.695.2376, www.multnomahfallslodge.com

Multnomah Falls Lodge, located just 30 miles east of Portland off I-84, offers breathtaking views of the secondhighest year-round waterfall in the United States. Nestled in the heart of the scenic Columbia River Gorge, you'll find tree-lined hiking trails to the top of the 620-foot falls, an interpretive center and gift shop as well as a charming Old World lodge that features Northwest Cuisine for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Open daily from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.

1200 S.W. Park Ave.
503.222.1741, www.ohs.org

Explore Oregon's fascinating history at the Oregon History Museum, located on the historic Park Blocks in downtown Portland. The museum is home to many exhibits, including the award-winning exhibit Oregon My Oregon. Occupying an entire floor of the museum, this exhibit includes two theaters, interactive displays, and an authentic wagon. View a re-creation of a Hudson's Bay Company ship hull, a 19th century explorer's tent, and a store stocked with 1940s-era merchandise from the Hood River Yasui Brothers Mercantile. Travel the Oregon Trail, witness Native culture, and view spectacular traveling exhibits on your next visit to the Oregon History Museum.

1945 S.E. Water Ave.
503.797.4000, www.omsi.edu

Build your brainpower with over 200 interactive exhibits for all ages in life sciences, robotics, global climate, technology and more. Explore the galaxy or watch a laser show in the Northwest's most technologically-advanced planetarium, participate in live lab experiments, climb aboard the U.S. Navy's last non-nuclear, fast-attack submarine, and experience the cinematic magic of the OMNIMAX Dome Theater. Hands-on science playground for children six and under. Refuel with fresh, locally sourced meals or snacks at OMSI's river-view cafe.

Washington Park, 4001 S.W. Canyon Road
503.226.1561, www.oregonzoo.org

One of the top zoos in North America is located in Portland. Its state-of-the-art, naturalistic exhibits have won many national awards. Visit the Africa Rain Forest, home to monkeys, crocodiles, bats and other denizens of the West African tropics. See penguins on the re-created coastline of Peru, polar bears swimming under the Arctic ice, zebras roaming the savanna, and plants and animals native to the Northwest's mountains and coast. Don't forget to visit the most prolific herd of Asian elephants in any zoo - 27 babies have been born here! During the summer, board the zoo train for a ride through the wooded hills of Washington Park to the International Rose Test and Japanese gardens. Outdoor concerts enliven evenings throughout the summer. Winter brings the magic of ZooLights, a festival that runs through December. The zoo is open daily from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. May 15 - September 15 and from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. September 16 - May 14. It is closed on Christmas Day. The Oregon Zoo is a five-minute drive from downtown on Hwy. 26 West. Take MAX to the Washington Park station.

3229 N.W. Pittock Dr.
503.823.3623, www.pittockmansion.org

Nestled high in the West Hills of Portland, Pittock Mansion soars 1,000 feet above the city's skyline. A century old symbol of Portland's dramatic transformation from a small lumber town to a bustling city, it's an architectural wonder. With picture perfect views of rivers, forests, bridges and mountaintops - and 23 storied rooms teeming with treasures - no other place in town offers a more breathtaking view and more revealing glimpse of Portland's past. Open daily 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. (Feb.-June and Sept.-Dec.) and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily (July and Aug.). Closed major holidays and all of January. Located just two miles west of downtown off W. Burnside. Visit pittockmansion.org for information about current exhibits and events.