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

Experience the magic and tranquility of a walled Chinese garden in the heart of downtown Portland. Plant lovers rave about rare Chinese plants. Architecture aficionados marvel at sweeping rooftops. Cultural connoisseurs travel to 14th century China. Wander serpentine pathways, feel the splash of the waterfall and sip a cup of tea in the authentic Teahouse. Discover a Garden and experience which are never twice the same. Visit the Garden's website for pricing, hours and directions.

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, 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.

The Other Oregon Coast
7300 S.E. Harmony Road
Off I-205, near Clackamas Town Center
503.557.SURF, www.pdxsurf.com

Jump, Dive, Scream, Float, Swim, Body Surf, Belly Flop...Make sure to put these on your must-do list while visiting the Portland Metro area. Whether it’s a place to drop the kids off while you are shopping or an adventure for the entire family, the North Clackamas Aquatic Park is where the water thrills never stop. With Portland Metro’s only wave pool, surf is always up, so grab your suits and come on in—the water’s great! The North Clackamas Aquatic Park: the other Oregon Coast...right next to Portland.

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

OMSI is 219,000 square feet of brain-powered fun! Five enormous halls bring science to life with hundreds of interactive exhibits and displays. You can experience an earthquake, take part in lab demonstrations, see a movie in the OMNIMAX Dome Theater, explore the universe in the planetarium and even tour a real submarine! Open Tuesday through Sunday from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. September to mid-June. Open daily 9:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. beginning in mid-June.

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 world’s 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 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. April 15-September 15, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. September 16-April 14 and 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. Visit pittockmansion.org for information about current exhibits and events.

1219 S.W. Park Ave.
503.226.2811, www.portlandartmuseum.org

Find out why the oldest museum in the Northwest, the Portland Art Museum, is internationally-renowned for exciting art experiences. Located in the heart of downtown’s cultural district on the Park Blocks, the Museum’s campus includes an outdoor sculpture plaza, a six-level center for modern art, a 33,000-volume library, dedicated photography galleries and historical interiors. Tour the world and travel through history in special exhibitions and magnificent permanent collection galleries that feature rotating selections of Northwest contemporary art, sculpture, graphic arts, the arts of the native peoples of North America, English silver and French painting. Browse the Museum Shop and enjoy a bite in the Café. For events, lectures, tours, art classes and family activities, visit www.portlandartmuseum.org.