Washington Park - the urban oasis

Washington Park in Portland boasts over 450 acres of space filled with various gardens, an urban arboretum with 12 miles of well-maintained walking trails, tennis courts, memorials, and even an archery range.

Washington Park map (credit: explorewashingtonpark.org)

While easily drivable, when the weather is pleasant we prefer visiting the park using the MAX—a light rail system servicing Portland and surrounding suburbs. Not only do both the Red & Blue MAX lines stop here, free shuttles run between the MAX station and the park, as well as in between the park attractions, so you won't really miss your car. (As you can guess from the map above, the zoo and the arboretum are within easy walking distances from the MAX station as well.)

If you are visiting Washington Park in summer, International Rose Test Garden makes for a very attractive stop, both aesthetically and scientifically. You can probably tell from the name, it's a test garden for rose varieties. Even as someone who isn't particularly into roses or flowers in general, this garden is always a treat, with its countless bushes of interestingly colored, uniquely shaped/sized roses that I've never encountered anywhere else!

image source: https://www.portland.gov/

Regardless of the season or weather, my favorite activity in Washington Park is wandering through the trails at Hoyt Arboretum, taking in the forest-y fresh air and looking out to downtown. Most trails interconnect with each other so you can just put one foot in front the other and casually wander, or you can chart a course using the trail map based on the length and features of your interest. Or, if you experience decision paralysis like I did during my first visit here, you can find my recommended arboretum stroll introduced in the 'City Hikes' section of this post.

A peaceful walk through Hoyt Arboretum on some misty day

Redwood Deck at Hoyt Arboretum. Image credit: www.anchorandpinecollective.com

To me personally, the Portland Japanese Garden doesn't live up to the $20-something entrance fee, just because manicured gardens in general rarely hit the spot for me. I should be fair and mention this is one of the most popular attractions in Washington Park, and many friends of mine really enjoy the garden's serenity as well as various events held here.

While I’ve never vibed much with most traditional zoos, the Oregon Zoo surprised me, in a good way. You can bring your own snacks and drinks (major win especially for family visitors with multiple kids to keep hydrated and fed), and they clearly pay lots of attention to prioritizing animals' comfort and safety over all else. Not only are they dedicated in housing rescued animals who can't safely return to the wild, you can learn about their engagement with local resources and facility upgrades through various talks/shows led by the knowledgeable keepers. They also get a bonus point for having tons of shaded walking paths and viewing areas, which make those hot summer day visits much more pleasant. The baby elephant is a big hit here—fair..., extremely adorable—but my personal favorites were the super chill mongooses and Bob the orangutan.

If you need further details or want to browse other attractions at Washington Park, their website is very well-organized and has downloadable maps in various languages. I do recommend taking a peek at the map before you visit to familiarize yourself with the overall layout (remember: the park is pretty big) and the shuttle route!