Portland is known as the City of Roses, and boy are we reminded of it each year come spring! Roses, tulips, rhododendrons, you name it, Portland has a place to see them. There is no better way to appreciate spring than marinating in the beautiful colors of new blooms! Step out with the family to catch these awesome sights, take a pic for Instagram, and breathe in the comings of a new season. Where to go? We’ve got you covered. Read on for details!
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Portland Japanese Garden
Enter the spring season at the Portland Japanese Garden. This stunning piece of land in NW Portland offers respite from the constant buzz of life with its serene landscaping, sand garden, and beautiful trees and flowers. The Portland Japanese Garden is the best place to slow down when things speed up! The kiddos can learn about Japanese horticulture, have tea at the garden's teahouse, and enjoy the beautiful blossoms of daphne flowers scattered through the space. Book your tickets today!
Where: 611 SW Kingston Ave, Portland OR 97205
Hours: Mon. - Wed. 10 a.m.- 5:30 p.m.
Pricing and additional details online: japanesegarden.org
Wooden Shoe Tulip Festival
If you have lived in Portland for several springs and have yet to visit the Wooden Shoe Tulip Festival, you must add it to your list of spots this year! Located out in Woodburn, Oregon, this annual, month-long event is flower central. 40 acres of tulips create a beautiful landscape, with a backdrop of mountains in the distance. The festival offers a smattering of family-friendly events, as well as wine tours for the adults! Don't wait and think about it, head to their website now to see what all the buzz is about.
Where: 33814 S Meridian Rd., Woodburn, OR
When: Mar. 18- May 1, 9 a.m. through 6 p.m.
Online: woodenshoe.com
Portland Rose Gardens
This feels like a no-brainer, right? Portland's beautiful rose garden overlooks stunning views of the city's downtown and the Willamette river, and on a clear day, Mt. Hood steps out to wave hello. But turn your view around and you'll be met with hundreds of rows of gorgeous roses, urging you to take that Instagram photo or simply stroll through for a relaxing walk. Peninsula Park in North Portland offers similar beauties with a bit less of the crowd. Flip a coin, load the family into the car, and head to one of these spots this spring to enjoy Portland's city flower!
Where: Washington Park Rose Garden: 400 SW Kingston Ave., Portland OR
When: 5 a.m. - 10 p.m., daily
Online: portland.gov/
Where: 700 N Rosa Parks Way., Portland OR
When: 5 a.m. - Midnight, daily
Details online at: portland.gov/
Crystal Springs Rhododendron Garden
This nine acre plot of land was originally intended to be a test garden, similar to the Washington Park Rose Garden, at its inception in 1923. Before, it was the farm of Portland Mayor William S. Ladd, who you may recognize given the affiliation with SE Portland's Ladd's Addition. Now, this rhododendron garden offers nearly 3,000 variations of rhododendrons and azaleas! These flowers bloom in early spring, so now is the best time to go catch their flourishing beauty. Head out for a relaxing afternoon, an Easter visit, or perhaps a Mother's Day pit stop! Regardless of when you go, you won't regret your visit.
Where: 5801 SE 28th Ave., Portland OR
When: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., daily
Cost: $5 admission
Online: portland.gov
Portland Cherry Blossoms: Tom McCall Waterfront Park
If you commute into the city these days, or cycle over any of Portland's bridges, these cherry blossoms have surely caught your eye. Cherry trees line the NW waterfront of downtown Portland and in the spring, they explode with blooms that you truly cannot get enough of. Don't be a stranger and view them from a distance! Pack the family a picnic, pull out a blanket, and head down to the Willamette this spring to join hundreds of Portlanders in their appreciation for this seasonal phenomenon.
Where: Naito Parkway between SW Harrison St & NW Glisan St., Portland OR
Hours: 5 a.m. - Midnight, daily
Details online at: portland.gov/parks/
Forest Park
Portland native? You probably know this place like the back of your hand. New to town? Get ready to know this place like the back of your hand. With nearly 100 miles of well-tended trails and fire lanes, Forest Park is the perfect place to get away from the noise of the city and enjoy the beauty that is the nation's largest urban park. This spring, head to Firelane #7 and take a stroll down Wildwood or Trillium Trail to see small pockets of beautiful blooms and occasional views of the city. Turn the phones off, put the sneakers on, and take your family out to wander amongst Portland's beautiful pines this spring.
Where: NW Springville Rd & NW Skyline Blvd., Portland, OR
When: 5 a.m. - 10: p.m., daily
Online: portland.gov/parks/forest-park
Firelane 7 details: oregonhikers.org/field_guide/Firelane_7-Springville_Road_Loop_Hike
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