Portland A picturesque afternoon in the Northwest
Picturesque Portland
Washington Park
Washington Park has so much to offer from gardens, a playground, archery range and the Oregon Zoo. On this outing we visited two of the beautiful gardens.
The Japanese Garden
Getting to the garden takes a bit of walking up hill. There are also a few flights of stairs once you get to the top. If that is a problem for anyone in your group they do provide a free shuttle that runs every hour. The garden is currently undergoing an expansion project that is set to be done in April 2017. As a result there is currently less parking than normal.
The garden is a compilation of 5 sub gardens each featuring different forms of beauty in nature. Genevieve’s favorite spot was the Strolling Pond garden where you can enjoy a pond full of beautiful koi fish. The nature garden does have some steep steps. Therefore this section is not stroller or wheelchair friendly.
Rose Test Garden
The International Rose Test Garden is located below the Japanese garden, entrance is free. Just keeping going down hill. You will know you have arrived when you are surrounded by beautiful roses. Wheel chair and stroller access can be made if you keep to your right as you go down the hill. If you go straight down you will have a few flights of stairs.This beautiful garden is the oldest official, continuously operated public rose test garden in the U.S. The garden features over 10,000 rose bushes representing more than 650 rose varieties.
A beautiful lawn area is a great place for an afternoon picnic or snack. If you are like us and did not think ahead to bring a picnic then NW 23rd Avenue is calling your name.
NW 23rd avenue
Fat straw
Need a refreshing drink. Fat straw hits the spot. Offering milk tea, smoothies, hot tea and a some light food options, They have something for everyone. Fat straw uses coconut milk so dairy free friends drink up! Their NW 23rd location has a large hangout area and free wifi. Great place to have a drink and rest your feet.Bamboo sushi
This is by far our favorite sushi restaurant we have ever been to. This includes all of our travels. It is a bit pricey but in this case you truly get what you pay for. The fish practically melts in your mouth! The flavors are delectable and the drinks are creative and top shelf.
For all my gluten free friends, they have many gluten free options that are clearly marked on the menu! The service has always been top notch. We have always had our munchkin with us without any issue. (We were so hungry that I forgot to take a picture of our food.)Blue Star Donuts
Blue Star donuts are truly delicious!!! Sadly they are not gluten free. But they are so good that we like to share them with our friends who do not have allergy restrictions. Even if we have to stare and drool while they eat.
The donuts are made fresh daily from an 18 hour brioche recipe. The flavors are always changing and they tend to sell out quickly. In order to try more flavors our group bought 4 and cut them into smaller pieces so everyone could sample more than one.
Pittock Mansion
Our days adventure came to an end enjoying one of the best sunset views in the city. There is a fee to enter the mansion but the outdoor grounds and parking are free. A tour of the mansion is very interesting but may not be as much fun for little munchkins.
This is a lovely place to take pictures, enjoy the great view, have a picnic or take a hike on the surrounding trails.
So much to see!
This is just one of the many fun adventures you can take in the Rose city. Portland is full of fun things to do and plenty of allergy friendly food options. Are you planning a trip to Portland in the future? If you are a local, what are your favorite must see spots you like to recommend to visitors?
