In the United States, there are two cities with the same name – Portland. Both the cities are attractive and each of them has something to offer to travelers. That being said, Portland in the state of Oregon deserves particular attention of vacationers. Perhaps, the unusual look of local people is the first thing that tourists notice after their arrival. It is not rare to see men with blue beards, pedestrians wearing antique clothes, cyclists without clothing, and many other interesting people. Besides eccentric citizens, Portland is proud of its numerous attractions, many of which are very old. Finally, don’t forget to try local beer because it is really great.
The Chinook people were the indigenous inhabitants of the region. This tribe was actively fishing and then selling their catch on the riverbank. Women were mostly picking berries and searching for different tuberous vegetables. In 1843, William Overton saw potential in this area and decided to establish a commercial settlement here. However, Overton lacked money, and so he had to make an agreement with a partner from Boston, Asa Lovejoy. The official registration of the settlement as a new town took place in 1851. Portland started rapidly developing.
The Oregon Zoo is one of the most visited places in the city. This is one of the oldest zoos in the country. The zoo is open in the old Washington Park that also has a Japanese garden and an arboretum. The park is so big that there a small railroad, and a train takes visitors to different parts of the park. As expected, children are very excited to get around on a train. The zoo opened in 1888. Initially, there was only one animal here – the Grizzly bear rescued by local pharmacists. However, the zoo started growing in size quickly, expanding to half of the park’s territory.
Nowadays, the Oregon Zoo has become home to animals from savannah and tropical forests. Besides them, there are the indigenous animals of Asian forests and fields. In total, more than two thousand species of animals and more than two hundred and fifty species of birds live in the zoo. Twenty-one species are almost extinct. All animals live in conditions close to their natural habitat, so the zoo is comfortable for them. Unlike many other zoological gardens, birds here do not live in cages. There is a separate area for them here – the botanical garden. In short, don’t be surprised to see colorful tropical birds or a pelican when admiring orchids.
How about visiting a true rose paradise? Portland is often referred to as the city of roses. This name is not random. The city is home to the worldwide famous International Rose Test Garden. This is where local botanists grow exotic Portland flowers. Starting from May and until October, professional plant breeders try to get new cultivars by mixing different varieties of plants. In the blooming paradise, visitors can find approximately seven thousand different rose bushes of more than six hundred varieties. Every year, a festival dedicated to roses takes place in the garden. During the event, a team of judges examines different varieties of roses and selects the winner.
The Lan Su Chinese Garden is a tranquil place that is worth visiting during your stay in Portland. High walls protect the garden on all sides. This is a new garden, it opened in 2000. The beautiful piece of nature occupies an area of roughly four thousand square meters. The rocks weighing five hundred tons and stones were brought directly from China, from the Lake Taihu region. Just like the building materials, most plants are also indigenous to China and were delivered from this country. The age of some plants is more than one hundred years. A manmade lake in Lan Su Chinese Garden makes this area particularly charming.
Travelers from Europe and many other regions of the world usually fly to a major US international airport first and then take a domestic flight to Portland. A connecting flight with a stop in Los Angeles is the most popular choice. The total journey time is up to fifteen hours when traveling from Europe. The second part of the journey is shorter – only two and a half hours. Upon arrival at the airport in Portland, simply get on a commuter train that goes to the city center.
