Sights in Oregon
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Pittock Mansion
The grand Pittock Mansion was built in 1914 by Henry Pittock, who revitalized the Portland-based Oregonian newspaper. It's worth visiting the (free) grounds just to check out the spectacular views - bring a picnic.
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Oregon Museum of Science & Industry
The Oregon Museum of Science & Industry, which offers hands-on science exhibits for the whole age range. There's also an Omnimax theater, planetarium shows and a submarine tour (all separate charge).
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Oregon Zoo
Don't miss 'zoolights' during the holiday season, when the zoo becomes a winter wonderland filled with lit-up trees and animal figures. In summer there are concerts on the zoo's lawns. Parking costs $1.
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Classical Chinese Garden
The Classical Chinese Garden is a one-block haven of tranquillity, reflecting ponds and manicured greenery. Free tours are available with admission.
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Shanghai Tunnels
Running beneath Old Town's streets are the Shanghai Tunnels, a series of underground corridors through which, in the 1850s, unscrupulous people would kidnap or 'shanghai' drunken men and sell them to sea captains looking for indentured workers. Tours are available by appointment.
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Hoyt Arboretum
Prettiest in the fall, Hoyt Arboretum is home to more than 1000 species of native and exotic trees and has 12 miles of walking trails. There's also a popular zoo.
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Hendricks Park Rhododendron Garden
Thousands of varieties of rhododendron and azalea erupt into bloom at the Hendricks Park Rhododendron Garden in the spring, along with dogwoods and daffodils, peaking in May. The garden is part of a larger park that features native trees and shrubs, and during the rest of the year it's a quiet, vernal retreat with lovely views worthy of a picnic. To get there head south on Agate St, turn left on 21st and left again on Fairmont, then right on Summit.
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Tom McCall Waterfront Park
Two-mile-long Tom McCall Waterfront Park flanks the west bank of the Willamette River, hosting summer festivals and concerts. The Salmon Street Springs Fountain swarms with frolicking kids in warm weather. Toward the north end of the park is the Japanese-American Historical Plaza, a memorial to Japanese Americans who were interned by the US government during WWII. Across the river is another great walking strip, the Eastbank Esplanade.
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Skinner Butte
A hike up wooded Skinner Butte provides a good orientation and a little exercise (drive up if you're feeling lazy). Eugene Skinner established the city's first business on the narrow strip of land along the Willamette River below, which is now Skinner Butte Park; there's a great playground for kids. And if you're a rock climber, don't miss the columnar basalt formations along the butte's lower western side (at W 1st Ave).
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Portland Building
In a downtown devoid of big skyscrapers, the city's signature structure is the emblematic Portland Building designed in 1980 by Michael Graves. A triumph of postmodernism to some but a mine of user unfriendliness to others, the 15-story block had the Neptune-like Portlandia statue added above the front door in 1985 representing the Goddess of Commerce.
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Evergreen Aviation Museum
For something different, head to McMinnville's Evergreen Aviation Museum and check out Howard Hughes' Spruce Goose, the world's largest wood-framed airplane. There's also a replica of the Wright brothers' Flyer, along with an IMAX theater (movie admission separate).
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Alton Baker Park
Heaven for cyclists and joggers is the popular riverside Alton Baker Park, which provides access to the Ruth Bascom Riverbank Trail System, a 12-mile bikeway that flanks both sides of the Willamette. There's good downtown access via the DeFazio Bike Bridge.
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Lane County Historical Museum
Old logging tools and technology are prominent among the collection of historic artifacts preserved at the Lane County Historical Museum. One exhibit details the experiences of Oregon Trail pioneers who traversed the continent to settle in Lane County.
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Thomas Condon Paleontology Center
Visit the excellent Thomas Condon Paleontology Center 2 miles north of US 26 at the Sheep Rock Unit. Displays include a three-toed horse and petrified dung-beetle balls, along with many other fossils and geologic history exhibits.
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Velveteria
Truly unique is the Velveteria, a treasure trove full of stunning velvet paintings that will make you appreciate the art form; don't miss the 'nudes' room. It's run by a wacky couple who have been combing thrift stores and estate sales for years.
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Owens Memorial Rose Garden
Follow the path around the north side of Skinner Butte to the Owens Memorial Rose Garden, a lovely park with carefully trained climbing roses (best in June) and the country's oldest Black Tartarian cherry tree, supposedly planted in 1847.
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Portland Art Museum
Excellent exhibits include Native American carvings, Asian and American art, and English silver. The museum also houses the Whitsell Auditorium, a first-rate theater that frequently screens rare or international films.
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University of Oregon Museum of Natural History
Housed in a replica of a Native American longhouse, the University of Oregon Museum of Natural History contains the state's best display of fossils, Native American artifacts and geologic curiosities.
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Science Factory
Families with young kids can visit the Science Factory children's museum. Hands-on exhibits, a kids' construction zone and a live iguana are among the highlights; weekend planetarium shows cost extra.
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Oregon Historical Society
The Oregon Historical Society has temporary exhibits and several objects from Oregon's history on permanent display, there's a research library and a bookstore.
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World Forestry Center
Next door to the Children's Museum, the World Forestry Center, offers similar experiences but with a woodsy twist. Parking is available at both venues for around US$1.
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Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art
The renowned Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art offers a rotating permanent collection of world-class art, from Korean scrolls to Rembrandt paintings.
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Children's Museum
Parents can also seek solace at the nearby Children's Museum, a great place to keep kids busy with interesting learning activities and exhibits.
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International Rose Test Gardens
See Portland's famous blooms on show at the International Rose Test Gardens with 400 types of roses and good views.
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Alfred a Loeb State Park
Oregon's only redwood forests, along with old-growth myrtle, are found in Alfred A Loeb State Park, 10 miles east.
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