We had some time between breakfast and when we had to get to the airport, and had decided to go to…read morethe Chinese Gardens which are located right in downtown. These gardens were an unexpected surprise, beautiful and peaceful. Loved the story of how Chinese artists/landscapers came here to build the gardens. Lots of hidden little areas, loss of koi, and bonsai trees. Beautiful setting. Only downside is that it is in Chinatown/Old Town which has more unhoused than other DT areas. We had gone first thing in the morning, after we ate breakfast. The gardens weren't quite open yet, but the employees saw us standing there and directed us to a coffee shop half a block down. Maybe if you go later in the day, there might be less unhoused. I definitely recommend making this a stop if you're in Portland, and you love gardens!

Lansu Chinese Garden is a Portland treasure. I try to visit for each of their celebrations to take…read morein its beauty and culture. I was just able to visit last week to celebrate Lotus Festival on the final day of guzheng performances by the amazing Lu Wen. I managed to get a Lotus seed bracelet in the gift shop before going in. Seeing the water covered in Lotus and waterlilly blooms as coy are swimming around and dragonflies are dancing through the air was the reset I needed. I was so sad to hear that the teahouse no longer carries the Lotus mooncakes, as I'm that one person who isn't a fan of red bean. I did get a Lotus pie which, the delicious is not quite the same. I am ordering anyone who reads this to get an almond cookie because they're incredible! Unless, of course you have nut allergy... though they are good enough that it might be worth the hospital visit... just saying.... If you are new to this space - make sure you have time to spend. Take a lot of breaks to just sit and look up and around you... there are hidden treasures everywhere from tiny plants to carvings. Soak it all in. There are a lot of activities throughout every year. They're very welcoming to everyone, including those of us who qualify for Arts for All (I just discovered from their staff that AFA folks can get an annual membership for $20!) but entrance is $5 for you. Many times you can bring a friend, sometimes more for very discounted rate - special events are more and sometimes not. Their website usually has really great information or make a phone call. But they are also very accommodating for ADA and are happy to assist with questions or helping out.

Secret rose garden, taken care of by the neighbors in sections, on the east side of Ladd's Edition…read more Fragrant, quaint, and provincial. Beautiful roses!

We have been traveling through the area for the last week and this was, by far, our most…read moredisappointing experience. On our way here we visited multiple gardens and flower farms in Salem and the surrounding area that were completely free and FAR superior. They charge $14 per person to visit the garden and in my opinion it's not worth it. The employees we interacted with were unhelpful, unknowledgeable and apathetic but beyond the poor service, the grounds themselves were disappointing. There are dead and dying plants everywhere, shade and seating are scarce and there is very little of interest to see. If you enjoy paths and trees, visit any local park and the sites will be as good. If you love roses, visit Owen Rose Garden or if you like peonys, irises, etc there are multiple farms in the area to visit for free. Unless you love the smell of hot fertilizer and throwing your money away, this is not it. Their "Amazing" water garden consists of a few algae topped ponds. They also claim to be dog friendly but they are as dog friendly as a sidewalk. They have a tram tour that literally stopped in the walkway blocking all the walking guests from proceeding while robotically reading a speech and leaving everyone to stand there in the sun until they were done. This whole experience was just so unenjoyable. I rarely leave bad reviews and I Yelp to help others avoid my mistakes so if you are reading this, please don't waste your time or money here. There are so many other great options. Oh, and to the "Business Manager" who obligatorily responds all the unflattering reviews in an effort to appear as though customer service is important, but is ultimately condescending, it's not helping your cause, so feel free to spare us all.

So nice we visited twice over the course of the weekend! Once as guests of the Resort and the next…read morewith an WCCLS Adventure Pass. Even though the plants' condition in March leaves a lot to be desired, as not very much is coming into season yet, there was plenty to take in. The variety of landscaping/hardscaping is impressive, the views incredible, the plant collection inspiring (even my very non-aggie partner took notes on what we could possibly incorporate into our own yard). It's obvious that plenty of care and planning went into the garden spaces. Highlights for me included the conifer forest and the wetlands areas. The Lewis and Clark pathway with its stonehenge-like pillars was neat too. Each section has its own hidden treasures and spaces for reflection. Would love to come back in spring or summer to see what's changed.

While we didn't have a chance to go inside the museum, the grounds are beautiful and well…read moremaintained. The gardens are a lovely spot to walk, explore and smell the flowers - when blooming. Staff kept to themselves and gave us space to wander the property. We walked, but Deepwood is set on a busy street corner so be prepared for traffic as you make your way to the parking area and the noise as you wander the gardens.

What a hidden gem in Salem! My husband and I have been trying to visit local museums and venues now…read morethat he is retired and this one popped in on our radar. We had an event near Salem so we thought we'd stop by. It's so quaint, gorgeous and proved to be lovely get away for the afternoon. It's not overly large as you can most likely walk and enjoy the trails, gardens and sights in about 30 minutes. There is a house tour but only on limited days/times and the day we visited was not one of those days. Beautiful flowers, tucked away benches and meandering trails all made for a wonderful walk. I highly recommend and it's free to walk around!

FREE ADMISSION! A…read morehidden gem that feels like stepping into someone's dream, and they invite you in. This review is long overdue. We stopped here last November on our way back from the coast, and it turned out to be one of the most unexpectedly peaceful and inspiring stops of our trip. The property is spacious, serene, and filled with artistic wonder. Throughout the garden, there are multiple man-made waterfalls that add a gentle, calming soundtrack to your walk. Every sculpture, path, and water feature is created with care. They build and design almost everything themselves, which gives the space a truly personal and handcrafted feel. We had the pleasure of meeting Linda, the artist's mother, who was incredibly warm and welcoming. Talking with her added a beautiful personal touch, you're not just walking through a sculpture garden; you're stepping into a family's living, breathing creative space. You can easily spend 30 minutes to an hour here, taking your time to explore, take photos, and just breathe. It's also very kid and family-friendly, with plenty of open space and interesting sights to keep little ones engaged. Bonus highlight for travelers: there's a heated restroom in the working/storage barn, complete with a toilet seat cover. You don't realize how much you appreciate a heating restroom until you step into one after a chilly drive down the coast. If you're ever passing through, don't miss it. It's calm, creative, and unforgettable. You won't regret the stop.

Honestly, what a fun spontaneous find literally on the side of the road! As I was headed towards…read morethe coast, I happened to see a sign for a sculpture garden peeping not too far off the highway. I decided to take a little swerve off of the highway to turn into on the road less traveled. I went down a gravel road and parked on the side of a road behind a line of cars. What I didn't realize was that I had actually missed the parking lot for the Gardens, but it honestly didn't matter because it was a pretty quick walk there. Upon entering, we were greeted by a receptionist who explained the layout and basically let us free. The inside houses a mini gallery display of sorts. There are lots of interesting pieces that they make and sell. The cool part is definitely the gardens. After walking through the interior, an innocuous door leads you to the garden in the back. Although the interior space is small, the outdoors is actually quite large. There are lots of interesting trees, plants, and, as the name suggests, sculptures displayed all around. It was really fascinating to see how they chose to organize things throughout the garden. Because it was a weekday, we were the only people there. Not sure if they are typically super busy, but it was a fun place to come out and stretch our legs!

What a spectacular experience!!! Wow, I had such an incredible visit with my best friend. We…read morevisited after discovering it by looking for things to do in the area and were so throughly impressed. My friend even got to see a scotch heather shrub garden/collection within this garden. Such a beautiful story behind and why it's still continuing on. Highly recommend for those visiting the area and even if your in Portland as I was, this is a great day trip spot.

What a special little hide-away from the hustle and bustle. If I lived here, I'd be volunteering…read moreand visiting often. I was looking forward to perusing the gift shop, thus I made a point of going in the morning around 11:00, since the store closes at 2:00. There must have been a group get-together as it was crowded with a lot of chattering voices, so I decided to continue to stroll the grounds and enjoy the foliage and flowers. There are benches placed all around and many of the paths are paved. Some of the plants are labeled which helps. If you're looking for a charming escape, Connie Hansen Garden Conservancy might be the place for you!

What a beautiful place to stroll and enjoy. The sheer number and variety of flowers is amazing. The…read moreblooms were prolific and well tended. We looked at the amazing community gardens too. The fact that this is all volunteer grown is quite impressive. Worth a visit.

I had never heard of this garden. A friend knew I love visiting gardens and flower festivals, he…read moreput it on my radar. I decided the next time I did a delivery in Lake Oswego, I would make sure to pay a visit. So glad I did! Clematis are a fairly new to me flower variety. I mean I've seen them, but haven't paid close attention. I've visited friend's gardens that contain clematis, and noticed how beautiful the blooms are. So perfect they almost seem fake! The clematis garden has different varieties. All of them so beautiful! There are plants for sale, I'm planning on moving soon, didn't buy any now. I really want to get some to plant in my next space!

Koch Park is awesome and one of the best parks around the playground is all nice and nearly updated…read moreand there's so many different stations for the kids to play depending on age. There's ample space in Apple parking and if you want to take a break from the playground and there's plenty of trails that walk around the river you can make some loops and more. There's also plenty of covered areas for birthday parties barbecues, or just get together which you can reserve at the beginning of the year they fill up fast.

So much of life as a parent seems to be finding parks that work well for whatever season of life…read moreyour kid is at. Cook Park has done a great job crossing many seasons and skill levels. So many fun things to do here! Not to mention trails and a water launch spot for river activities (though the river itself is a little gnarly lol). If you're looking for fun spots for kiddos, this is definitely worth a trip! Just know it can get very busy during peak park visiting hours!

Finally visited this hidden gem on 7/10/26 after living 15 minutes driving away in the past 5…read moreyears. It's very local, quiet, no crowds, and lesser known in Portland metro area. We came in less than an hour from closing and didn't have enough time to meander through. Definitely planning to come back and take my time with it. I love the fact it has a creek in it though the water is barely moving which means mosquitoes. It'd be a soothing sound strolling or sitting along the banks when the volume of water is higher. There are many colors of the poppy flower that I haven't seen before. Many benches and sitting areas throughout both covered and uncovered. Two parking lots belong to the garden. They offer various discounts for admission and Garden for All as well so no one is turning away which is great! You can become a member and enjoy free year-round admission, 10% off at the Gift Shop, and reciprocal admission to local and national gardens, starting at $50 annual. A few areas along walking paths/trails were overgrown so it was mysterious for us to find out names of flowers, plants, and trees.

Leach Botanical Garden is one of Portland's true hidden gems, tucked away in outer SE Portland…read morealong Johnson Creek. It feels like stepping into a quiet, wooded glade that happens to be full of incredible plant collections (and a few curious surprises). It has a peaceful, almost secret-garden quality that makes it feel worlds away from the rest of the city, even though it's just a short drive out. The paths are easy to navigate, it's a great spot for kids with the dedicated children's garden near the Claybourne entrance, and it's simply a lovely place to slow down for an hour or two. The Upper Garden's Aerial Tree Walk is a highlight, giving you a totally different vantage point up among the trees, and is fully accessible. From there, the trails wind down into the lower garden along the creek, past the historic Leach manor house and the stone cabin the Leaches built themselves. The terrazzo floor inside is a beautiful detail worth seeking out. The pollinator garden and the native plant collections are clearly tended with real care, and there's always something in bloom no matter the season. Given the funding challenges the garden has faced recently, I'd also encourage anyone visiting to consider a membership or donation -- it's a genuinely special place and well worth supporting. Highly recommend a visit.