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Festivals
The mother of all Portland festivals, the Rose Festival is still going strong. The Grand Floral Parade is by far the most famous attraction, but children also love the Waterfront Village amusement park at Waterfront Park. During Fleet Week, you can tour numerous U.S. and Canadian Navy ships. Amid the hubbub, be sure to stop and smell the roses at the kaleidoscopic Rose Festival.
No trip to Portland is complete without visiting the Saturday Market. You are sure to find something to pique your interest with more than 300 booths of unique art, crafts and gadgets. For more than 20 years, this seasonal outdoor market has featured handmade items and tasty treats. The street performers and characters that assemble here provide the ultimate show, so grab some falafel, settle down by Skidmore Fountain and enjoy.
Three stages featuring the greatest names in jazz and more than 30 hours of music are offered at the Mt. Hood Festival of Jazz. This August tradition features names like Al Jarreau and Rosemary Clooney.
The Bite, Cinco de Mayo and July's Oregon Microbrewery Festival are held annually at Waterfront Park. Autumn's most popular Oktoberfest celebration takes place in the little Bavarian town of Mount Angel. Oregonians love to get into the holiday spirit and touring the Peacock Lane Christmas Lights will put anyone in a festive mood. Look in Friday's Arts & Entertainment section of The Oregonian for the week's scheduled hoopla.
Museums and Galleries
Stand in the heart of Downtown Portland and glance around you. You'll find beautiful fountains form graceful arcs set against some of the nation's best architecture. A street musician may serenade you as you step off the MAX, holding tickets to a Broadway musical. Portland is an art haven and its nurturing environment has inspired countless creative minds.
To explore Portland's more inspired side, start with the Portland Art Museum (PAM). This museum has been a big stop for much tourist admiration, and you can enjoy everything from Native American artifacts to modern art. Stay late on Wednesday and enjoy live music at the Museum After Hours.
Peek at PAM's wilder sister, the Portland Institute for Contemporary Art (PICA), in a newer building on Northwest 12th Avenue. PICA is the place for the very latest in art, music and theater, especially the avant-garde. To sample the hottest portions of Portland's visual arts scene, visit one of the many local galleries. Look into the First Thursday and Last Thursday gallery walks.
Theater
If you like your art a little livelier, the Portland Center for the Performing Arts should be your next stop. This series of great venues includes the famous Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, or “The Schnitz,” as locals like to call it. This opulent, historic theater is home to the Oregon Symphony. The Civic Auditorium houses the Oregon Ballet Theater, the Portland Opera and various touring Broadway plays.
More intimate theater experiences are available from Portland's own professional company, Portland Center Stage, as well as Stark Raving Theatre and others.
The music scene cooks in Rip City, and you must not overlook the newly restored Crystal Ballroom with its floating dance floor. For really big names, only the Rose Garden, home of the Portland Trailblazers, will do.
Nature
Take a drive up to 100 year old Washington Park and explore the famed International Rose Test Garden and Japanese Garden. The views of Downtown and Mount Hood will leave you speechless. The Oregon Zoo features outdoor concerts, a zoo railroad and hundreds of animals. With all of the area highlights, including the World Forestry Center and Hoyt Arboretum, you will have no trouble finding something to your liking here.
Another Portland attraction that turns locals into tourists is the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI), across the river from Washington Park. OMSI features changing interactive science exhibits, Omnimax Theater laser, adventure shows and a submarine in the Willamette River.
Popular day trip attractions include touring the Mount Hood/Columbia Gorge Loop, where the beauty of the great Columbia River is matched by a series of waterfalls. You can check out Multnomah Falls, the Bonneville Dam and Timberline Lodge. Visit the beautiful coastline while you are here. Haystack Rock in Cannon Beach is particularly memorable, and you will see a part of Oregon that is often overlooked.
This barely scratches the surface of Portland's entertainment scene. The wine country is located just minutes southwest of town, local clubs with thousands of hopeful artists are ready to entertain you and limitless outdoor recreational opportunities are available. You will find many local cinemas as well, including the restored Hollywood Theatre and the wonderful Mission Theater and Pub. Comedy clubs like Harvey's provide outrageous entertainment.
Highbrow to storefront, street theater to mountaintop, Portland has it all.
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