Tourist attractions near Portland, Oregon facts for kids
Mount Hood from Mirror Lake
The Portland metropolitan area in the U.S. state of Oregon has a variety of nearby tourist attractions which are suitable for a day trip from the Portland area, in addition to about 80 within the metropolitan area itself (see Tourism in Portland, Oregon).
Generally, there is no public transportation to these destinations, though exceptions are noted in descriptions. The communities have at most small airports serving only general aviation; scheduled airline service is available only to Portland and Eugene.
| Driving distance | Travel hours (each way) |
Direction | Type(s) | Attraction | Description | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| mi | km | |||||
| 9 | 14 | 0.25 | N | historical | Fort Vancouver National Historic Site | Pre-pioneer exhibits, history, reenactments |
| 79.3 | 128 | 1.5 | W | cultural, nature | Cannon Beach | Small beach town with restaurants, shopping, and galleries as well as outdoor activities including Haystack Rock and Ecola State Park. The town hosts a Sandcastle Contest annually. |
| 135 | 217 | 2.8 | SW | nature | Oregon Coast Aquarium | Oceanic wildlife, flora, and fauna, intertidal, touching pond, kelps, jellies, etc.; adjacent to Hatfield Marine Science Center and close to Yaquina Head Light |
| 62 | 100 | 1.5 | E | nature, historical, sport | Timberline Lodge | skiing and snowboarding year round, 1930s Cascadian architecture, easy access to wilderness and mountain climbing |
| 61 | 98 | 1.25 | E | nature, historical | Hood River | professional and amateur windsurfing and kiteboarding on the river, also follow the "Fruit Loop" for a 20+ mile tour of over 30 farms and wineries |
| 31 | 50 | 0.75 | E | nature | Multnomah Falls | impressive waterfalls; Historic Columbia River Highway |
| 109 | 175 | 2 | NE | nature | Cascades Volcano Observatory | Mount St. Helens eruption history, exhibits, education, and convenient viewing of the volcano |
| 37 | 60 | 1 | SW | nature | Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum | |
| 200 | 320 | 6 | S | event | Hood to Coast relay race | Late August team charity fundraising race, among longest major relays and the largest with 20,000+ participants, 322 kilometres (200 mi) course from Timberline Lodge to Seaside on the Oregon Coast |
| 17 | 27 | 0.5 | E | event | Mt. Hood Jazz Festival | mid-August celebration of jazz music, usually with live notable performers |
| 17 | 27 | 0.75 | W | event | Oregon International Air Show | largest civilian air show on the U.S. West Coast, July or August |
| 13 | 21 | 0.5 | W | historical | Washington County Museum | |
| 15 | 24 | 0.4 | W | nature | Rice Northwest Museum of Rocks and Minerals | |
| 72 | 116 | 1.7 | W | nature | Saddle Mountain State Natural Area | challenging five-mile (round trip) hike to scenic panorama of the Pacific Ocean, Columbia River, and dozens of miles of state forests covering NW Oregon and SW Washington |
| 69 | 111 | 1.75 | SE | nature | Bagby Hot Springs | natural hot springs with rustic private tubs, requires a three-mile (2 km) (round trip) forest hike |
| 60 | 97 | 1.5 | E | nature | Trillium Lake | quiet mountain lake with view of Mount Hood, camping, fishing, and boating in summer, Nordic skiing in winter |
| 44 | 71 | 1.0 | E | nature | Wildwood Recreation Site | picnicking, hiking, guided nature in Mount Hood National Forest, view Salmon River |
| 142 | 229 | 3 | SE | nature | Smith Rock State Park | rugged scenery, rock climbing, hiking, picnicking |
| 58 | 93 | 1.5 | S | nature | Silver Falls State Park | zero to ten miles of hiking to see up to seven spectacular and varied waterfalls; Oregon Garden is on the way |
| 87 | 140 | 2 | SW | casino | Chinook Winds Casino | Oceanfront Native American casino with gambling, food, live entertainment; bus service available |
| 25 | 40 | N | casino | Ilani Casino Resort | Native American casino with gambling, food, live entertainment | |
| 62 | 100 | 1.5 | SW | casino | Spirit Mountain Casino | Native American casino with gambling, food, live entertainment; bus service available |
| 70 | 110 | 2.25 | SW | culture | Sitka Center for Art and Ecology | artist/ecological colony; advance arrangements required; day workshops or multi-week residency obligation |
| 102 | 164 | 2.5 | SW | nature | Whale Watching Center | staffed state park facility assists visitors see and understand passing whales and other sea life; Depoe Bay also has whale-watching cruises |
| 75 | 121 | 1.5 | W | agriculture | Tillamook Cheese | self-guided cheese factory tour; restaurant |
| 75 | 121 | 1.75 | W | historical | Tillamook Air Museum | Private World War II aircraft collection housed in a WW II blimp hangar |
| 79 | 127 | 1.5 | W | cultural | Seaside | Small tourist-focused coastal city with the Seaside Aquarium, arcades, many motels and rental houses, a 1.5-mile promenade (sidewalk) along the seawall, Miss Oregon Pageant (early July) |
| 97 | 156 | 2 | W | cultural | Astoria | small historical city with the Astoria Column, Fisher Poets Gathering, Riverfront Trolley; close to Fort Stevens |
| 285 | 459 | 5.5 | S | nature | Crater Lake | One-of-a-kind natural feature, focus of Oregon's only National Park |
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Tourist attractions near Portland, Oregon Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.