Portland is a city that values its natural beauty, so it should come as little surprise that many of its major attractions are parks and gardens. That said, there is still plenty to see in Portland, including museums, historic mansions and even dinner theaters. This small guide does not even begin to scratch Portland’s surface as far as activities and places to see. Though it may not seem so at first, Portland is perfect for both nature lovers and urbanites alike. Below are some of the top sights in Portland and shows off everything this beautiful city has to offer.

The only sunken rose garden in the state of Oregon, the Peninsula Park and Rose Garden has a long history beginning in 1912. It was designed to be similar to a French-style parterre and draws roughly 300,000 visitors a year. The rose garden can also be reserved as a wedding venue and is what earned Portland its nickname, “The City of Roses.” It also features the last bandstand in Oregon and was designated a Portland historic landmark in 1973. The park is even home to Portland’s official rose, a breed named Madame Caroline Testout.

The Pearl District is a point of pride in Portland, featuring a number of art galleries, theaters, restaurants, specialty food stores, antique shops and many other places to see and activities to take part in. The most stunning fact about this place is that it was an abandoned rail yard 20 years ago. Like everything else in Portland, however, the district has a long history beginning in the late 1800s. These days, the Pearl District is the perfect spot for those who love antiques, art and gourmet dining, the focus of this unique city district.

The Portland Aerial Tram is a must-see, providing a bird’s-eye view of an already spectacular city, 500 feet in the air. The trams even have names, Jean and Walt, after the first woman to graduate from Oregon State University’s engineering school and the first African-American to graduate from the Oregon Health and Science University’s medical school respectively. If desired, you can arrange for a group tour of the city 5 days before the tour takes place. Whether you go on your own or with your loved ones, this gondola tour is worth it for the spectacular city views alone.

While it may sound dull compared to the previous attractions, the Oregon Historical Society is not to be missed, especially if you consider yourself a history buff. There you will find exhibits about Oregon’s role in both World Wars, the lives of Portland’s African-American residents in the 1940s onward, Oregon’s geological history over the course of 150 million years, the story of Oregon’s founding and many more fascinating exhibits. They also have traveling exhibits that tour the Northwest on a regular basis, including an exhibit incorporating all nine of Oregon’s Native American tribes. This fascinating museum is not to be missed.

Portland is home to a unique place called the Hollywood Theatre, a nonprofit performing arts center with a mission to bring Portland residents together through the magic of the movies while incorporating the city’s unique flavor into the mix. It began as a vaudeville theater in the late 1920s but evolved into a place where independent filmmakers can make their debut and where those with a passion for the film industry can learn how to become a part of it. The theatre runs entirely on donations of both time and money to keep the historic Portland landmark alive.

For more information, check out the following links:

http://www.portlandoregon.gov/parks/finder/index.cfm?action=ViewPark&PropertyID=1125

http://explorethepearl.com/

http://www.gobytram.com/

http://ohs.org/

http://hollywoodtheatre.org/