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Oregon Public Botanical Gardens Tour

Two city days of Portland's best-known public gardens, with shopping on NW 23rd Avenue and a historic rose garden to finish. Total drive time is about 1 hour on day one and 15 minutes on day two. All stops are within Portland.

  1. Day 1: Gardens, lunch, and shopping

    1. Portland Japanese Garden

    611 SW Kingston Ave, Portland, OR 97205
    Hours: Daily, 10:00 AM to 5:30 PM (no dogs)
    Suggested visit: About 1 hour 30 minutes
    Highlights: Serene 12-acre garden with traditional Japanese landscaping, koi ponds, and elegant pavilions.
    Walk to the next stop: about 5 minutes

  2. 2. International Rose Test Garden

    400 SW Kingston Ave, Portland, OR 97205
    Hours: Daily, 5:00 AM to 10:00 PM (dog friendly)
    Suggested visit: About 1 hour 30 minutes
    Highlights: More than 10,000 roses across terraced beds with views of Mount Hood and downtown Portland.
    Drive to NW 23rd Avenue: about 10 minutes

  3. 3. Lunch and Shopping on NW 23rd Avenue

    Suggested visit: About 2 hours
    Lunch: Nostrana Cafe for Italian-inspired seasonal dishes, Southland Whiskey Kitchen for Southern comfort food, or Papa Haydn for housemade desserts.
    Shopping: Tender Loving Empire, Will Leather Goods, and The Meadow, plus Salt & Straw for ice cream.
    Drive to the next stop: about 15 minutes

  4. 4. Lan Su Chinese Garden

    239 NW Everett St, Portland, OR 97209
    Hours: Daily, 10:00 AM to 6:30 PM in summer (no dogs)
    Suggested visit: About 1 hour 30 minutes
    Highlights: Authentic Suzhou-style garden with stone paths, a koi pond, covered walkways, and classical architecture.
    Drive to the hotel: about 15 minutes

  5. 5. Check in: McMenamins Kennedy School Hotel

    5736 NE 33rd Ave, Portland, OR 97211
    Hours: Dog friendly
    A whimsical hotel in a renovated 1915 school, with art-filled halls, multiple bars, a movie theater, a soaking pool, and an on-site pub.

  6. Day 2: Historic rose garden in Northeast Portland

    6. Peninsula Park Rose Garden

    700 N Rosa Parks Way, Portland, OR 97217
    Hours: Daily, 5:00 AM to midnight (dog friendly)
    Suggested visit: About 1 hour
    Highlights: Portland's oldest public rose garden, with more than 5,700 roses, a central fountain, and a sunken brick-walled layout.
    Drive to brunch: about 5 minutes

  7. 7. Optional Brunch Nearby

    Suggested visit: About 1 hour
    Tin Shed Garden Cafe, farm-to-table comfort food on a garden patio.
    Proud Mary Cafe, Australian-style coffee and creative brunch dishes.