Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
6
WASHINGTON PARK: LIONS,
TODDLERS, AND TREES
BOUNDARIES:
W. Burnside St., SW Vista Ave., SW Sunset Hwy., SW Skyline Blvd.
DISTANCE:
3 miles, with options to extend
DIFFICULTY:
Easy-moderate
PARKING:
Lots (some with a fee)
PUBLIC TRANSIT:
MAX Red and Blue Lines (Washington Park Station), TriMet Bus 83
(SW Kingston Ave. and Japanese Garden)
Yet another of the many things that make Portlanders feel so lucky to live here: this
hilltop park complex practically right in the middle of town features a network of wil-
derness trails linking a huge range of family-friendly things to see and do, not to men-
tion postcard-quality views in all directions. This is Washington Park, the Southwest
Portland companion to the adjoining (and somewhat wilder) Forest Park, an awesome
5,000-acre forested woodland that occupies a large part of Northwest Portland. Best
of all, Washington Park is easy to get to: just hop on MAX Light Rail, take an elevat-
or up to the surface, and you're standing in the midst of a handful of attractions, in-
cluding several good museums and the Oregon Zoo. From there it's a short hike along
softly winding forest paths to reach a pair of beautifully sculpted gardens. You'll want
to bring snacks or a picnic for this walk, if only because you'll have an excuse to
linger.
Start at the Washington Park MAX Station, which is 260 feet under-
ground. An elevator takes you up to surface level, more or less in the
parking lot of the zoo.
The Oregon Zoo has been in its current location since the late 1950s. It's
probably most famous (at least locally) for being the home of Packy, the
Asian elephant, part of the zoo's successful elephant-breeding program.
The zoo also holds outdoor music concerts in the summer, and in Decem-
ber there are elaborate animatronic displays of holiday lights.
From the zoo entrance, loop around the parking lot to reach the Portland
Children's Museum. Recommended mostly for very little kids (under 5
years old or so), this is a safe place to turn your toddlers loose on a rainy
day and let them run around from one hands-on creative-learning exhib-
