The mass transit system for Portland is very well run and very extensive. They have trains, buses and trolleys that can be used on one day pass. We drove four miles to a train stop and rode the train to downtown Portland in about 45 minutes. No hassles fighting traffic and finding parking places. After a stop at the visitor center to get a map we walked around Pioneer Square and then headed for the Pearl District where we wanted to stop in an R.E.I. store. Along the way, a stranger directed us to a nice coffee shop and made a lunch recommendation for us. She was very friendly.
We picked our own lunch stop, however, and were disappointed. We explored the shopping area a little more and then caught the train to go to Washington Park where I wanted to visit the International Rose Test Garden. Washington Park and its extension, Forest Park is the largest forested natural area within a city limit. It covers over 5000 acres of hills and ravines, forest land and undergrowth with no vehicles allowed in the park and over 70 miles of trails through the forest. Washington park is home to the Rose Garden, Zoo, Veterans Memorial and a couple of other attractions. We got off of the train at one of the stations near the zoo and ended up walking about 2 miles on one of the trails to get to the Rose Garden.
The walk was through a nice shaded forest so was cooler than the city streets. But the rose garden was fabulous! Such beautiful flowers and such a variety of sizes, shapes and colors. We rode a bus back to the train and then an hour ride back to our stop. Long, hot day.
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