Top Things to do in Willamette Valley
Top Hotels in Willamette Valley
- 1. Hotel Lucia
- 2. The Hotel Zags Portland
- 3. The Benson Portland, Curio Collection by Hilton
- 4. Royal Sonesta Portland Downtown
- 5. Radisson Hotel Portland Airport
- 6. Hampton Inn & Suites Portland-Pearl District
- 7. The Porter Portland, Curio Collection By Hilton
- 8. Paramount Hotel
- 9. Staypineapple Hotel Rose Downtown
- 10. Hampton Inn & Suites Salem
The 10 Best Free Things to do in Willamette Valley, Willamette Valley
Discover the best top things to do in Willamette Valley, United States including Schreiner's Iris Gardens, The Historic Carousel and Museum, Washington Park, Bush's Pasture Park, Oregon State Capitol, International Rose Test Garden, Portland Saturday Market, Hoyt Arboretum, Willamette River bike trail, University of Oregon.
Restaurants in Willamette Valley
1. Schreiner's Iris Gardens
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 239 reviews
Iris bloom season is in the month of May. OPEN DAILY MAY 8 - MAY 31, 2020 9AM - 6PM. Bloom season events run Mother's Day through Memorial Day. Visit our website for details on bloom season events. Iris Display Gardens closed in summer and winter months. OFFICE remains open year-round, Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m; office is closed New Year's Day, 1/2 day on Good Friday, Memorial Day, July 4th, Labor Day. Closed for the week of Thanksgiving. Closed for the week of Christmas.
Reviewed By casaahha - Salem, United States
For three short weeks in May, the Schreiner's Iris Gardens become one of the most beautiful spots in the world. The 10 acre display gardens are arranged in rectangular beds with multiple iris plants supplemented by rhododendrons, day lilies, oriental poppies and other flowers. This is augmented by circular beds of iris surrounding a flowering tree or large plant. The color combinations are excellent. This is heaven for a photographer. There are plenty of chairs and benches to rest if needed. There is a flower shop and gift store. We came on a week day and our only regret was that the gift shop did not have hot drinks available. It is hard to believe that the gardens are within sight of the I-5 freeway. The commercial iris growing areas surround the display gardens. It only costs $5 per car to enter.
2. The Historic Carousel and Museum
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 247 reviews
Founded in 2004, the Historic Carousel and Museum is creating a world class carousel complex in downtown Albany that will draw visitors from around the world and contribute to the economic revitalization of historic downtown Albany. Our permanent home is completed. We opened our doors to our wonderful carousel on August 15th, 2017. Visit us and you can watch our carvers and painters at work, and enjoy browsing our gift shop. Our facility offers rooms for birthday and party rentals. Fully handicap accessible. Call us today to schedule a tour. Carousel rides are $2.00 a ride. Tours and admission is free.
Reviewed By davemB9796EG - Greensboro, United States
Not just a carousel, a small museum, a very nice gift shop and an amazing basement workshop where they carve the animals. Its all done with volunteer help. You can visit the basement for free and talk with the workers there. We had a wonderful time there.
3. Washington Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,532 reviews
This popular park offers miles of trails, an extensive rose garden, a large Japanese garden and a zoo. For information on free shuttles, attraction admission hours and pricing within the park, and maps, visit our website.
Reviewed By PaulPapich - San Miguel de Allende, Mexico
My wife and I live immediately adjacent to Washington Park in Southwest Portland. In fact, being close to the Park was one of the major reasons we selected the property we bought. We visit it every week without fail. To start with, Washington Park is immense and gorgeous! It is home to the International Rose Test Garden, Japanese Garden, Holocaust Memorial, Vietnam War Memorial, the city's zoo, arboretum and forestry museum, archery range, tennis courts, walking trails, and much, much more. It would be a world-class destination if it only had the Rose and Japanese Gardens, which are extraordinarily beautiful. But perhaps the greatest draw for me personally are the trees - my ancient, stately friends, covering the hilly terrain, providing shade to walkers like me, and peace to anyone seeking a haven in today's chaotic world.
4. Bush's Pasture Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 136 reviews
In the middle of the city sits the 90-acre Bush's Pasture Park, with trails for jogging, walking or biking, picnic areas and playgrounds, Oregon's oldest greenhouse conservatory and the historic Bush House Museum, a Victorian home with original wallpaper and furnishings.
Reviewed By Oregonwriter19
This park has it all...trails that meander through beautiful landscaping, through the woods, beside a creek, around a very active sports-field, a soapbox derby track, 2 children's playgrounds, a greenhouse, a Victorian mansion that is open for tours, and a rose garden. People jog, walk, run, sit on benches, have picnics, take family photos, attend weddings in the rose garden's gazebo, hike in the woods, play tennis on the courts, cheer teams from the bleachers, paint, sketch, take photos, walk dogs, volunteer to maintain the grounds or give tours of the mansion, or just lie on the grass and stare up at the sky. Everything a park should be, and more.
5. Oregon State Capitol
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 393 reviews
Architecture and history enthusiasts will enjoy a visit to this white, Greek-style building whose rotunda is topped with a gold leaf statue representing Oregon's first settlers. Inside are murals depicting state history, and outside are sculptures, gardens and grounds for strolling or picnicking.
Reviewed By Josephivimey - Plymouth, United States
Always impressed by the Oregon State Capital building with its gold man standing watch over the Art Deco marble building built in the mid 1930s after the previous capital was destroyed by fire.
6. International Rose Test Garden
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 5,561 reviews
The oldest official, continuously operated public rose test garden in the United States boasts more than 8,000 roses.
Reviewed By PaulPapich - San Miguel de Allende, Mexico
If you are ever in Portland during its glorious summer months, you absolutely owe it to yourself to visit the International Rose Test Garden. It is one of Portland's true gems. Imagine tens of thousands of perfect roses in full bloom, dozens of rose varieties, colors of every hue! Now imagine lovely walks among the rows and rows of roses, the perfume in the air, the tranquil atmosphere, the stately conifers that enclose the Test Garden on three sides, the view of downtown on the fourth, and the happy people taking photographs and stooping to smell the flowers. There you have the Rose Garden!
7. Portland Saturday Market
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,089 reviews
Operating since 1974 the Portland Saturday Market is the largest continually operating outdoor arts and crafts market in the nation. Located in Waterfront Park and Ankeny Plaza in Portland’s historic Old Town the Market is one of the most popular shopping destinations for local handcrafted goods. The Market offers a unique opportunity for customers to meet the artist as well as see one of a kind pieces created in the artist’s booth. Over 250 small businesses and individuals artists from across the NW region gather each week for the Saturday/Sunday event with live music and a plethora of exotic foods that will satisfy everyone’s appetite.
Reviewed By L3739IAfrant
The Saturday market is always a must when we visit esp for local artisans and food. The waterfront scenery is beautiful and other parts of the city can be strolled. Great way to start a weekend.
8. Hoyt Arboretum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 355 reviews
A popular destination for nature lovers, this arboretum contains many different species of trees.
Reviewed By aprkniess - Beaverton, United States
The Hoyt Arboretum park is absolutely gorgeous in the fall. We hiked about 4 miles today following the Wildwood Trail and several smaller trails from the rose garden to the Hoyt Arboretum visitor center and back. The trail was not difficult but following the exact loop was sometimes not clear with the map we had. You could easily spend all day roaming and exploring. There are memorials and old douglas fir trees, etc all through the park. It's so close to downtown Portland, yet you feel as if you're in the country.
9. Willamette River bike trail
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 482 reviews
A six-mile bike trail along the Willamette River.
Reviewed By Expedition601587
Simply the best urban bikeway in Oregon and that is some pretty tough competition. Once the Riverwalk is done, both sides of the river will be connected with this path. Drops you right into downtown Eugene or all the way out to Doris Ranch.
10. University of Oregon
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 371 reviews
A local university.
Reviewed By mrose20 - Kentfield, United States
Amazing campus. Friendly people. Interesting architecture. Fantastic sports facilities. This is a world class school.
