Portland International Test Rose Garden
add photosFeaturing over 6,800 rose bushes representing 557 varieties, the International Rose Test Garden received The Garden of Excellence Award from the World Federation of Rose Societies in 2006.
10 Reviews for Portland International Test Rose Garden
38
112 families found this helpful
"Gorgeous"
My toddler loves to smell flowers, so he definitely loves visiting the rose gardens. The flowers are beautiful and I can never pick out a favorite. The area is big enough to bring a picnic and enjoy the spectacular views of Mt. Hood. There's plenty of grass for my son to run around, and the terraces at the little amphitheater below the gardens are great for climbing or a picnic. It's a pretty popular destination on nice days and weekends, so parking can be an issue, especially around the rose garden. Be prepared to walk a bit unless you get lucky. But still, it is definitely a favorite spot of mine in Portland.
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"Spectacular views!"
It's a great summer/spring outing. Tens of different kinds and colors of flowers. It's awesome. A great place to snap pictures too. Encourage your kids to grab a sketch and try to draw/color a flower or two. You see Portland downtown from there. There's a play structure close by so you can combine both for a fun day.
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"love them...."
We enjoy visiting this park when ever we have some time in summer. there are different types of roses and different settings so love to see when they are in full bloom. Kids love to see and alsoply around. This park also have a stadium where they have some live showes like music, drama etc. The trails and walking is great exercise in a beautiful scenery and can meet new people.
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"Great for a summer day"
We enjoy visiting this park at least once every summer. I think it has something for every age in the family. It is a beautiful setting and always interesting to see the so many different types of roses in bloom. The view of the city is gorgeous and the trails and walking are great exercise in a beautiful scenery. They have tennis courts even. They also have a huge play park for the kids. Although on this visit our 8 & 10 year old boys were more interested in the woods and trails near the park, my older boy even found a salamander. The play park is great for 10 & under I think. It has a sand box, swings, and it's handicap accessible. The boys weren't so interested in the roses but just enjoyed running around.
0 families found this helpful
"Not really for kids"
Though the rose garden is located by the Children's Museum and the Zoo, it really isn't a great place for younger kids. There are a lot of cement steps, roses with thorns, etc. Plus it's a really quiet atmosphere.
If you have a quiet kid or an older child (probably at least 6 years old) then this place may work for you. I think it's geared more for adults though.
1 family found this helpful
"Beautiful but Be Alert"
This is a beautiful garden and our 2 year old really enjoys looking at and smelling the flowers. Remember thorns are on most flowers, also our 2 year old found out the hard way that cement borders = trip hazards at times for the wobbly/bouncing set. This is the type of activity you'd do sandwiched with another activity -- like catching a concert at Washington Park, the zoo (beware the zoo train comes frequently on the hill above for those not interested in train rides) or the Children's play ground.
'10
1 family found this helpful
"Impressive!"
Our kids enjoyed running around, although I don't know if they really appreciated the roses the way we did. But for us it was magnificent, really beautiful (and smelled great!) If you don't have a car, getting out here is kind of a pain in the butt, though.
If you have small kids, definitely stroll downhill to the playground (shaded for hot days), and on the way don't forget to look for the amazing stick sculptures among the trees!
1 family found this helpful
"Love it!"
We love it here!
We go all times of the year. It is so wonderful when the roses are in bloom!
Great views of Mt. Hood.
Good place to use a baby carrier - not overly stroller friendly, but a stroller could work, if needed.
Love to people watch here. Love to walk the grounds.
1 family found this helpful
"Stop to Smell the Roses"
Portland's not the City of Roses for nothing. Nowhere is this more evident than at the International Test Garden...which is exactly what the name describes: the test garden's purpose is to test new varieties of roses. But for families wanting to enjoy some rare Northwest sunshine, it's a fun place of discovery, picnics, and walks!
Take a picnic and let the kids play in some of the more open spaces (or visit the greenhouses on rainy days). We like to pair this outing with a morning trip to the Portland Children's Museum or OMSI.
The Gold Medal Garden is a popular place for weddings; you might catch a glimpse of someone tying the knot while you're there!
2 families found this helpful
"Mom is always right..."
My mother told us to go here but I doubted that it would be good for kids. I was wrong - they loved running around the towering (and I mean towering) bushes of beautiful roses. Even my husband was really wowed and he's not a gardening type. You get such a calm and peaceful feeling strolling among the varieties of roses. (Plus, there's a fabulous playground nearby where we stopped off first to eat lunch and let the kids blow off steam.)
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