Portland is a city steeped in controversy and history and is a beautiful place to explore. There are areas of the city with buildings and sights over one hundred years old or more, and it can be a great place to explore with your children. There are also beautiful places to go on a date, even if you just want an afternoon to see things differently. Check out our list below for some of the city’s hidden gems.
Thankfully, no witches have lived here. It’s got a sad history, though, just the same. In the 1800s, a man named Balch bought the land and tasked a man named Mortimer to help him clear the area. Over time, Mortimer falls deeply in love with Balch’s daughter, Anna, and Balch refuses to let the two marry. The couple decided to elope despite Balch threatening to harm Mortimer if he did. When the couple returned, he unfortunately followed through with the threat, and Mortimer died. Balch was immediately arrested, and the stone structure known as the witch’s castle was built in the early 1930s.
It was renamed the Witches’ Castle, and students loved to come here at night for fun and games. If you want to see this for yourself, be prepared for a big hike because it’s not the most accessible place to get to. However, it’s worth it.
The Witch’s Castle in Portland is located in Forest Park, about a 5-minute drive from downtown.
Crystal Springs Rhododendron Garden
This garden is truly one of the gems of Portland, and it’s only open Tuesday through Thursday. It’s near Reed College and covers over eight acres of grounds. They have several lakes, which are covered with plants and flowers. In the summer, they even have hydrangeas! It will cost you nine dollars to get in, and children five and younger are free, but you must watch them at all times, and they must be with an adult. It’s a great way to spend an afternoon with the family because it truly is a sight that you won’t see every day, and when the flowers and plants bloom, it takes your breath away.
They ask you to please be respectful and not walk on the plant beds or through them, as the plants and soil are incredibly fragile. They also caution against swimming in the waterfalls and lakes. They last ask that you leave the wildlife alone and not chase or feed them, as they want them to do their best.
This is considered one of the oldest and most private estate gardens. It’s thirteen acres and beautiful. Mr. and Mrs. Kerr created this area. Mr. Kerr was a Scotsman who came to the city in the late 1800s. They have a collection of incredible flowers, a cottage, and a fish pond, and it’s easy to get caught up in the beauty and majesty of the area.
This is a garden for walking, which draws the visitor through the property, along a stream, under mature magnolias, to several views of the Willamette River, Elk Rock Island, and Mt. Hood. It is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
This one will be nostalgic for those like me who grew up with the Troll dolls and loved playing with them and trying to collect them all. So the story behind trolls is that they’re fearsome creatures, and then in the 1900s, they were supposedly shrunk into cute little dolls with sweet smiles.
If you want to see these dolls and remember childhood or let your little ones see them, this is the place to go. The trolls tend to disappear, so you might not see that many, but they make their home here and hand on the wood.
To get to the troll bridge, head northwest out of Portland on NW St Helens Road. Take a left along McNamee Road, and you’ll soon reach the bridge. Don’t forget to bring a troll to add to the colony.
The Shanghai Tunnels are also known as the Old Portland Underground. Rumor has it that these tunnels were used for various activities—some good, and some that are less happy and far more nefarious. The most exciting thing is that they are now open to the public on a haunted tour. You’ll hear all the stories about the tunnels and some of the events. If you are easily frightened, this might not be the one for you. The history and the area together make for a chilling night. However, if you feel brave, I guarantee this is a part of Portland you’ve never seen before.
Explore The Hidden Gems
One of the great things about Portland is that you can live here for ages and not know everything in your backyard. The city offers so many beautiful things; each time you uncover a hidden gem, it can be like discovering Portland again for the first time. Your only choice now is to pick which site to see first!
Jenifer Dale is a writer that has a passion for reading and helping others. When she is not writing, she loves cooking, crocheting, and spending time with her family.