Portland may be known as the City of Roses, but its lush and immaculately landscaped Japanese Garden gives that nickname a run for the money (adults, $22.50). Explore bonsai, bridges, ponds and pagodas at the 12.5-acre garden, which overlooks the city from a hillside perch west of downtown. Check out the garden’s iris tracker to see when those purple and white beauties are blooming (usually late June). The Flat Garden and Sand and Stone Garden, both examples of the karesansui — or dry landscape — style, pair neatly raked stones and pebbles with manicured shrubbery, trees and other plants.
Sip a cup of tea and have a sweet treat at the cafe. On a clear day, visitors can take in stunning views of Mount Hood, Oregon’s highest peak, 50 miles east.
And in case you find yourself still dreaming of roses, the free International Rose Test Garden, next door, is home to more than 10,000 rose bushes that bloom between May and October.
Miami