Sylvan-Highlands Travel Guide

Portland

Golden Breasted Starling From the African Rainforest Aviary.
Golden Breasted Starling From the African Rainforest Aviary.
I'll post other photos from the zoo from time to time, but, for now, I'll leave you with this story. While heading for the exit after a long day of walking, and looking, and taking pictures, I was drawn to something out of the corner of my eye. A female mallard was calmly sitting in the waters of a rushing fountain, the kind of thing wild fowl generally tend to do. Standing by the fountain was a boy, and sitting a few feet away, his mother. The boy was doing everything in his power to bother the duck. -- splashing it, yelling at it, jumping up and down. His mother sat by, watching mutely. On the pretext of setting up to take photographs, I walked over and began to focus. In as polite a voice as I could manage, I told the boy that it was probably best to stop bothering the duck, that it wasn't a particularly nice thing to do, and, after a pause, I asked him, with a pointed glance, how much would he like it if someone did that to him. Emerging from her seemingly somnambulistic state, the mother urged the boy away, and the two left quickly together. It is not always easy to tell the difference between the animals and the noble souls in a place like this, or perhaps anywhere, for that matter. Wild animals behave the way they do because they have to. To see a crane dancing alone in a field, completely in thrall to its instincts, without even a partner to make sense of the thing, is to understand just how little choice it has over what it does. But we do have a choice. We are the creatures who invented choosing. That we have chosen to set aside places to preserve and protect some of the rarest animals on earth is a testament to our most noble faculties, and to our ability to choose well when the right choice presents itself. I hope we can continue to choose well, that our less noble faculties don't get the better of us, and compel us to make choices that those judging our actions on some future date consider only with confusion and despair. Perhaps it was a little less than noble of me to school a small boy in the humane treatment of animals, but judging from the context, that lesson might never have come. Chances are it went into one ear and right out the other. But if he had grown up without ever hearing those words, he might never have had the chance to learn the lesson they attempted to instill. Moreover, and more sadly, he might never have cared. As I dismantle my soapbox and walk away for the evening, I will leave you with a modest bit of preaching: to my mind there is really only one choice when it comes to that lesson. We all need to learn it. We all need to care.
This species goes unidentified on the zoo's web site. It lives in the African rainforest aviary.
African Red-billed Hornbill With a disposition to match its countenance. Hoo boy!

Popular places to visit

Oregon Zoo showing landscape views and zoo animals as well as a large group of people

Oregon Zoo

Awesome beasts native to America have a home alongside exotic and endangered species from around the world at this picturesque Portland attraction.

Oregon Zoo
Portland Children\'s Museum showing signage

Portland Children's Museum

Kids and adults can enjoy the interactive exhibits of this museum, which encourages creativity, exploration, imagination and expression.

Portland Children's Museum
So much #Green for March. Awesome trails throughout the Hoyt Arboretum made for a fantastic day. Best city park I've ever seen.

Hoyt Arboretum

Enjoy a stop at Hoyt Arboretum, an entertaining place to visit in Portland. Discover the area's top-notch restaurants and its acclaimed art galleries.

Hoyt Arboretum
World Forestry Center featuring signage

World Forestry Center

Get insights into all aspects of forests and trees, learning how they grow and how they are used around the world.

World Forestry Center
Moda Center

Moda Center

See sporting teams do battle and rock out to musical legends at one of Portland’s major venues for sports and big-ticket entertainment events.

Moda Center
Aerial View of Portland Cityscape with Solar Panels and Highway

Oregon Convention Center

Learn about the events happening in Oregon Convention Center during your trip to Portland. Attend a sporting event or simply enjoy the top-notch restaurants while you're in the area.

Oregon Convention Center

Things to do

Portland: 2-hour Lunch Cruise on the Willamette River

Portland: 2-hour Lunch Cruise on the Willamette River

฿2,737
per adult
98% of travellers recommend
Portland: 2-hour Lunch Cruise on the Willamette River
Haunted Underground Shanghai Tunnel Tour with Brewery Tastings

Haunted Underground Shanghai Tunnel Tour with Brewery Tastings

฿1,510
per adult
82% of travellers recommend
Haunted Underground Shanghai Tunnel Tour with Brewery Tastings
Portland: Willamette River 2.5-hour Dinner Cruise

Portland: Willamette River 2.5-hour Dinner Cruise

฿3,995
per adult
96% of travellers recommend
Portland: Willamette River 2.5-hour Dinner Cruise
Picture 11 for Activity Portland: Champagne Brunch Cruise on Willamette River

Portland: Brunch Cruise on Willamette River

฿3,272
per adult
92% of travellers recommend
Portland: Brunch Cruise on Willamette River
Portland: Ghosts, Poltergeists, and Psychopaths Walking Tour

Portland: Phantoms, Penance, and Poltergeists Ghost Tour

฿1,007
per adult
88% of travellers recommend
Portland: Phantoms, Penance, and Poltergeists Ghost Tour
Portland: Ghosts Boos and Booze Haunted Pub Crawl

Portland: Ghosts Boos and Booze Haunted Pub Crawl

฿944
per adult
Portland: Ghosts Boos and Booze Haunted Pub Crawl
See all activities in Portland

Top hotels in Sylvan-Highlands

The Duniway Portland A Hilton Hotel

The Duniway Portland A Hilton Hotel

4.5 out of 5
545 SW Taylor St Portland OR
The price is ฿4,665 per night from 1 Feb to 2 Feb
฿4,665
฿5,411 total
1 Feb - 2 Feb
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this luxury hotel in Portland. Enjoy a rooftop terrace, a 24-hour fitness centre and valet parking (surcharge). Our guests praise the helpful staff in ...
8.6/10 Excellent! (1,002 reviews)
Amazing room and service.

Reviewed on 13 Jan 2026

The Duniway Portland A Hilton Hotel
The Paramount Hotel

The Paramount Hotel

3.5 out of 5
808 SW Taylor St Portland OR
The price is ฿2,998 per night from 1 Feb to 2 Feb
฿2,998
฿3,495 total
1 Feb - 2 Feb
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this business-friendly hotel in Portland. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, breakfast (surcharge) and a 24-hour fitness centre. Our guests praise the restaurant and ...
9.2/10 Wonderful! (3,150 reviews)
Great location. Large quiet room. Easy check-in.

Reviewed on 20 Jan 2026

The Paramount Hotel
Mark Spencer Hotel

Mark Spencer Hotel

3 out of 5
409 Sw 11th Ave Portland OR
The price is ฿2,628 per night from 27 Jan to 28 Jan
฿2,628
฿3,048 total
27 Jan - 28 Jan
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this business-friendly hotel in Portland. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, breakfast (surcharge) and a fitness centre. Our guests praise the helpful staff and the convenient ...
9.2/10 Wonderful! (1,964 reviews)
Really loved staying here!

Reviewed on 21 Jan 2026

Mark Spencer Hotel
Radisson Hotel Portland Airport

Radisson Hotel Portland Airport

3.5 out of 5
6233 NE 78th Court Portland OR
The price is ฿3,034 per night from 28 Jan to 29 Jan
฿3,034
฿3,675 total
28 Jan - 29 Jan
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this golf hotel in Portland. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, breakfast (surcharge) and a free airport shuttle. Our guests praise the breakfast and the restaurant in ...
8.8/10 Excellent! (2,963 reviews)
Just what we needed.

Reviewed on 22 Jan 2026

Radisson Hotel Portland Airport
Holiday Inn Airport - Portland by IHG

Holiday Inn Airport - Portland by IHG

3 out of 5
8439 Ne Columbia Blvd Portland OR
The price is ฿2,285 per night from 2 Feb to 3 Feb
฿2,285
฿2,651 total
2 Feb - 3 Feb
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this business-friendly hotel in Portland. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, breakfast (surcharge) and a free airport shuttle. Our guests praise the helpful staff and ...
8/10 Very Good! (2,885 reviews)
Clean room.. great shower. Wished the resturant was opened

Reviewed on 20 Jan 2026

Holiday Inn Airport - Portland by IHG
Sojourn Suites Portland Airport

Sojourn Suites Portland Airport

3 out of 5
11707 Ne Airport Way Portland OR
The price is ฿2,215 per night from 17 Feb to 18 Feb
฿2,215
฿2,582 total
17 Feb - 18 Feb
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this business-friendly hotel in Portland. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, free parking and a fitness centre. Our guests praise the helpful staff and the clean rooms ...
7.8/10 Good! (1,788 reviews)
一楼的房间不是很好、我还是喜欢三楼

Reviewed on 15 Jan 2026

Sojourn Suites Portland Airport
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Other neighbourhoods around Sylvan-Highlands

Aerial drone view of Northwest Portland, Oregon, showing Forest Park, Nob Hill, and Willamette Heights with greenery, homes, and industrial areas along the Willamette River

Nob Hill

While you're in Nob Hill, take in top sights like Nathan Loeb House or Trevett-Nunn House, and hop on the metro to see more of the city at NW 23rd & Marshall Stop or NW Lovejoy & 22nd Stop.

Nob Hill
Downtown Portland featuring boating, picnicking and a bay or harbour

Downtown Portland

4/5(42 area reviews)

Known for its stunning river views and popular shops, there's plenty to explore in Downtown Portland. Check out top attractions like Portlandia and Portland City Hall, and jump on the metro at City Hall-SW 5th and Jefferson Street Station or SW 6th-Madison Street Station to see more of the city.

Downtown Portland
Pearl District which includes outdoor art

Pearl District

4/5(4 area reviews)

You might take some time to check out the abundant dining options in Pearl District. Spend some time visiting top spots like Powell's City of Books, and catch the metro at NW 10th & Johnson Stop or NW 11th & Johnson Stop to see more of the area.

Pearl District
Sunrise from the upper tram terminal at Oregon Health Science University. Timing is everything in photography. I have waited a year to get the right timing and weather for this shot. For those fortunate enough to ride the tram daily this is a common sight. Mount Hood in the background.

Southwest Portland

Southwest Portland is highly notable for its stunning river views, and you might want to visit top sights like Sellwood Bridge and Portland Aerial Tram. See more of Portland by jumping on the metro at Bancroft St Stop or S Lowell & Bond Stop.

Southwest Portland
Don't miss visiting the USS Blueback while at OMSI. View the I-5 Marquam bridge. Portland names all their bridges. I guess we go across bridges so often we feel a personal connection to them. It's one of the things that makes our city "special"

Central Eastside

If you're spending time in Central Eastside, check out sights like Grand Central or Stark's Vacuum Museum and hop on the metro to see more of the city at SE Grand & Taylor Stop or SE Grand & Belmont Stop.

Central Eastside
Moda Center which includes signage

Lloyd District

3.5/5(5 area reviews)

Enjoy the popular shops in Lloyd District. Moda Center is a worthwhile stop, and you can jump on the metro at NE Grand & Multnomah Stop or NE 7th & Holladay Stop to see more of Portland.

Lloyd District

Sylvan-Highlands Travel Guide