Step into one of the city's oldest public places and visit Ankeny Plaza. Within the plaza, you'll find the Skidmore Fountain which has been hailed “as one of the finest fountains in American art,” and is the oldest piece of public art in the city. The plaza also has a number of preserved historic buildings, and Portland's popular Saturday Market event is held here as well.
Indulge in the outdoor beauty found within the Leach Botanical Garden. The garden harbors a wide variety of native plants, including blooms that have been around since before the area was settled. If you want to dig a little deeper and get more insight to the garden's most beautiful flowers, take a look at the Botanical Library at Leach Garden.
See a little piece of literature that's been brought to life and immortalized at the Beverly Cleary Sculpture Garden. The sculptures here were created in the likeness of Cleary's most beloved characters, Ramona Quimby, Henry Huggins, and the Huggins' dog Ribsy. The statues are complete with fountains that create a fun environment to play, and also feature plaques with the titles of Cleary's Portland-based stories.