Vancouver, WA

Today was a beautiful, 70-degree day: The perfect day to take my 2-year-old daughter to the Crystal Springs Rhododendron Garden. Originally developed as a display and test garden for rhododendrons in the 1950s, it later became overgrown with brush and blackberries until members of the Portland Chapter of the American Rhododendron Society and volunteers took charge and made it what it is today: a lush, professionally designed landscape of color and beauty.

You’ll experience more than 2,500 varieties of plants adorning the spring-fed Crystal Springs Lake, with waterfalls, fountains, bridges and a myriad of easy to navigate pathways and natural rock staircases. There is a guide to purchase for a dollar at the entrance, but they were out of them today. It would have been nice to have, although posted signs along the paths did identify the varieties of plants (though, to be honest, I just go to “ooh and ah” anyway).

As you pass through the entrance, the first thing you see is a colorful scene of greenery and color, divided only by a long wooden bridge set just above the water level that lets you admire the many geese and ducks close up. The walls along the sides of the bridge are designed to let little ones see the view as well, but are not so big as to pose a hazard. It was a nice time to let Avery have a few moments of me not insisting on holding her hand, as I did most of the trip. Although I let her walk most of the time, we had brought a stroller, which gave me a little more peace of mind along the water’s edge, and was handy for stowing our snacks and belongings. I had no trouble maneuvering it along, even with only one free hand to steer it.

The restroom was clean, but no-frills. It reminded me of one you might find in a campground, with a floor that was very wet from a too-strong faucet. It was fine for me, but I was happy my daughter was strapped into her stroller where she wouldn’t be touching everything. Also, there was no changing table, unless there’s another restroom elsewhere with one, but I think you could change a diaper out on the adjacent lawn if you had to. There were so many families with young children that I don’t think anyone would mind that much.

As for that big grassy area, it was fenced in on the water side, and the perfect place to let Avery run around a bit. There are a few benches here and many more scattered around the Garden where you could easily sit to enjoy your lunch and the view.

We had planned to feed the ducks and geese, and were told you could purchase dried corn at a nearby market stand. I didn’t see any stand, but you could ask at the entrance or stop at a feed store first. Truth be told, we didn’t miss it. There were enough other kids tossing corn, and I was happy to not have to worry about my little girl trying to feed a gaggle of honking geese competing for her attention!

It takes about 20 minutes in good traffic to get there from the I-5 bridge into Oregon. To get to the Garden from there, continue on I-5 southbound, take exit 300B toward OMSI/Oregon City, follow the signs for US-26 and merge onto SE Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. Take a slight right at SE Grand Ave. and continue on SE McLoughlin Blvd. Turn right at SE 23rd, then right at SE Bybee, and stay straight onto SE Tolman St. This becomes SE 28th Ave. Continue straight until you see the entrance on your left.

The gates open at 6 a.m. and close at 10 p.m. April 1 through September 30, and at 6 p.m. the rest of the year. Admission is free from Labor Day through February, and Tuesdays and Wednesdays year round, and always for kids 12 and under. Otherwise the cost is a mere $3.

The Crystal Springs Rhododendron Garden is an ideal spot for taking the family, going for an early morning walk, or even walking your dog (allowed if on a leash.) I also have to say that while I was holding my little girl’s hand, I thought it would be a very romantic spot to be holding my husband’s hand if we can actually plan a little date sans children some sunny day. Either way, be sure to bring your camera; you’ll regret it if you don’t.