Pioneer Courthouse Square vs International Rose Test Garden
Both are rated highly by experts. On balance, International Rose Test Garden ranks significantly better than Pioneer Courthouse Square. International Rose Test Garden comes in at #1 in Portland with positive reviews from 10 reviews like Frommer's, Afar Magazine and Fodor's.
Pioneer Courthouse Square
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701 Southwest Sixth Avenue, Portland, OR 97204
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Fodor's
"In many ways the living room, public heart, and commercial soul of downtown, Pioneer Square is not entirely square, rather an amphitheater-like brick piazza."
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Lonely Planet
Top Choice
"The heart of downtown Portland, this brick plaza is nicknamed 'Portland's living room' and is the most visited public space in the city."
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Travel + Leisure
"Spend any time in Pioneer Courthouse Square and you'll find that it's ground zero for the alternative lifestyle embraced by the city."
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Not For Tourists
"Portland's living room. Sit down a bit. Unless it's raining."
Where
"Food vendors, a flower stand, a Starbucks and public restrooms add to the charm of Pioneer Courthouse Square, and the city’s light-rail system runs on two sides of the square."
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International Rose Test Garden
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400 Southwest Kingston Avenue, Portland, OR 97201
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Fodor's
"Despite the name, these grounds are not an experimental greenhouse laboratory, but rather three terraced gardens, set on 4 acres, where 10,000 bushes and 400 varieties of roses grow."
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Lonely Planet
Top Choice
"These gardens practically gave Portland its 'Rose City' nickname."
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Afar Magazine
"An adventure in and of itself, is an amazing park to visit and explore, and it offers some of the best views of Mount Hood."
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Not For Tourists
"Yes it's gaudy, but locals secretly love it."
Travel + Leisure
"Sniff 500 varieties of roses that are being developed and evaluated for scent and color and can't be seen anywhere else in the world."
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