Portland
Family-friendly Oregon activities including water parks, ski slopes, historical adventures and more.
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Portland International Airport with Kids
Whether you’re arriving Portland to enjoy a wonderful family vacation, or you’re headed out of town, the Portland International Airport (PDX) offers plenty of kid-friendly diversions. Who’d think that going to the airport could be so enjoyable? Who knows, you might even want to arrive a few minutes early. What to Do with Kids at Portland International Airport (PDX) Families visiting en route through PDX have a few options. You can take them to the kids’ playground, visit the shops and restaurants, ooh over the art, or take a quiet break. Kids’ play areas at Portland International Airport Two play areas keep little ones busy at PDX. Tired parents and…
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35 Free and Cheap Things to Do in Portland with Kids
What’s kid-friendly, free and fun in Portland, Oregon? Here’s a list to get you started. What would you add? Outdoor Portland with Kids (Free & Cheap) These are activities that are mostly outside (you have to put on a coat or sunscreen, and plan to be outside for a while) Play in Salmon Springs Fountain’s 137 jets at Tom McCall Waterfront Park. Try on glasses made from forks or buy a spoon-fork (spork!) with melded-together handles in Spoonman’s booth at Portland Saturday Market. Or listen to live music, pick up a treat from a food vendor, or buy a new hat. Go for a bird-watching hike on Sauvie Island. Look for…
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No Hotel Rooms? No Problem.
I’ve recently been contacted by readers, despairing that my top hotel picks are either priced out of reach or unavailable for the upcoming summer. Family hotels in Portland, Victoria, Vancouver and Seattle are booked solid, sold out and too expensive! Well, no surprise — I’ve dealt with the same situation, even as a travel writer. Here’s what I typically do when faced with sold-out hotel rooms, a planned trip and kids. 1. Set up in the suburbs. Now, some suburbs are better than others. For example, many suburbs of Vancouver offer the SkyTrain option into downtown Vancouver, so I’ll look for hotels near the SkyTrain. Portland offers this as well. Seattle is still working on getting…
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Best Hikes with Kids near Portland, Oregon
Today, we interview Bonnie Henderson, the author of Best Hikes with Kids: Oregon. Let’s find out more about hiking in Northwestern Oregon. Do you have any favorite rainy-day hikes in Oregon? Is there an area of Oregon that’s particularly wonderful for family hiking, even during spring or fall? Why do you like that kid-friendly hike? Bonnie: I love hiking at the Oregon Coast in the winter when the weather is crummy. Not if it’s pouring, and not on the beach itself, but when you’re tired of the same old trails around your house and the Cascades are still snowed under, the forest right along the coast is a great place…
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Daytrip! Four Portland day trips with kids
On certain winter weekends, you’re cooped up inside the house, kids bickering and frustrated while the rain pounds outside. Sounds like it’s time for a daytrip. A daytrip is a break from the usual routine. Hop in the car for an hour or so, motoring down the freeway and along country lanes. Enjoy a movie or a museum or a hot chocolate (or all three). Bring a change of clothes in case the kids want to play at a park (despite rain or snow). Over the next few weeks, we’ll explore daytrips based out of the Portland, Vancouver and Seattle metro areas. Home Base: Portland Oregon Coast with kids daytrip…
