An bustling urban lifestyle mixed with small-town pride, Portland, Oregon, offers an abundance of attractions. Family friendly, the lush green parks, walking friendly streets and outdoor attractions make the city a vibrant daytime excursion where you can safely take your children to enjoy outdoor fun. Nestled between the mighty Columbia and Willamete rivers, the city offers miles of walking and bicycling trails with birdwatching, playgrounds and numerous outdoor summertime concerts. Museums, local events and child-friendly attractions also boast ample exploration opportunities.
City of Roses
Portland, known as the "City of Roses," comes alive every June with the annual Rose Festival. Your children will be enthralled with the cities famous starlight nighttime parade that lights up the city streets with the glow of thousands of lights as floats, representing the various communities, glide through the city streets.
Festival days can be spent taking your children aboard the large Navy and Coast Guard ships that dock along Portland's waterfront park and offer free tours. Numerous carnival rides are also available. From the river's shoreline, dragon boats compete in daytime races for the public spectators to enjoy.
Saturday Mornings
Arts and crafts abound every Saturday in downtown Portland during the spring, summer and fall. Have your child's face painted by one of the artists and join in the fun.
Local musicians perform at every corner amid the rows of craft booths. Food booths offer the chance to enjoy local fare or snack on coveted cotton candy. Family pets on leashes are also welcome to join in the fun.
Trains and Animals
For more than 100 years, the Portland zoo has offered both young and old the chance to come face to face with exotic and local animals. You can take your child for a ride on one of the three zoo trains.
The train winds through the zoo shops, animal exhibits and out into tree canopy covered Washington Park, which spans more than 400 acres. Visitors are allowed to get off the train and stroll through the International rose test garden, where children will be awed by the colorful blossoms and the city vista.
Indoor Opportunities
During rainy days, you can take your child to the Portland Children's Museum for a day long adventure of fun and learning. The sixth oldest museum in United States, the museum offers many learning exhibits such as the Pet Hospital where your child can learn what really goes on at veterinarian hospital and even participate in imaginative play by taking care of stuffed animals.
At the Grasshopper Grocery & Butterfly Bistro your child can shop for healthy play foods and than participate in preparing make-believe sandwiches.
Old Time Carnival Fun
You can plan a picnic at Oaks Park Amusement Park, where you child can enjoy many carnival style rides. Located in southeast Portland, the park has been a city tradition since 1904.
Spanning 44 acres, it sits on the shore of the Willamette River. Your child can ride on an old style Ferris wheel, bumper cars, a roller coaster and many other old-time favorites. The park also has a wooden rollerskating rink that floats atop huge pontoons when the river rises.
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