Portland has a reputation for being a little unusual. The phrase “Keep Portland Weird” is often said with great pride — and that kooky magic is great for kids of all ages.
Even with a population of 700,000, downtown Portland presents an intimate, walkable city. It’s a place rich with epic nature opportunities, educational fun and quality family time. Thanks to Portland’s light rail (MAX), bus and streetcar system, every activity here is doable without a car. Visit trimet.org to download the mobile app that will help you get around the city with ease. Single-day passes are under $6 for adults and under $3 for those under 18 (kids under 6 ride free).
In addition to the major highlights here, there are dozens of more parks, playgrounds, art museums, restaurants, shops and markets. Whether you’re looking for a jam-packed weekend or a multi-day exploration, Portland will give the family a mini break to remember.
Lan Su Chinese Garden
Portland’s Chinese Garden takes up a city block, providing a unique downtown oasis. Designed with Portland’s sister city in China, Suzhou, the garden emphasizes the beauty in each moment. Families can take a tour to learn about the thoughtful design and history of the buildings, plants and pond, go on a lost treasure hunt audio adventure, try brush painting or calligraphy and catch plant talks put on by Lan Su’s horticulture department. For a moment of Zen, sip tea and enjoy a snack at the teahouse. It’s a great place to hit pause and recollect after (or before) other adventures. lansugarden.org
Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI)
OMSI is a staple for Oregon kids and adults, and for good reason. Families can tour the U.S. Navy’s last active-duty diesel-electric submarine, visit with paleontologists while they work on real dinosaur fossils and catch immersive shows in the Kendall Planetarium. “OMSI is home to four hands-on lab spaces that explore chemistry, physics, life sciences and paleontology,” says OMSI Communications Manager Annemarie Eayers.
In the first-ever “wet” chemistry lab in a museum space, visitors can strap on safety goggles and conduct their own chemistry experiments. In addition to the labs, there are design and art stations, water tables and an earthquake simulation house. Many activities are geared toward school-aged kids, but at OMSI no one is left out. “For our youngest learners, we also have a lab called the Discovery Lab inside OMSI’s Science Playground, which is a play-centered space dedicated to explorers 0-6 years old and their families,” Eayes says. It’s easy to spend a whole day exploring, and it’s worth another visit minus the kids.
“For adults,” Eayers adds, “OMSI After Dark is for the 21-and-over only crowd, where you can drink beer or wine and roam the museum with no kids around. We have science demos, performances and DJs.” Science has never been so fun. omsi.edu
Powell’s City of Books
What started as a used bookstore in a converted car dealership has become a touchpoint for readers worldwide. Powell’s City of Books (the 1005 W. Burnside St. location) now spans three stories, nine rooms and 68,000 square feet, housing new, used and rare books. Thankfully, there are plenty of benches and quiet spots to sneak in some reading.
Author events occur nearly every evening, and a children’s story time (usually read by the author of the featured book) takes place every Saturday morning. With friendly staff willing to track down the book you’re looking for, a spacious cafe for reading and chatting and piles of Portland souvenirs, leave some room in your suitcase for all your loot. powells.com
Oregon Zoo
Washington Park is a 400-acre park housing The World Forestry Museum, The Portland Japanese Garden, Hoyt Arboretum, picnic areas, playgrounds and miles of hiking paths. The highlights are all connected by the Washington Park shuttle (which is free in the summer). But there’s room for one more main attraction: The Oregon Zoo!
Tucked between the World Forestry Museum and the convenient MAX stop, there’s something for every animal lover. Krista Swan, the former director of marketing for the Oregon Zoo, shares that there are “daily animal activities [featuring] opportunities to talk directly with the keepers and animal care staff and watch the animals get extra enrichment toys and food treats.” Featured animals change periodically, but currently include crocodiles, bats, chimpanzees and penguins.
Every day in the summer, from 11 a.m. to noon, Swan suggests attending “Wildlife Live,” which provides animal training demonstrations. If you visit on a Friday, consider blocking out time for Zoo Nights. The zoo stays open late, with live music, additional animal keeper chats and extra food carts. Have a family picnic and dance on the amphitheater lawn. “Plus,” Swan adds, “a lot of animals are more active at dusk, so it’s pretty special!”
Visit oregonzoo.org and explorewashingtonpark.org to learn more.
Pickathon Experiential Music Festival
If a near zero-waste, family-friendly music festival on a woodland farm (Pendarvis Farm in Happy Valley) with a lineup of your current future favorite artists sounds like a dream come true, the Pickathon Experiential Music Festival is for you. Every August (this year Aug. 1-4), hundreds gather for an intimate music and community experience.
Andy Furgeson, aka Red Yarn, lead producer of the Pickathon family zone, says Pickathon is carefully curated for kids and adults. “The Coyote Neighborhood hosts family-friendly acts and also youth bands,” Furgeson says. “We carved out hangout spaces, like the Family Feeding Nest, which is a woodsy shaded nursing area. There’s drop-in classes from Cedarwood Waldorf School and Trackers Earth and arts and crafts. For older kids, we have a special spot for them to busk and sell their drawings and friendship bracelets.”
Kids with discerning taste will find Grammy-winning jazz artist Lucy Kalantari and interactive folk singer Little Miss Anne on the Coyote Neighborhood stage this year. Furgeson advises checking on the website for logistics. And, he says, “there are options for tent camping, RV and camper vans. And being so close to town, it’s easy to stay anywhere and take the shuttle. Come prepared for an adventure and for some magic.”
For a music festival catering to everyone, with stages tucked into barns and corners of the woods, it’s a weekend destined to become a family legend. pickathon.com.
Shelley Gaske is an Oregon-based adoptee and writer examining the stigmas and lived experiences of mental health, pop culture and the spectrum of connection.
