4 Fun Family Things To Do In Portland, Oregon

KIDSPACE operates out of Vancouver, Washington, which is a wonderful place to live and work. It’s also a great place to teach — and to be a kid! One of the things that makes it so special is its proximity to nature; the mountains and the ocean are not too far away. Vancouver is special for another reason, too: It’s close to Portland, Oregon! Our neighbor to the south across the Columbia River is one of America’s great cities. And there are lots of family things to do in Portland.

So when those of us in Vancouver wonder about activities we can do with our families, it’s great that we have two fantastic cities to explore.

Today, let’s take a few minutes to look at four fun, family things to do in Portland, Oregon.

Family Fun in Portland, Oregon, USA!

Forest Park

You can see Forest Park from many spots in Clark County. It comprises a ridge — the eastern slope of the Tualatin Mountains, to be precise — that forms a sort of backbone to Portland proper. So when you look across the river toward Portland, you can see the dark green line of Forest Park extending for several miles north and west of downtown Portland itself.

Forest Park is more than 5,000 acres of urban forest. In fact, it’s one of the largest such forests in the United States. It features more than 80 miles of trails and forest roads.

As the Forest Park Conservancy says, “Forest Park offers an unparalleled opportunity for visitors to experience a true Northwest forest without leaving the Portland city limits.”

And your kids will love exploring it!

Washington Park

Closer to downtown Portland proper — in fact, right above it! — is the fabulous Washington Park. Also part of the Tualatin Mountains, this 159-acre oasis actually feels much bigger.

That’s because most when most people think of Washington Park, they also think of the adjacent amenities, including the 64-acre Oregon Zoo and the 189-acre Hoyt Arboretum. All told, that’s more than 400 acres of forested family fun!

In addition to the zoo and the Arboretum, Washington Park also features hiking trails, the renowned International Rose Test Garden, the Japanese Garden, an archery range, a forestry museum, and a children’s museum (see below).

There’s so much to see, feel, and explore here — plus there are lots of wide-open spaces for kids to run around in. Consider a family picnic on the hillside in the summer. Hard to beat!

Oregon Museum of Science and Industry

Let’s head inside to beat the heat (in the summer) or the rain (the rest of the time)! The Oregon Museum of Science and Industry is a wonderland of interactive and educational exhibits. Kids have a blast at OMSI — and parents will, too.

With a stimulating mix of excellent educational exhibits (many of which feature hands-on interactive learning), a large-screen theater (four stories tall!), and a planetarium, there’s no shortage of things to do.

There’s even a submarine docked in the Willamette River, which runs alongside OMSI. The sub was featured in the 1990 movie “The Hunt for Red October.”

Portland Children’s Museum

Located in the same Washington Park building that used to house OMSI, the Portland Children’s Museum rounds out our list of fun, family things to do in Portland.

There really aren’t enough superlatives to describe this fabulous museum. But if you were to ask one of the 300,000 people who visit every year, you’d probably get a wide range of answers. The museum hosts labs and spin art classes, as well as storytimes, clay and pottery studios, and, of course, the super awesome exhibits.

Other Fun Family Activities Portland

What other kid-friendly and fun family-friendly activities would you add to this list? Roller skating at Oaks Amusement Park? (Your kids might see Portland Trail Blazers basketball star Damian Lillard there!) Maybe a day trip to the World Forestry Center?

There’s so much for kids to do in the Pacific Northwest, and fortunately, the weather is never too hot for a coffee shop (for the parents) or too cold for ice cream (for everybody!).

What special events do you know about that are good for kids and families in and around Portland?