Portland Oregon with Kids

ETA: double-check the dates for OMSI and some of the attractions; many are closed on Mondays. Not sure your littlest one would have much to do at Wunderland, either, but OMSI is great for keeping them busy and they have a little kids section for 6 and under. I'm sure they're open on Tuesday.

Jane,

Can you let us know how old your kids are, and how up they are for walking around?

Some things that pop up for me:
go online to Portland Parks and Recreation and use their "parkfinder" service; you can type in your general location and find parks close to the area you are staying in

http://www.portlandoregon.gov/parks/finder/

Down in the Pearl area (lower NW Portland) there's Jamison Square near 13th and Marshall or so: there is a great wading fountain which uses clean water and is okay for wading. Not a lot of shade on a hot day (the trees are still young), but very fun for most kids under 10 or so.

http://www.portlandoregon.gov/parks/finder/index.cfm?acti...

Downtown, around SW Park and Yamhill, there's Director Park, which also has a wading fountain. Again, not a lot of shade. On Wednesdays, you can toodle down a block or so to Salmon (on the Park blocks) and hit the farmer's market for some nice goodies. They're usually there from 10-2 at Shemanski Park (what that park is called). On Monday, the Farmer's Market is also a couple blocks away at Pioneer Square from 10-2.

Take the MAX to Washington Park and take the elevator up to daylight (the stop is in a cool tunnel)... if you have some fun money to spend, consider the Children's Museum or Oregon Zoo. At the Oregon Zoo, if you want to splurge, there's the Zoo Train which does a loop over to the Rose Gardens: you can get off there, walk around, and re-board back to the zoo on the same ticket.

http://www.oregonzoo.org/
http://www.portlandcm.org/

In Old Town, the Classical Chinese Gardens are a treasure. Contained in one block, the Scholar's Garden has a pond with koi, neat little alcoves and lots of wonderful, beautiful details. They also offer a 'kids guide' as well.

http://www.lansugarden.org/

OMSI. (Oregon Museum of Science and Industry) On the SE side on the Waterfront. Spendy but my guess is that you could spend a good chunk of the day there, and they have space to eat food you have brought in yourself as well as a cafeteria if I remember correctly.

https://www.omsi.edu/

For cheap fun, check out any of the Wunderland nickel arcades. Their website offers a coupon, too, as well as locations and hours. This is a constant favorite for our son and many of his friends.

http://www.wunderlandgames.com/

Portland has some great walking tours and the Visitors Center at Pioneer Square has lots of brochures. We've done some Fountain Walks (checking out the various public fountains) and there's also a public art guide.

http://www.portlandoregon.gov/water/article/225489

http://www.travelportland.com/things-to-see-and-do/pdfs/p...

This might help, too:
http://www.travelportland.com/things-to-see-and-do/attrac...

I, too, recommend OMSI and The Children's Museum. Both have a whole room of water activities geared to the younger child. The Children's Museum is planned for use by grade school and younger children.

OMSI has a very large room just for kids under 5, I think it's 5, but older siblings can be with the younger one. I know 3 is the right age. My 2 yo granddaughter loves that room and her 9 and 12 yo sibs like helping her play for brief periods of time. They're old enough to go out on their own to other parts of the museum.

My grandkids beg to go to the Nickel Arcade. Five is old enough for that. They have games for that age. My 2 yo granddaughter also has fun there. She doesn't play games. She just walks and walks and walks around. I follow her. LOL

Both Jamison Park and Director's Park are fun. There is very little shade but it's rare for it to be too hot to wade. Even some adults get there feet wet. Director's Park is downtown and close to several hotels. It also has chairs on which to sit and a small cafe.

Then, one that hasn't been mentioned thus far is Oaks Park. It's a carnival theme park with lots of carnival rides and a roller skating rink. There are a few kiddie rides. There is no admittance fee. One buys tickets for the rides. If the day is hot, I wouldn't recommend it for a pregnant mom, tho. The ground is covered with black top and it gets very hot.

I've not gone to them but I see children's theatres advertised in the newspaper.

OMSI is closed on Mondays but The Children's Museum is open all week. I think Oak's Park is also closed on Monday.

I second the Children's Museum, but bring extra clothes, at least in the car if you little one is like mine and loves the water. I have a 2 and 3 year old and they both LOVE it there!

The zoo will probably be too much for you walking if you were like me in my 3rd trimester. Too bad you just missed the Rose Festival, the parades would have been great for the kiddos. Maybe take them down to a fountain to play in? I haven't taken them to OMSI yet since I don't think they are old enough, but maybe yours are?
There is a new Aquarium that just opened a couple of months ago in Milwaukie on McLoughlin, but its called the Portland Aquarium. I haven't been yet, but my sister and her kids loved it!
Would they like a ride on the Portland Spirit? it goes up and down the Willamette. Or the old steam train that runs by Multnomah Falls? or just take them to Multnomah Falls. Its super cool!

Good luck and I hope you have a fun visit.

OMSI, the Zoo, Children's Museum, Forestry Center

Museums are closed Mondays. That includes OMSI, & the Children's museum

My kids loved the zoo and it's pretty compact, much less walking than say, the San Diego Zoo. Also, they could play for hours on the play structure at the Washington Park Playground. We could still spend a whole day at OMSI and there are plenty of places for you to sit down. We used to take a sack lunch to eat outside. Public transportation is no longer free in Fareless Square but it's still a good deal if you're travelling downtown and may be a novelty for your kids.

I too grew up in Portland, left for 15 years and came back to raise my family a few years ago. I have found so much to do here with kids, but many of the most creative businesses begin and then have a hard time making it long term. As far as urban activities, there are lots downtown and in the Pearl where you don't have to spend a lot of money. Portland has become very kid friendly in the past decade and many spots have kids happy hours and kids eat free nights.

If it's warm, you'll want to visit Jamison Square in the Pearl with the kids for fountain gazing and splashing. Then head over for pizza at Hot Lips in the Eco Trust building less than a block away. Old Town Pizza's always a kids favorite too.
You can visit the food carts downtown so everybody can get what they want for lunch. Powell's is just a couple blocks away for book browsing, and Pittock Mansion is a short drive up Burnside. Perfect for picnics with a view.

We spend a lot of time at Playdate PDX when it's raining to too hot, an indoor play structure at NW Pettygrove and 17th with food for kids and adults.

If all else fails, I find Red Tricycle to be the most helpful and creative site with continually updated stuff to do for kids: http://redtri.com/portland/portland-kids-weekend-events-j... utm_source=contactology&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=portland-060513

Jamison Park with the water feature and ride the streetcars around.

Next time we go, we'll be checking out OMSI as well.