Kids and parents enjoy summer on Sauvie Island.

Family Friendly

Discover the best things to do in Portland with toddlers, tweens and every age in between.

Kids and parents enjoy summer on Sauvie Island.

Ready for the best. family. vacation. ever? Whatever your kids are into (science, animals, video games, the great outdoors), there are plenty of family-friendly sights and activities to keep the kids occupied and the whole family entertained. Explore some of our favorite family-friendly activities and events to do in Portland.

Kid-Friendly Activities

If Bill Nye “the Science Guy” were to design the world’s most fun-packed laboratory, odds are he’d look to OMSI for inspiration. Inside, hundreds of interactive displays, a motion simulator, a planetarium and an IMAX theater can fill an entire day. Sea-worthy adventurers can take the 45-minute tour on the USS Blueback, a full-sized submarine docked outside in the Willamette River. The tour includes kicking back on a tiny bunk, spying the Willamette River through a periscope, pushing buttons in the control room, and even touching a torpedo. Kids 12 and over who want to dive even deeper can attend a three-hour “tech tour” led by a submarine veteran on the second and fourth Sundays of the month.

Budding biologists flock to Portland’s unusual museums like the World Forestry Center and the adjacent Oregon Zoo where 64 park-like acres (26 ha) boast natural enclosures that evoke everything from African savannahs to tropical rainforests. Kids can hop aboard the newly renovated and solar-powered Zoo Train, a steam locomotive that dates back to the 1950s.

an adolescent boy in a submarine peers through a scope while other people look on — Tours through the *USS Blueback*, a real naval submarine on exhibit at the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI), let you peer through a periscope, touch a torpedo and much more.

A bright red vintage steam train rounds a bend with deciduous forest int he background — Steam locomotive Oregon #1 at the Oregon Zoo.

Examine rotating exhibits by luminaries like Andy Warhol at the Portland Art Museum.

People attending an outdoor market, Portland Saturday Market — Explore local makers and vendors at the Portland Saturday Market.

Aspiring artists can view local and internationally renowned artists at the Portland Art Museum, where kids under 17 get in for free. The Portland Saturday Market is the go-to spot for creative crafts, handmade art and jewelry, and other one-of-a-kind finds. Book lovers could devote an entire week to exploring the block-size Powell’s City of Books, which augments its 1 million new and used books with offbeat local souvenirs and gifts.

Kids under the spell of the stage will delight in fantastical productions featuring acrobats, puppets and more in Portland’s vibrant theater scene. Experience family-friendly performances at The Judy, Oregon Children’s Theatre, and Imago Theatre.

Families lounge in Jamison Square fountain. — Families lounge in Jamison Square on hot summer days.

On hot days head to Jamison Square in the Pearl District. Like a geyser, the fountain’s waterfalls stop, drain and cascade again. Order some homemade scoops at nearby Cool Moon Ice Cream to chill out even more.

Washington Park

Conveniently situated next door to the International Rose Test Garden and the Japanese Garden, this playground offers Portland’s largest play structure, two sets of swings, a sandpit and at least three slides.
Pirate Park

This Northwest Portland park boasts two boat-themed play structures with slides, bouncy bridges, binoculars, and even masts. A smaller structure is set atop a bouncy, ocean-themed blacktop, with a small sand area and two sets of swings.
Sellwood Park

Conveniently situated next door to the International Rose Test Garden and the Japanese Garden, this playground offers Portland’s largest play structure, two sets of swings, a sandpit and at least three slides.
Mt. Tabor Park

Nestled by a grove of fir trees, the Volcano Playground, is not nearly as dangerous as the name suggests. A trip to this play area combines well with some gentle hiking around the park’s many trails and some great views of the city from the dormant volcano’s summit.
Peninsula Park Rose Garden

A popular spot for family picnics, find a fantastic playground for children with a variety of structures to clamber over, climb through, spin around and slide down – plus a sprinkler for the summer months.
Arbor Lodge Park

At Harper’s Playground a spongy grounds soften any skids near mini-climbing walls and nets, and wheelchair- and walker-navigable paths wind past accessible swing sets, slides and see-saws to create a safe, inclusive playground for kids of all abilities to explore and enjoy together.
Wallace Park

Steps away from the bustle of NW 23rd Avenue this park a fun-for-all-ages, multi-use green space featuring basketball courts, an enclosed dog park, children’s playground, a large field for soccer or baseball, and ample picnic tables with shaded benches, perfect for summertime lunches beneath the trees.
Westmoreland Park

Kids can scramble up mounds of boulders and construct forts from a pile of sticks. Multiple fields (there’s one for football, baseball, soccer and a few basketball courts too) won’t stop you from enjoying the peaceful walking trails and scenic ponds while the kids tire themselves out on the giant log playground.
The Fields Park

With easy Portland Streetcar access, this urban gem satisfies the need to run, with a play structure that riffs off the nearby Fremont Bridge. A sprawling lawn dotted with whimsical sculptures, a kids’ ropes course and playground, all encircled by a paved path that’s perfect for walking or biking to the nearby pond.
Gabriel Park

The inclusive playground at Gabriel Park focuses on accessibility with swings for all ages and abilities, two accessible slides, interactive sensory panels that provide a range of texture, sight, and auditory delight, and even an in-ground trampoline to wheel or walk onto.

Adventurous families can take to the air via Envi Adventures small plane tours, or zoom up the Willamette River on a Willamette Jetboat tour. Families can also rent their own private electric boat with Portland Electric Boat Company (no experience necessary!). A visit to Kerr Bikes sends you on a beautiful cruise along riverfront bike paths with a four-seat “surrey” bike rental.

Four people ride three-wheeled bicycles along a river; two of the bikes are hand-operated — Adaptive BIKETOWN provides rental bikes for people with disabilities.

kids smile and spin on a colorful amusement ride on a sunny day — Retro rides for the whole family await at Oaks Amusement Park.

Reveling in vintage charm, Oaks Amusement Park America’s oldest continuously operating amusement park offers a variety of rides and amusements – including retro roller coasters, a Ferris wheel and even a roller-skating rink – and while it lacks the biggest thrill rides of, say, Six Flags, there’s a great deal to amuse younger children in particular for a whole afternoon. Ride bracelets make a day’s entertainment very affordable.

More Amusement and Water Parks

For an immersive art experience combined with a mini-golf adventure, Portland artist Mike Bennett’s Wonderwood Mini Golf lets groups of all ages explore a 9-hole course packed with whimsy.

In downtown Portland, Glowing Greens is an indoor pirate-themed, black-light-filled mini-golf course. Playing the course takes approximately 45 minutes, but you can fill the rest of the day with axe throwing and an escape room on-site.

Gamers in the family will rejoice at the bounty of arcades and game shops in Portland. Avalon Theatre & Wunderland hosts a video arcade of nickel games and two small screens showing second-run movies. Quarterworld is split into adult- and kid-friendly sides, with 34 machines and 64 arcade games. With all-ages hours Ground Kontrol has vintage video games and pinball machines. Guardian Games is a massive game store that offers all kinds of games and game-related events, plus space to play. Red Castle Games hosts regular game gatherings and special events in addition to aisles and aisles of games for purchase.

Grab your goggles and floaties and head 20 minutes southeast of Portland to North Clackamas Aquatic Park. The water park features a 400,000-gallon wave swimming pool, three water slides, a 29-foot rock-climbing wall, a toddler splash zone, a six-lane lap pool and a 13-foot-deep diving well.

Kid-Friendly Regional Attractions

Trips outside the city promise all-ages entertainment. Here are four must-see attractions within two hours of downtown Portland.

More Parks & Rec

Shopping with the Whole Family

Malls and Shopping Centers

A trip to the mall can offer a little something for everyone in the family. Downtown Portland’s home for big-brand shopping, Pioneer Place, houses major brands like Tory Burch, J. Crew, H&M, Apple and more. In addition to more than 50 stores, the multi-block Portland shopping center has a large food court and a Regal Cinema. For shoppers looking to support local businesses and experience the independent spirit of Portland, the revival of this Northeast Portland shopping center might be of interest. Lloyd Center hosts around 60 local and national shops and restaurants, a 10-screen movie theater, and an indoor ice rink.

Boutiques

Crafty kids will love to stop into Collage, with three Portland locations in bustling shopping districts of Alberta Arts, Division and Sellwood, and fill up on art and craft supplies. For arts and craft supplies that won’t break the bank, check out Scrap PDX, which sells donated art, craft and creative supplies.

Hammer and Jacks is located in Southeast Foster in Portland, OR. You can find a wide range of toys and books for every age. Hammer and Jack also have Story Time every Friday in their store.

Portland Toy Stores

Whether you’re a parent looking for an educational game or a collector on the hunt for a vintage action figure, Portland’s independent toy stores and book stores deliver.

nighttime street view of neon signs adorning a historic neighborhood theater and arcade

The Best Arcades in Portland

Portland offers a wide range of arcades, from family-friendly game rooms to dive bars and adults-only bar arcades.

two people smile while holding hands and skating across a classic wooden roller rink

Indoor Activities for Children

When Portland’s weather prevents kids from running around outside, families can choose from dozens of indoor activities.

Slappy Cakes

Slappy Cakes is a full-service breakfast restaurant, with griddles built into each table on which you can craft your own pancakes. Everything is made from scratch and includes organic seasonal produce fresh from the restaurant’s backyard garden.
Laughing Planet – Belmont

Laughing Planet is a quick-service, family-friendly café that serves nutritious fare made with locally sourced food in the form of burritos, bowls, soups, salads and smoothies.
Hopworks Urban Brewery

Portland’s first eco-brewpub offers organic beers in a relaxed, family-friendly setting. The menu includes burgers, salads, pizzas and kids’ options.
Harlow – Northwest

Harlow specializes in locally sourced fare that’s gluten-free and vegetarian — abundant vegan options are available too. Enjoy scrambles, bowls, salad, smoothies and more in their spacious, modern dining room or take your grub to go.
Grand Central Bakery – Hawthorne

Since 1989, Grand Central Bakery has offered fresh-baked bread and pastries, plus sandwiches, soups and salads. They are a locally owned and operated business that features local, sustainable ingredients.

Kid-Friendly Dining

Discover Portland’s top kid-friendly eateries — including breakfast spots, pizzerias and breweries — which offer awesome children’s menus, play areas and more.

Seasonal Family Fun

It doesn’t matter the time of year, Portland has fun-filled activities for kids all year long. Read on for our round-up of family events by season.

Fall Family Fun

Families can find fun outdoor activities in and around Portland every fall. As the summer sun wanes, falltime fun starts off with the Chapman Swift Watch in Northwest Portland, where families fill the schoolyard with picnics to watch as thousands of Vaux’s swifts funnel into a decommissioned chimney.

thousands of small birds swarm around a tall brick chimney at sunset — Thousands of swifts soar across the sky at Chapman Elementary School.

a large vat of apples on a sunny day — Visitors to Oregon's Fruit Loop can pick apples straight from the branch.

A woman and three children find their way through the tall corn at the Corn Maize at The Pumpkin Patch on Sauvie Island. — The Corn Maize at The Pumpkin Patch on Sauvie Island

With breathtaking sights and waterfalls, an hour’s drive east from downtown Portland through the scenic Columbia River Gorge lands your family in the picture-perfect and delicious orchards of Hood River. Experience a slice of the Fruit Loop and meander through the orchards with views – on a clear day – of Mount Hood and Mount Adams while apple picking.

Closer to Portland, find pumpkin patches and corn mazes on Sauvie Island, which is a half-hour drive from downtown, to the annual costumed pumpkin boat race at the West Coast Giant Pumpkin Regatta, a twenty-minute drive south of Portland in Tualatin, to more spooky events for Halloween.

Winter Family Fun

Though the weather outside may be frightful, winter in Portland still holds a lot of fun. Portlanders bundle up and celebrate the holidays in Portland with fun events that delight any age, like the Christmas Ships Parade. And when the rain is too heavy, head inside and check off your holiday shopping list while supporting local makers at Crafty Wonderland.

two boats on a river adorned with Christmas lights, one decorated to look like a blue whale — The Christmas Ships Parade has been a Portland tradition since 1954.

Timberline lodge covered in snow on a sunny day — Timberline Lodge on Mount Hood.

a person walks through a light installation containing long strands of lights hanging from a panel overhead — A visitor wanders through an installation at the Portland Winter Light Festival.

With only an hour and a half drive from Portland, bring the family to the mountains for fun in the snow, like skiing or tubing the slopes of Mount Hood. The historic Timberline Lodge accommodates families of adventurers of any skill level, from black diamond runs to the hot coco crowd in the lodge. Or, stick closer to the city and explore winter hikes and walks.

Every February the Winter Light Festival brings light to the wintry darkness with imaginative light displays that combine light and technology to create interactive experiences at many different locations in downtown and the Central Eastside.

Spring Family Fun

Take a break – or even Spring Break – to see Portland while the entire city is blooming with spring colors and kid-friendly events.

a mother holding her child in the middle of rows of white tulips — Brunch at Wooden Shoe Tulip Farm is just one of many local Mother’s Day celebrations.

orange pedicab rides through park under backlit cherry blossoms and a view of the Burnside Bridge — Enjoy a leisurely pedicab ride through the cherry blossoms at Waterfront Park.

dragon boat with rowers in Wilamette River — The annual Rose Festival features Dragon Boat Races on the Willamette River.

Follow the season of blooms from cherry blossoms at the Japanese American Historical Plaza in Waterfront Park from mid-March to mid-April, tulips at the Wooden Shoe Tulip Festival in Woodburn the month of April, rhododendrons at Crystal Spring Rhododendron Garden in April-May, and irises at Schreiner’s Iris Gardens in Salem in May.

The roses in the City of Roses start to bloom late in May, just in time for the annual Portland Rose Festival, with parades, dragon boat races, and carnival rides filling Waterfront Park.

For those seeking the eccentric side of Portland, don’t miss the UFO Festival in McMinnville, just an hour southwest of downtown. Oregon’s annual celebration features days full of parades, costume contests, expert speakers and family fun.

Free and Cheap Things to Do in Portland

Some of the best things to do in Portland are totally free. Connect with nature, discover local artists or learn something new.

Cheap Thrills

Summer Family Fun

When the weather heats up, Portland’s public spaces overflow with summer fun and outdoor activities at some of the city’s most beloved venues, like Zoo Nights and McMenamins Edgefield’s Concerts on the Lawn.

family at mount tabor park plays piano and looks at view with dogs — Every summer, Piano Push Play installs dozens of custom-painted pianos throughout the city, all free for anyone to play.

three people mid-jump into a river — Several businesses in Portland's Central Eastside rent equipment (like life jackets) for swimming and playing safely in the Willmatte River.

A family enjoys a bike tour of downtown Portland. — Portland offers plenty of clearly marked and wide bike lanes, perfect for families taking in the downtown sights.

With plenty of free family fun, the city’s Summer Free for All hosts movies, concerts and family-friendly events in the parks, or cool off at these Portland swimming holes. From July through September, Piano Push Play places beautifully decorated pianos throughout the city, with an invitation for any passerby to play. Another summer-long festival of events is Pedalpalooza, with plenty of kid-friendly rides on the calendar.

Get to know Portland’s unique neighborhoods with Portland Street Fairs. These events extend through the summer months, closing off the main street in each neighborhood so families can explore local vendors and food carts and watch kid-friendly performers.