Is portland good for young kids? toddlers? (Happy Valley: neighborhoods, activity)

[ng12345]

Hello. I wanted to find out how portland is for kids (namely young toddlers less than 3)? With what I have read about the weather (7 months of gray skies), is it conducive to outdoor activity with the kids? Is it just dark and gray during the fall/winter/early spring, or is it just cloudy and bright?

[aroseinrain]

Oregonians adjust to the weather. You have to be willing to let your kids play outside rain or shine, basically. Playgrounds aren't as much fun because the slide is usually wet, but there's still biking, skating, scootering, wet grass and mud puddles to play in.

It'll be overcast and drizzly for about 8 months, so if your the type of mom who wants the kids to stay inside when the weather is cold or wet it won't work, but if you don't mind they won't mind. And the summers are simply gorgeous!

[pathrunner]

There are tons of involved, committed, passionate, intensely creative and innovative, very hands-on parents in Portland. I think it is a great place to raise kids, and wish I'd been raised here. Barring any health conditions that would exacberate a child's condition, you can't go wrong here. And no, your kids aren't going to be indoctrinated into the evil liberal lifestyle. There are neighborhoods for everyone. Stepford... uh... Happy Valley is for those of a certain bent!