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Old 02-04-2011, 07:30 PM
 
Location: Desert SW
121 posts, read 219,818 times
Reputation: 66

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Hooray! Looks like we will be moving to Portland in late June So here is my question: what little gems have you discovered that you wish you had known about sooner? I know about the Portland Saturday Market and Beaverton Market, Arboretum, Japanese Garden, The Grotto, The Children's Museum, The Audubon Society, and Forest Park. Those places come up pretty fast when talking about attractions in Portland. How about some lesser known activities? Oh, and they need to be child-friendly.
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Old 02-04-2011, 08:59 PM
 
Location: Pacific NW
6,413 posts, read 12,143,960 times
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What age child/children?
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Old 02-04-2011, 10:38 PM
 
Location: Desert SW
121 posts, read 219,818 times
Reputation: 66
Quote:
Originally Posted by EnricoV View Post
What age child/children?
8, 3, & 1 1/2 (when we get there)
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Old 02-04-2011, 10:44 PM
 
Location: PNW
682 posts, read 2,423,199 times
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OMSI (Oregon Museum of Science and Industry) is great for kids and adults. Try not to go on a weekend, or at least early in the morning on a weekend.
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Old 02-05-2011, 08:43 AM
 
Location: surrounded by reality
538 posts, read 1,191,517 times
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Jamison Square fountain in summer is a big hit with my daughter with a mandatory stop at the ice-cream shop on the corner of 11th and Johnson. Sauvie island farms are a fun weekend outing, specifically Kruger's and Pumpkin Patch. They've got animals that kids typically like, picking flowers is a possibility and just hanging out there can be fun.
Other lesser known subtle attractions I found:
South-East:
- Breakfast at the waffle window at Bread and Ink on Hawthorne
- Mt. Tabor Park
- Portland Nursery on Stark
North-West:
- NW 23rd avenue is the best known place to window-shop, but NW 21st avenue just two blocks away also has its charms, including Ken's Artisan Bakery with the best baguettes in town
- Cup of coffee at Barista in the Pearl District, while kids do pottery painting at Ready Paint Fire! next door
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Old 02-05-2011, 09:31 AM
 
3,805 posts, read 6,356,020 times
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The zoo!
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Old 02-05-2011, 10:22 AM
 
Location: Pacific NW
6,413 posts, read 12,143,960 times
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I answered a similar sort of a question in this post. Maybe some of that will fit the bill for you.
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Old 02-05-2011, 02:08 PM
 
3,928 posts, read 4,907,848 times
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Wow! Peninsular and I must take our families to the same places! Yay! We LOVE the fountains in The Pearl and going to Cool Moon for ice cream. Mt. tabor is awesome and FREE. The North and South Tabor neighborhoods have great places to eat after you go for a family stroll or hike. There is a play ground there as well. Montavilla neighborhood has a thriving commercial area which is close to Mt. Tabor. You will be amazed at how many hip and trendy areas in this city are actually family friendly. We just joined OMSI and we have been members of Portland Children's Museum for a year now and we love it. Sellwood is fun to wander around in and very family friendly. Driving only hake an hour from our house is a town called Sandy, where there is snow. It's on the way to Mt. Hood. We go to Clackamas Town Center because it's spacious and family friendly plus feels like you can really see the trees from just standing in the parking lot. I have lived in big cities in different parts of U.S. but Portland's quality of life, especially for families with young children, is very unique. Seattle and Vancouver, B.C. are not that far for car trips. We have a great airport and when you get stir crazy... get on a plane...
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Old 02-05-2011, 04:07 PM
 
132 posts, read 341,539 times
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The Portland Library system. There are all sorts of kids' programs and activities at local branches. The main library's children's room is gorgeous and well-stocked.

Portland Parks and Rec. There are all sorts of kids' activities and classes and the prices seem quite fair. On-Line Registration : Activities

St. Honore Bakery. My 11-year-old *loves* the eclairs. We stop there after hiking in the gorgeous Forest Park. Saint Honoré Boulangerie

Stumptown makes tasty kid's hot chocolate (and grownup coffee). -- as does Coava Coffee on SE Grand and Blue Kangaroo in Sellwood. And I suspect there are many, many others...

Hiking in Oaks Bottom Wildlife Refuge.

Biking on Springwater Corridor from Oaks Bottom up to OMSI (def. worth joining), and up along the river to Steel Bridge, over it, stopping at Saturday Market under Burnside Bridge for refreshment, people-watching, over Hawthorne Bridge.

I know you already know about the Audubon Society, but my child attended a day "veterinarian" camp and *loved* it.

Cheap, second-run movie theaters with G and PG shows are great to kill a few hours on a rainy Saturday or Sunday. We love the one on Belmont. (The kid enjoys all the arcade games, as well, but they give me a massive headache.)

Gabriel Park. We love the park, but haven't done any of the camps, which we've heard are terrific.

Oaks Bottom Amusement Park and Roller Skating Rink -- the rink is wooden and there's an old-fashioned organ that supposedly works.

I have to agree w/Yankeemama -- Portland's quality of life, of its family life, is amazing. Welcome!
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Old 02-05-2011, 07:01 PM
 
Location: Desert SW
121 posts, read 219,818 times
Reputation: 66
Wow! You are are rising to the occasion. What fabulous suggestions!! Thank you and keep 'em coming :-)
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