10 Best Family Things to Do in Portland

Oaks Amusement Park spans 44 acres on Willamette River, just over 5 miles south of Downtown Portland. It dates back to 1905, making it one of the oldest theme parks in the USA. You can find more than 20 carnival rides, including a Ferris wheel, carousel, roller coasters, and go-karts.

Families can enjoy a leisurely ride on the Oaks Park Train or tee off at the park’s 18-hole miniature golf course. Oaks Amusement Park also has a roller-skating rink that opens year-round. Outdoor rides are only open between March and September.

The Portland Children's Museum offers over a dozen permanent exhibits for children under 12 to enjoy, along with hands-on workshops and classes. Located in Washington Park, the centre focuses on inquiry-based learning, so kids get to learn about the world through fun yet realistic activities.

The Maker Studio encourages kids to be creative with recycled materials, while Pet Hospital is excellent for kids to learn about animals. There’s also a live theatre and a 1.3-acre outdoor play area (complete with a child-sized hedge maze). The Portland Children's Museum hosts regular workshops and seasonal camps for those who want to enhance their learning experience in Portland.

Forest Park is an excellent escape from the bustling city life, situated 20-minutes west of downtown St. Louis. The 1,300-acre park is the beating heart of the city, housing a multitude of museums, a zoo, a golf course, an outdoor amphitheatre, and miles of walking paths.

Take a stroll through the park to admire the art-deco designed Jewel Box and the scenic Pagoda Lake. It’s a good idea to pack a picnic, as you can lounge on Art Hill before making your way to the St. Louis Art Museum, where you can check out a constant rotation of internationally recognised exhibits. For some family fun, you can check out life on the African savannah with lions and zebras at the St Louis Zoo, which is home to over 19,000 wild animals. The park is open year-round – sledging is a popular pastime during winter.

PlayDate PDX is a 7,500-sq-ft centre with interactive activities for kids to enjoy in Portland. It’s fully indoors, housing a 3-storey castle, dance floor with lights, climbing walls, and slides. There's also a separate area for younger kids below 12 years old.

Free puppet shows take place at Playdate PDX on Fridays at 6.30 pm. Parents can relax at the onsite café, which offers free Wi-Fi, adult beverages and western dishes. You can enjoy free admission if you visit on Mondays after 5 pm.

The Portland Saturday Market takes place in Tom McCall Waterfront Park every weekend from March to December. This outdoor market is an excellent place to shop for handmade clothes, toys and jewellery, as well as local food products.

There are also vendors offering henna and face-painting services, as well as live music at the Portland Saturday Market. Families should visit on the 1^st Sunday of the month to enjoy free kids' activities, including creative workshops, puppet shows, and science fairs.

The International Rose Test Garden dates back to 1917, making it one of the oldest gardens in the USA. Portland is nicknamed the ‘City of Roses’, with sunny days and plentiful rainfall creating ideal conditions for these flowers to grow.

Located in Washington Park, the 4.5-acre garden has over 10,000 roses of 650 species. You can stroll past colourful rose bushes and even rose-covered archways – it’s also a popular photo and date spot in Portland. Entry to the International Rose Test Garden is free year-round, though the best time to see the roses in full bloom is between May and September.

The World Forestry Center spans 20,000 sq ft of forest-themed exhibits in Portland’s Washington Park, next to Oregon Zoo. You get to learn about the importance of preserving forests around the world through virtual tours, full-scale models, and interactive experiences.

The first floor focuses on the Pacific Northwest’s forests, with displays ranging from a Timberjack harvester to stuffed wild animals. The People & Forests on the 2^nd floor offers a virtual tour of forest types in Siberia, China, South Africa, and the Amazon. Outside, you can climb aboard and take photos of Peggy, a 42-tonne steam locomotive from 1909.

Quarterworld is a retro-style arcade that specialises in pinball, along with over 60 classic and modern games. Parents can get a sense of nostalgia by playing old-school favourites such as Donkey Kong and Asteroids.

A highlight of Quarterworld is its musical Tesla Coil, which plays songs using electrical bolts. Shows take place on Sundays and Tuesdays, at 4 pm and 9 pm. The arcade also has an onsite lounge where you can relax with a drink and/or light snacks. You can find Quarterworld in Southeast Hawthorne Boulevard, around 1.8 miles east of Mount Tabor Park.

Oregon Zoo is home to over 2,600 animals from almost every continent, making it a great place to learn about wildlife. Established in 1888, the 64-acre zoo is in Washington Park, close to notable Portland landmarks like Hoyt Arboretum and Portland Children’s Museum.

Must-sees include Asian elephants, Siberian tigers, and Humboldt penguins. The zoo also hosts seasonal activities throughout the year, such as Rabbit Romp in spring and Howloween in October. One of its most popular events is the wintertime ZooLights, which sees 1.5 million LED lights decorating the zoo’s trees, sculptures, train and carousel.

The Oregon Museum of Science and Industry is a super cool place to explore, whether you’re travelling with or without kids. Otherwise known as the OMSI, the interactive museum has 5 halls and 8 different labs where you can get hands-on with the exhibits. You’ll have fun learning new and exciting elements of chemistry, physics, palaeontology and more.

The OMSI aims to promote a sustainable society and uses its exhibitions to educate people on how to use modern day skills such as critical thinking and problem solving. While you’re there, visit the on-site IMAX theatre and planetarium, or head back in the evening for one of the OMSI After Dark events.