10 Best Family Things to Do in Portland, OR

Portland, also known as Rip City, is situated in Oregon and can be found between the Columbia and Willamette Rivers in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. The city is well known for its historical locations, rich history, vibrant culture, delicious food scene, welcoming environment, and a wide range of family-friendly attractions, drawing families from all over the world.

From the Oaks Amusement Park, known for its wide range of rides for every age; Oregon Zoo, where you can explore a whole range of wildlife, including tigers, lions, and lemurs along with your kids; to Portland Saturday Market, known for local crafts, live music, and street food providing a glimpse of Portland culture; and Oregon Museum of Science and History, allowing kids to explore science and physics experiments in a family-friendly environment, Portland is filled with numerous family attractions at every corner.

Below is the list of the 10 best Portland family attractions. Keep reading and make your trip a memorable one!

Oaks Amusement Park is a 44-acre family amusement park in Portland that was established in 1905 and is situated along the Willamette River, just 5 miles south of downtown Portland. It is home to over 20 rides, ranging from roller coasters and gigantic pendulum swings to toddler-friendly trains and carousels. Families can also enjoy a year-round roller skating rink, an 18-hole miniature golf course, and the Oaks Park Train. It also features several outdoor rides, fairground games, and an escape room from spring to autumn, making it a great place to have fun with kids.

When looking for the best things to do in Portland with kids, visiting Quarter World stands out as a great option. It is a retro-style arcade that is situated next to Mount Tabor Park on Southeast Hawthorne Boulevard and is home to more than 30 pinball machines and 60 classic and modern games. Visitors can play classic games like Donkey Kong and Pac-Man and watch a musical Tesla coil perform on the first Thursday of every month. The arcade is also home to two bars, snacks, pizza, and burgers, creating a fun atmosphere that is perfect for people of all ages. Moreover, the entrance cost is $1 while you can enjoy games for $0.50 to $1 each.

Forest Park is situated only 20 minutes west of downtown Portland and spans an area of 5,200 acres with more than 80 miles of biking and hiking trails, making it one of the biggest urban forests in America. The park is home to hundreds of native plants and animals, with family-friendly trails and well-marked entry sites. Children can also visit attractions like the famous Old Witch Castle, as well as admire bridges, rivers, and waterfalls along the journey. Some of the well-liked paths in the park include the Maple Trail, Wildwood Trail, and Lower Macleay Trail.

PlayDate PDX is a three-story indoor playground in Portland that allows kids of all ages to have hands-on fun. The main castle features several climbing walls, slides, and tunnels, as well as two interactive dance floors and a ball cannon section. There is also a separate and secure area for toddlers to play. Every Friday, the location also hosts free puppet shows at 6 PM to entertain visitors. Parents can also relax at the on-site café and enjoy light fare, coffee, adult drinks, and Wi-Fi. It is a great place to visit on rainy days in Portland and keeps both parents and children occupied.

The Portland Saturday Market, which takes place at Tom McCall Waterfront Park on Saturdays from March through December, is the biggest continually running outdoor arts and crafts market in America. Families can explore handcrafted clothing, toys, and jewelry; glass and wood crafts; meet the artists; and even commission a unique piece. Children can enjoy street magicians, performances, henna artists, and face painting, as well as live music. It is also home to food vendors selling everything from chowders to falafel. The market stretches from Burnside Bridge to Skidmore Fountain and provides a full day of family fun.

The International Rose Test Garden was established in 1917 and is a 4.5-acre garden situated in Washington Park in Portland and features over 10,000 roses of 610 species. Visitors can pass through the vibrant rose bushes and beneath rose-covered archways and also admire the expansive city views. Families can also combine their trip and visit the enormous Washington Park playground for children or the neighboring Portland Japanese Garden, known for its tea garden, koi ponds, stone lanterns, and bonsai collection. The flowers bloom from May to October, and entry is totally free, making it one of the best free places to visit in Portland.

The World Forestry Center is situated in Washington Park, close to the Oregon Zoo, and explores forests and sustainable forestry through interactive displays. The first level highlights Pacific Northwest woods and features plush animals, a timberjack harvester, and several interesting displays. The second level is home to “Take a Journey” exhibits and offers virtual forests in China, South Africa, the Amazon, and Siberia. Kids can climb on board Peggy, which is a 42-ton steam engine, or try out the Timberjack. The museum shows the importance of forests across the world and blends play and education.

Powell’s City of Books in Portland is the largest independent bookstore in the world, which is spread across a full city block and is home to more than a million new and used books. The store is easy to explore as it is separated into 3,500 sections and nine color-coded rooms, spanning topics like science, fiction, literature, maths, history, and more. Highlights of the store include a beautiful kids' section with games and unique gifts. You can enhance your experience by visiting the nearby Green Bean Book, which is home to a carefully chosen collection of children’s books and a handcrafted finger puppet vending machine.

The Oregon Zoo is situated in Washington Park, Portland, and is home to more than 2,000 animals from more than 250 species from every continent. It was founded in 1888 and allows visitors to explore wildlife like Asian elephants, giraffes, Amur tigers, lions, and Humboldt penguins. Kids can also ride the zoo train or take part in seasonal activities like Hop Into Spring and ZooLights in winter or Howloween in October. Moreover, visitors can also book behind-the-scenes tours or animal encounters with lemurs and sloths. The zoo spans an area of 64 acres and offers family-friendly entertainment along with animal education and conservation.

The Oregon Museum of Science and History in Portland provides interactive entertainment for children of all ages. They can explore physics and chemistry experiments, planetology displays, and the science playground, which features enormous building blocks, water play, and climbing frames. It is also home to the Kendall Planetarium, which shows age-appropriate movies, including toddler-friendly Sesame Street productions. OMSI also features revolving exhibitions on subjects ranging from space to Marvel, as well as nighttime OMSI After Dark events. The museum focuses on critical thinking, problem-solving, and sustainability, making it one of the best family things to do in Portland.

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