Top 20 Places to Take Kids in and around Portland - 2020
Best Places for Kids in the Portland region!
The best places to take kids in the Portland, based on KidsOutAndAbout's annual reader survey. But there is LOTS more to do in the Portland! Get great ideas here! What is listed below are far from the only opportunities for family fun and learning; they're just what was voted this year.
Oregon Zoo
The 64-acre Oregon Zoo is located in Portland, a city and surrounding metropolitan area of 2.26 million people. Annual attendance is more than 1.5 million, making the zoo the top paid attraction in the Pacific Northwest.
Portland Children's Museum (closed)
Finnegan's Toys and Gifts
Portland's locally owned toy store since 1977. For those seeking old-school classics, the latest in whimsy, and Toy of the Year award- winners, Finnegan's carries an eclectic and expansive selection. Board games, puzzles, dolls and trikes, science kits, wind-ups and more abound! Yes, places like this still exist.
Portland Japanese Garden
Considered the most authentic Japanese Garden outside of Japan, the Portland Japanese Garden is a haven of tranquil beauty in all four seasons. In Spring of 2017, the Garden opened its new Cultural Village, complete with new garden spaces, classrooms, exhibition and gallery space, and the Umami Cafe.
The Oaks Amusement Park
One of America's oldest continually operating amusement park, founded in 1905, features thrill rides, family rides, kiddie rides, go carts, miniature golf, midway games, and the largest roller skating rink west of the Mississippi!
My Local Library
Of course, the libraries in the Portland area are not really ONE place, but MANY places... but it's important to emphasize how valuable libraries are for family learning and fun. The libraries in our area are wonderful about posting their events to the KidsOutAndAbout calendar so you always can get ideas for free things to do with your kids that celebrate education and imagination. KidsOutAndAbout.com takes this opportunity to salute the wonderful children's librarians who serve our community with such dedication. They're proud that locals voted them #7 in best places to take kids this year!
Multnomah Falls
Multnomah Falls is a waterfall located on Multnomah Creek in the Columbia River Gorge, east of Troutdale, between Corbett and Dodson, Oregon, United States. The waterfall is accessible from the Historic Columbia River Highway and Interstate 84. Spanning two tiers on basalt cliffs, it is the tallest waterfall in the state of Oregon at 620 ft in height.
International Rose Test Garden
The International Rose Test Garden is a rose garden in Washington Park in Portland, Oregon, United States. There are over 7,000 rose plants of approximately 550 varieties. The roses bloom from April through October with the peak coming in June, depending on the weather.
World Forestry Center
The World Forestry Center is a nonprofit educational institution in Portland in the U.S. state of Oregon. Located near the Oregon Zoo in Washington Park, the organization was established in 1964 as the Western Forestry Center, with the actual building opening in 1971.
Hoyt Arboretum
Founded in 1928 to conserve endangered species and educate the community, Hoyt Arboretum encompasses 190 ridge-top acres and 12 miles of hiking trails just minutes from downtown Portland. Home to 2,300 species of trees and shrubs from six continents, Hoyt Arboretum is a place of beauty and serenity no matter the season.
PlayDate PDX
We are a 7,500 sq ft indoor play structure in NW Portland that is tailored to create a safe and energetic environment that stimulates the imagination and gives your children space to roam.
Powell’s City of Books
Powell’s City of Books is the largest used and new bookstore in the world, occupying an entire city block and housing approximately one million books. Located in downtown Portland’s Pearl District, the City of Books has nine color-coded rooms and over 3,500 different sections, offering something for every interest, including an incredible selection of out-of-print and hard-to-find titles. Dozens of acclaimed writers, artists, and thinkers visit each month to read in the Basil Hallward Gallery (located upstairs in the Pearl Room), and a one-of-a-kind Rare Book Room draws bibliophiles from near and far to browse an impressive collection of autographed first editions and other collectible volumes.
Director Park
Located in the heart of downtown Portland at 815 SW Park Avenue, our mission is to be a public piazza that provides an elegant, clean, safe, and versatile space that provides rentals to positively activate the park and complement downtown.
Pips & Bounce
For the Jung brothers, Michael & Eugene, childhood fun meant playing endless hours of ping pong in our basement rec room in Appalachian Kentucky. Whether it was with our parents, with friends, or just with each other, ping pong was a guaranteed good time, every time.
After realizing that growing up wasn't all that it was cracked up to be, we decided to find our fun again in 2012 by throwing pop-up ping pong parties around Portland. A year & a half later, with the lessons learned from dozens of events & the courage inspired by hundreds of fans, we went all-in to build the permanent ping pong paradise that Portland deserves. Thanks for joining us in this amazing journey!
Hammer + Jacks
We are an independently owned toy store with a strong focus on connecting families through play. In addition to our shop we have a 650 sq. ft. Community Play Space for daily play and parties.
Ocean Plays
Welcome to Ocean Plays, Safe, Clean, and Fun Indoor Playground. Let’s Play and Make New Friend!
The Wiggle Room
The Wiggle Room is a play space in NE Portland Hollywood district designed and owned by a local, experienced and licensed pediatric occupational therapist, Jessica Wade.
Glowing Greens
Glowing Greens is Portland's premier 13 hole, blacklight indoor 3‑D Adventure miniature golf course. Stop in for a unique game of golf in our fun and memorable atmosphere. We offer individual and group rounds for 13 holes of miniature golf. Give your family and friends a party that they will never forget. Glowing Greens is great for every age and groups of any size.
Columbia Farms U-Pick
Located on picturesque Sauvie Island, Columbia Farms U-Pick was planted in the early 1990s. We started with one acre of strawberries and now offer more than fifteen different types of berries, covering over eighty acres. We also have peonies, pumpkins and all types of fall décor items.
