Portland, Oregon: A Great Family-Friendly Destination!
Portland is a first-rate family destination. The city is chock full of cool toy stores, bookstores, museums, and great eats. Even the Saturday Farmer’s Market, which runs from April through December, is an event not to be missed. Overflowing with locally grown fruits and veggies, the market also features a plethora of baked goods, cheeses, dips, and flowers to take back and savor in your hotel room. Too, the Portland area is an outdoors lover’s dream. There’s every activity imaginable, from swimming, kayaking, and sailing, to hiking, biking, even jumping out of planes. Be sure to visit Oregon’s coast and mountains, too. Grab a rental car and go—or bike it as many locals do in this big-on-recycling city. Green, vibrant, and gorgeous are words I’d use to describe Oregon. Get there and see for yourself!
Sheri’s Portland Recommendations:
Excellent Time-Suckers:
Oregon Museum of Science and Industry – OMSI, as the locals call it, is sure to enthrall everyone in your brood. That’s because there’s an IMAX theater, a planetarium, and the U.S.S.
Blueback, a decommissioned navy submarine, just begging to be explored. Don’t miss the Life Science Hall exhibits on the second floor.
www.omsi.edu
Portland’s Saturday Farmers Market – Located on the grounds of Portland State University, this dog-friendly open market is a great way to see Portland families and entrepreneurs in action. Too many goodies to choose from. Go hungry!
www.PortlandFarmersMarket.com
Powell’s Books – We’re talking huge, people! Powell’s six locations offer up 4 million new, used, rare, and out-of-print books, earning Powell’s the moniker “Largest independent bookstore in the world.” Great place to grab a few reads to keep the kiddies occupied on the plane ride home.
www.powells.com
Jamison Square – Tykes feeling hot? Then hurry them to this park made popular by its shallow tidal pool, in which the locals frolic day and night. Water cascades from stone joints into the slow-draining pool, as the fountain continuously circulates treated water. Play hard, but when the clock strikes midnight, everyone out of the pool!
http://www.altportland.com/consume/splash/play/jamison_square.shtml
Finnegan’s Toy Store – This locally owned independent toy store, the Northwest’s largest, has been around for 30 years, so they’re obviously doing something right. It’s a great place to spend an hour or two on a rainy afternoon.
http://finneganstoys.com/index.php
Good Eats:
Laughing Planet Café – If you collect Godzilla figures, check out the big orange guy guarding the kitchen counter at the Mississippi Street location. According to founder Richard Satnick (Chief Burrito Officer), it’s the largest vinyl Godzilla figure in the world. Satnick has been collecting the figures since he was a kid. Come hungry, because the signature organic burritos are huge. Or order the kid version. Yum! Visit the entertaining website and let the chuckling begin!
www.LaughingPlanetCafe.com
St. Honore Bakery – This big-attitude French bakery, with ample indoor and outdoor seating, dishes up yummy breads, pastries, and sandwiches, salads, and soups. A bonus for the kids: watching the baker pop the loaves of French bread in and out of the clay firebrick bread oven. The quiche is to die for!
www.StHonoreBakery.com
Hot Lips Pizza - Gorge on the gourmet pizza slices, washing them down with Hot Lips Sodas, created from fresh Oregon fruits and berries.
Hotels:
Embassy Suites Portland - Downtown – Nice rooms, great lobby, fabulous complimentary breakfast. Everything from cold cereal, to biscuits and bacon, to made-to-order omelets. Moms, head on over to the onsite spa while dad takes the kiddies to the pool.
http://embassysuites1.hilton.com/en_US/es/hotel/PDXPSES/index.do
The Inn at Northrup Station – This clever, funky, all-suite boutique is located in the hip Nob Hill neighborhood, right on the city’s streetcar line. So park you car in the hotel’s complimentary lot and jump aboard. Junior suites offer two queen-size beds, Executive suites offer two king-size beds. Free Wifi, free continental breakfast—from make-your-own waffles to bagels to fresh fruit. Just try keeping the kids away from the overflowing bowls of candy offered up 24/7 in the lobby!
www.northrupstation.com
