Portland with kids: Oregon Zoo

We love the Oregon Zoo! Like many Oregon Zoo reviews attest, we love that it’s small enough to be manageable in one day with young kids, but large enough to stay interesting time after time. We toured the entire thing with a five-year-old and three-year-old (plus older kids) and the entire loop took us about three and a half hours. With five main sections of the park—Great Northwest, Africa, … [Read more...]

Where to stay in Portland: Governor Hotel review

We've reviewed a good number of hotels for families planning a Portland Oregon vacation. No matter which you pick, our recommendation is to stay downtown, within walking distance of the fun shops, restaurants, attractions (and easy-to-use MAX transportation line) that make Portland such a family-friendly city. Downtown hotels will often lack the cost-saving perks of suburb hotels (free parking, … [Read more...]

Touring Oregon Wine Country with Grape Escape wine tours

Not long ago, I wouldn't have thought of spending a full day during a Portland Oregon vacation touring the Oregon wine country. I simply wouldn't have realized it was an option. In fact, the region directly around metropolitan Portland is ripe with wineries, and has been for several decades. During a recent parents' weekend away in Portland, I spent an early spring Saturday in wine country with … [Read more...]

The Allison Inn and Spa: Willamette Valley wine country pick

Tucked into the green hillside just outside the quiet Portland bedroom community of Newberg, The Allison Inn and Spa somehow feels like both a destination and a detour. Turning up the long drive, you clearly feel as if you've arrived, but the location is just close enough to the bustle of downtown Portland that you feel only slightly away. When you're looking to get away for a peaceful weekend, … [Read more...]

Portland Saturday Market, Portland Oregon

Often, one of the best ways to get to know a city is to experience one of their seasonal festivals or street markets. From March through December of every year, the Burnside Bridge area of Tom McCall Waterfront Park and Ankeny Park in Portland Oregon comes alive with the Portland Saturday Market. One part artisan vendor market, one part touristy festival, and one part foodie heaven, the … [Read more...]

Nike Town Portland

930 Southwest 6th Avenue Portland, OR Portland, Oregon offers a wealth of family-friendly attractions (in fact, I have so many to review, I'm behind!), but if you have a sports fan in your group, you'll want to spend some time at Nike Town. The world headquarters of all things Nike, Portland outdoes itself with this two-story retail center in downtown (near Pioneer Square). Kids (and adults) … [Read more...]

A Pit Stop a Day (Day 2): Hyatt Place Portland OR

  9750 NE Cascades Portland, OR Our first overnight of our road trip was spent at Hyatt Place in the Portland Airport Cascade Station area. What a great hotel for families (especially families of 5)! The Hyatt Place is definitely geared with convenience in mind, from the spacious lobby with 'guest kitchen' (where you have access to space to heat your own foods or buy freshly-made … [Read more...]

Portland International Airport (PDX)

We're back again with another great airport find! Portland International Airport (PDX) has a large play area in Terminal C, right past a food court with plenty of food options. You'll see a fairly large play structure, plus activity panels for younger kids and lots of seating for grown-ups. Theres another in the main terminal, but there's a catch: Reviewer Julie Hagstrom writes, "It is just … [Read more...]