2 days in Portland with 2 little ones in July
 

Hi all,

We are heading out to Portland and would like some recommendations of what to see and where to eat the 2 days we are there! We love being outdoors and enjoy scenery. We are planning to do/see/eat at the following:

- Forest Park
- River gorge
- Cannon Beach ????
- Washington Park
- Japanese garden
- Segway tours
- Float shoppe (for me of course :) )
- Aerial tram
- Waffle window
- salt & straw ice cream
- Vodoo donut

Any advice, please?! We are limited to 2 days so what do you suggest with do with those 2 days?

What ages are the kids?

I love Forest Park. There are numerous trails for hiking, which we love. You can go from the zoo up to Pittock Mansion, which is a nice hike. This is also where Washington Park is, and the Japanese Garden is up here too, which is a must see, IMO.

The Columbia River Gorge is a beautiful area. Allow at least a half day for that, preferably a full day. Be sure to take the old scenic highway and not just I-84, or you will miss the best stops. The gorge is nearly 80 miles long, so really take a look and see what you want to do in this area.

Cannon Beach is a wonderful place for all ages. We head over there often. It is about 90 minutes from downtown Portland.

I personally would never do the tram. It was built to transport doctors/nurses and patients/families up to the hospital and the costs went wild, so they turned it into a tourist attraction, if you will, to try to recoup the costs. I just have a personal issue with it, but that is just me. There are plenty of other great places for views, such at Pittock Mansion, so you can still get those without taking the tram.

Salt and Straw is very good!

Voodoo, not so much, IMO. There are a couple locations though, so if you don't mind skipping the one near the Saturday Market, you won't wait in a long line. That said, I am just not a donut person, so maybe that is why it doesn't do anything for me, lol!

With only 2 days, you will not be able to do all of this on your list. If your kids are ok with doing a day trip to the gorge, I would definitely do that as it is stunning. I would spend the other day outside in Portland taking in the parks and just wandering. If it is a warm day, Jamison Square has a great water feature that kids love, and there is always the Salmon Street fountain, but that one is way more crowded.

Thank you mms!

I've decided on Forest Park and Columbia River Gorge, but unfortunately have to skip on Cannon Beach. I'm up in the air on visiting Crater Lake. Any advice?

Crater Lake is a wonderful place, but it is about 5 hours from Portland, without any stops. Are you thinking of staying over a night or two in that area or Bend? If so, it is very much worth it!

There are jet boat rides on the Willamette River that the kids ( and adults) might enjoy
and OMSI which is a science museum but very geared to kids and curious minds - there is a submarine there they can tour- however this this is all indoors so might not be an interest if weather is good and you prefer to be outside

https://www.omsi.edu

The Gorge of course is great and a trip to see fish ladders where you can view the fish from underwater viewing stations - and there is also a huge sturgeon

Agree with mms that Crater Lake is a long ride -

I find Chinese gardens much more interested than Japanese in Portland, for any age. Just check opening hours, a co-worker went there, and they were closed.

Interesting, not interested. Sorry, typo.

Voodoo Donuts is a fun place especially for kids!

http://voodoodoughnut.com/index.php

Interesting Dayenu, I've never been to the Chinese Gardens in Portland. Will have to check it out next time I go up (which is soon I hope).

nanaee--You haven't been there??? Plan on it your next visit. It is small, just one city block, so doesn't take very long to go through. It is nice though and you feel like you are a world away from all the city stuff, even though you are right in it.