Oregon with a 12 yr old
 

Any fun ideas for a 12 yr old boy on fall break? We will be in Portland and Corvallis. Need fun restaurant ideas.

The Oregon Zoo would be fun. We were there in November last year and the crowds were gone. A really fun way to spend a few hours. :)

If he likes pizza, Escape From New York in the Nob Hill area has some really good pizza. There is also Moonstruck chocolates for some yummy treats and milkshakes. Have fun and enjoy your time in Portland! ***kim*** ((l))

The Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI) is always a good choice for kids. It's in SE Portland just over the Hawthorne Bridge; going I-5 north there's an exit for OMSI just over the Marquam Bridge.

Andrew

Drive over to Florence and take him on a dune buggy ride - very fun as long as its not raining
you can also go sandboarding over there-
there is a sandboard park with rentals
available or you can sandboard at Honeyman State park.
I once saw a couple of young men trying to sandboard on stolen food trays from Wendys- not very successful I must say but gave us a good laugh

How long is the trip, and what are his interests?

The Zoo and OMSI would be definite musts for almost anyone. Go out to the Columbia River Gorge and see the Vista House and Multnomah Falls (easy walk to the very top). Take I-84 east, but then get on the scenic highway. If he likes to hike, there are lots of great hiking opportunities out there.

In Corvallis, hit Woodstocks for pizza.

From Corvallis it's about 1 hour to drive up to Mary's Peak for great views of the territory.

thank you so much for all the help, you're all awesome!! It will be a quick trip but will try to squeeze as much in as possible.

When's fall break and where are you coming from beechbum (like your screen name by the way)? If it's towards the end of this month, you might catch a Blazer game at the Rose Garden, or even a Beaver game at OSU. Besides those, there's a skate park under one of the downtown bridges on the east side of the river. Pardon me if I'm firing blanks here, but when my boy was 12 years old, I couldn't get him near the zoo or OMSI. I do like the dune buggy suggestion, if the weather's right.

For food, any Pizzicato or Pizza Schmizza works, for the both of you.

kimamom, why do you refer to NW 21st and 23rd as Nob Hill when you've read that even half of Portlanders don't know the are by that name. Wouldn't it be more helpful to name street names?

beachbum, that is funny that you mention Nob Hill. When we visited last Sept for the first time, we were walking with our little map and trying to figure the best way to get to NW 23rd .. A lady stopped and asked if she could help, so my husband said we were going to Nob Hill. She laughed and said that would be in San Francisco. She seriously told us that there was no Nob Hill..
We have since then, learned our way :D and we don't call it Nob Hill either :)

LOL Scarlett,
There are some long-time, and younger, more hip residents who refer to the area as Nob Hill. But I swear that half of my neighbors, who've all lived around Portland for most of their lives, would agree with the person you met; Nob Hill is in San Francisco. Ummmm.... is there a hill on NW 21st and 23rd?

As to why an out of stater would refer to it as Nob Hill, I've not a clue. My best guess is that it's perceived as an "in-crowd" sort of reference.

Most locals refer to the area as Northwest Portland, but sometimes it is called Nob Hill. Do a google for "nob hill portland" and you'll find a few business in the area with "nob hill" in the name. Actually, I'm not sure why people don't think there's a hill nearby - just look west from NW 23rd Ave and it's all uphill!

NW is also officially known as the "Alphabet District" (all streets in NW are alphabetical) but I've never heard a single person refer to the area as the "Alphabet District." The name just hasn't caught on.

Andrew

Hi Andrew!
Yes, I have seen Alphabet District on the street signs.
And yes, there is quite a big hill there, my husband and I walked it last year, from the Japanese Gardens to NW 23rd..phew!
We also tend to walk up there from the Pearl..if Pup is with us, we all walk..(which makes me say that I do wish Pup could ride the streetcar ((&)) )
There was a Nob Hill Pharmacy but I see it is becoming a cafe, right down from Trader Joes.
Perhaps the cache of Nob Hill SF, was what they had in mind?

beachbum, have you noticed the sudden appearance of a Mr Mountain on another forum, touting Portland and bashing Florida? LOL

beechbum,
check out www.portlandtaiko.com
We saw them last year, and everyone in the place was cheering, it was great fun and I am sure a 12 yr old boy would love it.
:)

Scarlett, one thing I noticed in Europe was that people were allowed to take their dogs on the trams (at least in Budapest) as long as they were muzzled. I'm surprised Portland doesn't have a similiar allowance at least on the streetcar.

Andrew

Checked on the Beaver game and they are away the weekend we are in town, too bad. I like the dune buggy idea, we also might try to go to Newport since it looks to be only about an hour from Corvallis.?? We are from Phoenix and have a lot of "city stuff" here so would like to try to do something we can't do here. Guess that would be the Ocean!
p.s. as an out of towner, the street name is much easier than the Nob Hill reference but I do appreciate the suggestion.

beechbum,

Yes, Newport is 50-60 minutes away from Corvallis - straight shot.

There is a post on Corvallis restaurants that was on fodor's a couple months back - lots of ideas there if you do a search.

One place that we've been enjoying a lot lately is Francesco's - it's not really a full-blown restaurant, but a gelato place, that also serves pannini sandwiches, has a coffee bar etc. The gelato is excellent. It's right next door to American Dream Pizza downtown on 2nd street. We have a tendency to go to American Dream Pizza for dinner and then go next door for dessert to Francesco's. Woodstocks Pizza is also another great pizza joint that mms suggested - it's located on Kings Blvd.

I'm think I missed what dates you'll be in the area, but through October there are farms in this part of the valley that have corn mazes (haunted at night), hay rides, etc. Yes, it can be a bit hokey, but the maze is fun. We went to Lone Pine farm yesterday in Eugene and it was great - they have a spooky haunted maze in the evenings (definitely not for small children, but a 12-year old boy would probably enjoy the rush). Lone Pine Farms in Eugene and McDowell Creek Family Farm outside of Lebanon are probably about the same distance from Corvallis (40 minutes or so).

Have a great trip!

Tracey

Newport also has some great kite stores. (not the kites you remember from childhood!) That would make a good afternoon for a 12 yr. old at the beach as well. If its raining try the aquarium.

A restaurant my kids like is the floating Newport Bay reastaurant down on the waterfront in Portland. We haven't been there for a couple of years but generally try to get there any time we're in Portland.

If you are going to Newport the old town area is fun - a real fishing village combined with lots of tourist activities- and the sea lions are frequently lying around on the docks which are fun to watch - one of the restaurants ( forget the name) has a dock overlooking the dock that they frequent the most so you can dine and watch their activities.

Also thought maybe he would enjoy going crabbing- the only place I have ever done it is on dock in Waldport - but its very fun- you can rent the crab rings and buy bait there - believe they will cook there there if you catch any.

When I grew up in Portland - I left in the 40's - the area of town around NW 21st to 24th was known as Nob Hill. I haven't the foggiest idea why. :-B

This is so fun and I love all the ideas. We will check out the crabbing. I looked up Waldport and it looks beautiful. Checked online for restaurants in Newport on the water and found Mo's, wonder if that is the one you are talking about Sunbum1944. We will try American Dream pizza (I looked it up and they have 16 microbrews) and Francesco's sounds great. We will only have one day in Portland so we will try The Floating Newport Bay. You should see all of my notes!!! This is going to be so much fun. Any suggestions on what to see between Portland and Corvallis? Thanks again everyone.

If you have time to take a slower drive from Portland to Corvallis try one of the Highway 99s. Hwy 99E - pick up on Aurora and go through Woodburn and end up in Salem. Or take Hwy 99W through the wine country. You can start in Tigard/Newburg slightly south of Portland and end up in Corvallis. If I had to pick one I think I would recommend 99W. You could make a short stop at a winery if that interests you, some might give tours for all ages.

Aurora also has some antique stores to bore a 12 yr old. Salem is in between but I can't think of anything better than what Portland or Corvallis has to offer.

The weather has been so nice the past few days, I hope it is nice when you get here. Even if it is wet it will still be pretty!

Sara

thanks Sara, do you know how long that route would take? Love the winery idea.

I agree with Sara. Take exit #279 off I-5 (Tualatin/Sherwood exit) and head west about 6 miles and it will intersect with 99W. That is pretty much where 99W starts to get pretty vs all the strip malls. The drive is about an hour and a half or so. You could also stop off at Champoeg State Park.

I have a 12 & 14 year old and live in SO. If you've made it as far as Waldport,(nowheresville) head 10 miles south to Yachats and explore the (tiny but charming) town. It's got a small state park right next to the beach with great access. Lots of marine life on the rocks, etc. Sea Lion Caves are about another 10 miles south and is a cool experience, riding an elevator down to the caves. You can explore lighthouses all along the coast too. There's a Ripley's at the bayfront in Newport that my kids love. Mo's is OK. Hit the salt water taffy place too.
For a unique to Portland seafood experience, you should go to Dan & Louis Oyster Bar in Downtown. 100 years old and the interior is like the hold of a ship. Oyster Stew made with Oysters from their own beds. A REAL experience, not a chain. Burgerville is a must do too.

Don't forget the Evergreen Aircraft Museum in McMinnville, home to the Spruce Goose. FYI, it's a good chance someone (aka flight instructors) will be around the McMinnville small airport who would be willing to give you and your son a ride in a private aircraft, possibly even a biplane (we did that several times...GREAT views of the Colubmia River and waterfalls as the pilots will fly you as low as they legally can). The area's pilots used to hang out at the private Evergreen airport in Vancouver, WA, owned by the late great Wally Olsen; after his passing and the sale of the airfield to property developers, the local pilots shifted their unofficial headquarters to McMinnville (and McMinnville is now the home of the antique aircraft show that used to be held at Evergreen).

http://www.wheretofly.com/evergreen/

Beachbum - LOL on a certain somebody referring to certain streets as Nobhill. She actually thought that the coastal resort that the movie, PARENT TRAP, was filmed at was Nobhill in SF because that's where they (the movie people) pretended it was. Too much pretension.

i noticed that someone was talking about haunted mazes around corvallis, i was just wondering if anyone knew about any haunted corn mazes that were actually in corvallis or closer than lebannon and eugene. let me know, my friends and i want to do something spooky this halloween weekend

Thanks everyone. We are back from our trip and had a wonderful time. Oregon is one of the most beautiful places in the United States. We stayed at the Kennedy School one night, went to the Rose Garden, hiked to the top of Multnomah Falls,stopped at Vista House. In Corvallis we checked out OSU and even were able to go on the football field. Ate at American Dream Pizza and had gelato at Francescos. Drove to the coast, saw a covered bridge, spent time in Newport, drove North and saw Devils Punchbowl and had so much fun in Depoe Bay, got soaked. Ate at the Pelican Brewing Co., walked on the beach and climbed to the top of the cliffs. We came home very satisfied with our entire trip.

Thanks for letting us know how the trip went. Sounds like fun, and you hit several of my favorite spots.

Hi beechbum! sounds like a great trip! I agree with you about Oregon being beautiful..I take SO many photos here!
So happy you returned satisfied with your trip, that is a great feeling! ((F))

Thanks for the info, BTilke, from a big fan of the Evergreen Museum. Can you explain more about how to arrange a biplane tour? I think that will be on my agenda for our next trip to Oregon!