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***

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 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