claire, check out www.shopseaside.com for a nice website for the area. ***kim***

OK. It is sounding like we should sleep in Cannon Beach, but visit Sea Side on the way through. Does anyone know how long it takes to get from Portland to Cannon Beach? And, how long does it take to get from Cannon Beach to Seattle? Also, I got lots of ideas from you for things to do with the kids in Portland. But, does it also have the kind of downtown that you can walk around? Are there (kid friendly) restaurants? What is river front park like? And, has anyone been to the Hoyt Arboretum? How is it?
Next... on to Seattle. We definitely want to do the Space Needle and Children's Musuem there. What else should we hit? Is Pike Place Market worth it? There seems to be SO much to do! Help!

Mo's is probably the most family-friendly restaurant in Cannon Beach. They serve chowder family-style and it is right on the beach so your kids can view Haystack Rock from the restaurant.

Yes, Pike Place Market is worth it. You'll love it, I would definitely find the time to visit. Plan on an hour and ten minutes to get from Portland to Cannon Beach. It's a gorgeous drive. Have fun! ***kim***

claire, its' the Tom McCall Waterfront Park. If you google up the name, you will see tons of info for you to sort through. Enjoy! ***kim***

It's a little over 80 miles from Portland to Cannon Beach. The last 50 take you over the coast range on a mostly two-lane, fairly windy road, where the speed limit is 55 or less. But I guess Californians can do that drive in a little over an hour. I'm guessing at 3.5 - 4.0 of speed-limit driving from Cannon Beach to Seattle.

Portland is a relatively small and easy city to walk. Most core downtown activity and shopping is centered around Pioneer Square. Any number of kid-friendly restaurants around; mine like the choices available in the food court at Pioneer Place. Waterfront Park, 5-7 short blocks away, is basically a strip of grass along the river, with trees, a fountain, and some sculpture. There's lots of activity there in the summer months, but in April? Hoyt Arboretum is near the zoo. It's a large forested park sort of area with multiple trails and a visitors center. If your kids are like mine were at that age, there's not a lot there to hold their interest.

Happy planning, Claire. I'll leave suggestions for Seattle to someone who's been there more recently than I.

claire, those are kind of tricky ages for restaurants, huh? There are some fast food places like McDonald's in town and Pioneer Place does have many options to choose from. My daughter was happy to see a Panda Express there! ***kim***

Hi Claire,
We used these sites when we were planning our trip..

All about Portland
http://www.travelportland.com/

All about the parks
http://www.portlandparks.org/

About Waterfront Park
http://www.parks.ci.portland.or.us/P...Waterfront.htm

My all time favorite, the Japanese Gardens
http://www.japanesegarden.com/

The Pearl District

http://www.shopthepearl.com/

These should answer some of your questions, I also recommend getting yourself over to a Barnes and Noble and do some reading..it is a wonderful city full of things to do. We walked everywhere, it is very kid friendly.
Happy researching~

There are also lots of great pizza places for your little ones in Portland. You might want to post your question on the PNW Chowhound board. Wonderful info there and very pleasant posters! ***kim***

Oh come on now kim, we think you are pleasant!

Now, mind your manners Scarlett...and only speak for yourself!

>

Back to the topic, Claire: if you go to the Oregon Zoo, you may want to plan a lunch or dinner at the Cascade Grill, located to the right of the entrance when you walk through the gate.

We enjoyed a very nice lunch there and if the weather is nice there is a very pretty outdoor patio for your little ones to sit. In Seaside, don't miss feeding the seals at the aquarium. It's great fun, but you will get wet when they splash.

Your little ones will love Seaside. Take them on the rides and eat lots of cotton candy for me! ***kim***

LOL, icuy
Is Panda Express & McDonalds on chowhound?
mms has children and lives in Portland, maybe she can post some places to take small children.

I don't see that Claire asked about pizza, but just in case, Pizzicato and Pizza Schmizza both have downtown locations. And both are okay - good. Also, there's a new Macaroni Grill next to Pioneer Place that has a family-friendly atmosphere (I know, I know, it's a chain, kim. But, Panda Express?).

Great recommendations for Seaside, kim. I guess you don't have carni rides and cotton candy in California. And, if they're not seals, what are all those animals hanging around the piers in San Francisco and Monterrey?

Isn't Monterrey in Mexico? Or are you referring to Monterey, CA? ***kim***

I stand corrected. But, I have better things to do spending all day researching to try stay up with the goings on of places 700 miles from here. Oh, that's right... DH does the cooking, and I'm sure you've got a maid for the cleaning. Isn't it time to do your nails?

Mother's Bistro is a good place to take children for a meal. The owner has another restaurant on the same block, just down on the other corner, called Mamma Mia's Trattoria. It is good also, but I just cannot remember if it has highchairs or not. I think it does, but you may want to check. The owner is very nice and both would be good places. Mio Gelato would be a perfect stop as well.

One thing I always enjoyed as a child here, was going to Lloyd Center to ice skate. The skating rink is in the middle of the mall. A different experience, so kind of fun.

I just saw in the paper yesterday that OMSI has a next exhibit. It is Animal Grossology, lol! Apparently lots of hands-on stuff with all the yucky stuff of animals. There is a dome theater there as well, and a US Submarine that you can tour.

In Seattle another fun place to just let the kids run is Gasworks Park. Its hard to describe, but there are all sorts of things for the kids to climb on, you can sit and watch the city a bit, and its a great place to fly a kite.

Mother's is a nice suggestion. They have chicken noodle soup and mac and cheese for your little ones!

We were all set to take my teenage daughter here last trip but Chowhound recommended clarklewis. I'm glad we went there, it's innovative and delicious. They made a special egg noodle dish for DD that she still talks about and wants to go back there badly.

The ice skating sounds really fun, but will they still have that set up in April or is it a year-round thing? ***kim***

I'm quite surprised, kim! If you'd spent any time here in Portland, you'd know that Lloyd Center has had an ice-skating rink since it was built in, what, 1960 or so.

Nah, I don't get to Portland too often, beachbun I'm over 700 miles away, ya know! ***kim*** 8-)

And by the way, kim, isn't technology wonderful. Did you know you can google Mother's Bistro's menu so you can recommend it to others as if you were there yesterday?