Portland with a Toddler...recommendations?
 

Hi!

We will be traveling to Portland with a toddler for a couple of days. I plan to visit the zoo, Children's Museum and OMSI.

Does anyone have recommendations for kid friendly restaurants and hotels? Am I missing any other "must see" attractions with a toddler?

I appreciate any suggestions you may have.

The OMSI has a special room for toddlers upstairs. I've taken my granddaughter there for years when she was a toddler and she loves it. But you probably won't want to stay more than a few hours as the science center is really for older kids.

I just took my 4 year old granddaughter to a cool amusement park in SE Portland called Oak Park (7805 SE Oaks Park Way - 503-233-5777).

It is nice because they have an entire section for toddlers. We purchased tickets for the rides - but on the toddler rides no one ever asked us for tickets (we were asked for tickets on the rides for older kids and adults though).
So buy tickets sparingly.

There is also a wonderful pool right next door - if the warm weather continues.

I also recommend Jamison Park in the Pearl District
Jamison Square Park www.portlandonline.com
810 Northwest 11th Avenue
Portland, OR 97209

There are tons of cool restaurants, ice cream stores, children's boutiques. But the highlight is the park itself.
It is designed to be like you are a beach - there are rocks to climb on, and the water rushes in and out like the waves at a beach. Very, very cool. You can also picnic there.

One more idea would be to drive south of Portland about 30 minutes to

Sauvie Island Wildlife Areawww.sauvieisland.org
18330 NW Sauvie Island Rd
Portland, OR 97231-1312
(503) 621-3488

It's a fun place for kids - some of the farms allow you to pick blueberries or what every is in seasons.

(Actually, Sauvie Island is northwest of Portland, not south of Portland. From Portland, take US 30 west toward Astoria and turn right at the sign for Sauvie Island.)

Oh wow...these are some fantastic ideas that I never would have known about.

Carnival rides, water play and animals??? The peanut will be very excited!

If we don't hit it all on this trip I have a great list for next time. We live in Corvallis so trips to Portland are pretty easy.

I can't thank you enough for sharing your insight.

Coming from Corvallis, a good stop would be Enchanted Forest on the south edge of Salem.

Hi Andrew, opps! My daughter was driving so I had no idea which direction we were going. I thought we were going south!
Thanks for the correct information. :)

We had a very nice lunch at Fenouil a few days ago, it is adjacent to Jamison Park, we dined on the patio and enjoyed watching the toddlers play in the water there, lots of families enjoying picnics here. Have fun! ***kim*** ((#))

Is this another mini trip report, kimamom, or is there a recommendation in there somewhere? Fenouil as kid friendly? I don't think so.

Thank you for your tips!

We had a fantastic time and managed to fit in OMSI and the zoo during an overnight trip. Sloane had so much fun that we decided to get a membership to the zoo.

I plan to visit again in a couple of weeks when Grandpa is in town and I hope to enjoy some of your other recommendations.

Kimamom, now that you brought up the topic of restaurants, does anyone know of a kid-friendly restaurant or kid's cafe?
We ended up at Greek Cuisina and PFChangs. We also enjoyed a relaxing happy hour on the patio at Three Degrees, which proved to be oddly kid friendly.

Kid friendly places, that are good, include Mother's Bistro and Mama Mia's. Henry's is good too, although I wouldn't take a squirmy child there. Piazza Italia is good too. As beachbum mentioned, no way would I take a child to Fenouil.

For kids..
Piazza Italia is great if you get seats outside.
bluehour is even ok, if you sit outside.. definitely not inside as definitely not inside Fenouil either ...
Henrys Tavern is great .. families, little bitty ones, etc. good food, good service.
Silk is good if you like Pho/Vietnamese.
Higgins is great, with kids or without .. big booths, great food.
Kim, I still remember your story of leaving your little girl sleeping in the car while you ate at Paleys, time sure flies, doesn't it ? :)

nanabee, I never knew which direction we were going in , no matter who was driving, even me ! lol... Thank goodness for mms, she gives great directions .

Thank you for sharing your insight. There's so much great information here. I'm sure my other mama friends would appreciate it as well (although I think I'll have to pass on the sleeping child in car scenario)