As a single parent frugal is my middle name, especially when planning vacations, therefore time away often includes child-centered activities that require little money. Here are five fun and mostly free family activities to do in Portland, Oregon.
Forest Park
Weather permitting, Forest Park is a great place to spend an afternoon. The park is aptly named; it stretches over 5,100 acres covered with second-growth and old growth forest. The park offers plenty of trails for hikers, cyclists, and equestrians and even offers seasonal guided tours. Park hours are from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. and admission is free. Pack a picnic, and get set for a day exploring nature.
Portland Farmer’s Market
The Portland Farmer’s Market is really a collection of six farmer’s markets housed in eclectic and very different parts of Portland’s metro area. The market at Portland State University is open from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturdays from mid-March through mid-December.
The PSU market also hosts kid’s cooking classes on summer Saturdays for $5 per child. The classes teach children ages 7 to 11 how to prepare foods found at the market and are taught by instructors from the culinary academy at Portland’s Art Institute. Students also benefit from a guided tour of the market, and copies of recipes prepared in class.
Portland Children’s Museum
The Portland Children’s Museum encourages children to explore, create, and grow. With plenty of hands-on exhibits to pique a child’s mind, the museum is the perfect way to let rowdy little ones blow off some steam. The museum’s newest exhibit, PoChiMu Peak, includes a climb over a 23-foot horizontal rock wall and short trek across a mountain stream, and ends at a grassy mesa top.
The museum is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. except Thursday where it stays open until 8 p.m. Normal admission is $9. The museum offers free admission the first Thursday of the month starting at 4 p.m.
Oregon Zoo
My children love animals, so a zoo is always on our travel list. The Oregon Zoo is home to a variety of animals from anacondas to zebras, and everything in between. While regular admission can cost a family of four nearly $45, the Oregon Zoo offers $4 admission on the second Tuesday of each month. The park is open daily, but hours vary by season.
3D Center of Art and Photography
The exhibits at the 3D Center of Art and Photography showcases the history of three dimensional images, and video. Visitors experience first-hand how depth is created on a flat surface. Artists on display change monthly, while the historical displays are more permanent features.
Daily admission for children under 14 is free, adults are $5. The Center offers free admission for all on the first Thursday of each month starting at 6 p.m.