10 Fun Things to Do in Portland with Kids (Oregon)

These fun things to do in Portland with kids are sure to please any family, including yours! Portland overflows with all sorts of wonderfully weird activities for families. This Pacific Northwest city prizes itself for being weird. In fact, the city’s official slogan is, “Keep Portland weird.” Public pianos implore passersby to play them. Dogs wear sunglasses. Donuts come topped with bubble gum. Intrigued? Read on!

This website sometimes receives compensation, hosted travel, or products related to blog posts. This article may include affiliate links at no extra cost to consumers. As an Amazon Associate, we earn money from qualifying purchases.

1. Eat unique donuts.

Kick off your Portland explorations with some sweet fried donut goodness. The Voodoo Doughnut bakery’s weirdest creation is the Voodoo Doll Doughnut — a raised yeast doughnut filled with raspberry jelly, topped with chocolate frosting and a pretzel stake. Kids especially love the Voodoo Bubble Doughnut, which comes topped with vanilla frosting, bubble gum dust, and a piece of bubble gum. There are also donuts covered with bacon, sugar cereals and more.

Competitor Blue Star Doughnuts makes more refined selections. These gourmet goodies are made from a classic French brioche recipe. Choose from such flavors as Meyer Lemon & Key Lime Curd, Chocolate Almond Ganache, and the adult-only Cointreau Crème Brûlée (with pipette of actual orange liqueur).

True donut lovers (and aren’t we all?!) will want to sign up for the Portland: Underground Donut Tour with our partner, Get Your Guide. Skip the long donut shop lines and sample from four donut institutions during this two-hour walking tour.

2. Browse Powell’s Books.

Book lovers rejoice at Powell’s Books, the world’s largest independent bookstore. Sure you can buy books galore online via Amazon. But there’s something magical about wandering through the stacks here. There are three Powell’s locations. Travelers will want to visit the original location, though, Powell’s City of Books in the Pearl District. With over 1 million new and used books on display, you could spend hours here. I especially love the staff book reviews and recommendations posted throughout the store. Bring a big suitcase so the whole family can buy some books to bring home. (Support this small business by ordering a book from them today!)

3. Play at Washington Park.

With 145 acres to explore, Washington Park is definitely one of the best things to do in Portland with kids. This green space was designed by the Olmstead brothers, the landscape architects who designed New York City’s Central Park.

If you need a break from the cityscape, then take a hike through the Hoyt Arboretum’s miles of nature trails. Kids will love the Washington Park Playground, which boasts Portland’s largest play structure. The Oregon Zoo and Portland Japanese Garden also call Washington Park home.

My favorite area of Washington Park was the International Rose Test Garden. Bursting with more than 400 varieties of roses, this beautiful and aromatic garden is a delight for the senses.

Portland hosts over 250 free summer events in its parks, and my family was lucky to stumble upon a concert in the Washington Park Amphitheater. This outdoor space features tiers of grassy space on which to spread a blanket and take in the tunes. The vibe was welcoming and playful, with little kids bopping alongside aging hippies and tattooed millennials. Check the City of Portland’s Parks and Recreation website for a calendar of upcoming events before your visit.

4. Shop the Portland Saturday Market.

I specifically planned my family’s Oregon vacation so that we would be in Portland on a Saturday morning so we could enjoy the city’s renowned open-air marketplace. Portland Saturday Market has been taking place for over 40 years in the Old Town/Chinatown neighborhood. It’s open from mid-March through Christmas Eve.

Expect booths aplenty offering up fresh flowers and produce. You’ll also find a variety of handicrafts, like bird feeders made from antique teacups. Street performers entertain the crowds with live music, magic shows and more. Of course, there are food trucks selling up tasty eats, too. In summer, children keep cool in splash fountains. If you like to people-watch, then this is THE place to be.

5. Get a history lesson at Pittock Mansion.

For a quick history lesson while visiting Portland with kids, spend an hour or two at Pittock Mansion. My kids were excited to see a “real, live mansion!”

Built in the early 1900s on one of the highest hills in Portland, the views of the city are super from here. The mansion once belonged to Henry Lewis Pittock, a Portland pioneer known for revitalizing the area’s Oregonian newspaper.

The mansion features 22 rooms, complete with period furniture. The kids may not have the patience for the posted brief historical explanations. They will, however, enjoy getting a glimpse back at how people lived over a century ago.

6. Hike Columbia River Gorge and Multnomah Falls.

No visit to Portland with kids would be complete without seeing the Columbia River Gorge and Multnomah Falls. The Columbia River Gorge includes a wide variety of natural landscapes including desert, a sea-level passage, alpine meadows, and the largest concentration of waterfalls in North America. If you don’t have a rental car, then do as we did and sign up for a guided bus tour to reach this stretch of nature’s beauty.

At 617-feet-tall, Multnomah Falls is arguably the most impressive waterfall in Oregon. Hike to the top of the falls for a rainbow view. It’s a moderate 2.2-mile hike with plenty of switchbacks and views of the vast Columbia River Gorge. My 11-year-old whined a bit about her legs feeling a bit wobbly after our hike, but she was proud to have made the journey. Meanwhile, her 8-year-old brother and daddy made it about halfway before turning back.

Grab a bottle of water for every hiker in the family from the gift shop at the base before setting off. Even in summer, you’ll want to bring along a sweater since temperatures at the top of the falls can be much lower than at the base. Hiking makes kids (and parents!) hungry so be sure to pack a picnic or eat lunch at the Multnomah Falls Lodge.

7. Sample foods at Portland food carts.

When in Portland with kids, you simply must eat at the many food carts dotting the city. It can be hard to make every member of the family happy with a restaurant choice, but visiting a grouping of food trucks provides lots of choices to please all palates. Use this Portland food cart finder to discover over 200 food carts by cuisine, dietary needs, and location.

Prost Marketplace

Find everything from barbecue, Cambodian cuisine, and tacos — to vegan dishes, crepes, and gluten-free baked goods at Prost Marketplace (formerly Mississippi Marketplace). This outdoor food court of sorts is home to several food carts.

When we visited there was also a piano inscribed with the words, “Please play me.” What a marvelous way to top off lunch! Look at a map of where to find these public pianos throughout Portland thanks to Piano. Push. Play.

8. Make your own pancakes at Slappy Cakes.

For a memorable and joyous meal, thrill the kids with breakfast at Slappy Cakes. At this innovative restaurant, diners play chef by squeezing pancake batter onto hot griddles right at the table. To make the most creative pancake designs, be sure to order two different colored batters. Choices include buttermilk, chocolate, peanut butter, vegan/gluten-free, and seasonal (like pumpkin spice). Fixings like chocolate chips and banana slices add to the fun…for an additional charge. You can order other breakfast items, too, like Pork Belly Benedict or Avocado Toast. Plan to come on a weekday to avoid a long wait. (And even then, you may need to wait for a table!)

9. Enjoy rides and games at Oaks Amusement Park.

My kids begged to visit Oaks Amusement Park for its rides, rollerskating rink, and miniature golf course. Located just a few miles from downtown Portland, Oaks opened in 1905, making it one of the oldest continually operating amusement parks in the U.S.

10. Explore the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry.

Everywhere we went, Portlanders asked us if we’d been to the OMSI yet. Apparently, they’re very proud of the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry. One of the largest science museums in the country, kids love learning through play here.

Where to Stay in Portland with Kids

Kimpton RiverPlace is an ideal place for families to stay in Portland. The suites, Willamette River views, and extra touches make this hotel special. The decor is modern and chic, with a color palette drawn from nature. Families will especially enjoy bedding down in a Bunkalow Suite, which features a king-size bed for parents and bunk beds for the kids. Each evening there’s a hosted wine reception, and every morning there’s complimentary coffee and tea in the lobby. Kimpton even loans out bicycles to guests to pedal along the river.

You can dine at the onsite King Tide Fish & Shell for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Twenty-four-hour room service is available, too. For variety, a handful of restaurants and shops are within walking distance along the waterfront.

Discover additional kid-friendly accommodation options in Portland via Hotels.com.

Why Families Love Portland

From the minute I stepped off the plane in Portland, I was smitten. Like finding the right spouse or wedding dress, you just know when you’ve found your soulmate destination. And for me, that place is Portland. The people in Portland exude a mellow, happy vitality that I adore. I hope your family loves Portland as much as mine does!

Learn More

Take a look at an array of fun Portland tours available with our trusted partner, Get Your Guide.

If you’re considering a trip to Oregon, then you’ll want to read my tips for visiting Cannon Beach with kids and doing a farm stay at Leaping Lamb farm! The blend of beach, farm, and city made for a truly incredible Oregon family vacation.

Planning a Portland road trip? Check out these Highway I-5 pitstops to maximize fun during your journey.

Save these Tips for Visiting Portland with Kids

Dreaming of a Portland family vacation? Be sure to keep this list of kid-friendly activities in Crescent City for future reference. Just pin the image below to Pinterest. Go ahead and follow Travel Mamas on Pinterest while you’re at it!

Which of these things to do in Portland with kids would your family enjoy most? Let us know in the comments below!

A Note from The Travel Mama: I paid a discounted media rate at the Kimpton RiverPlace and my family received complimentary entry to Pittock Mansion and the Japanese Gardens for the purpose of this blog post. I paid full price for everything else mentioned in this story about things to do in Portland with kids. All opinions are mine, as always.

Sharing is caring!