Your guide to activities and fun things to do with your preschoolers, toddlers and kids in portland, OR

Summer Day-Trip Destination: Bonneville Dam

June 08, 2009

"At Bonneville now there are ships in the locks
The waters have risen and cleared all the rocks,
Shiploads of plenty will steam past the docks,
So roll on, Columbia, roll on."

                 ---Woody Guthrie

Our family is going to be sticking close to home for the next three months and finding fun in our backyard, at the playground with school buddies, and taking advantage of the amazing low-cost classes through Portland Parks & Recreation. I know that there will come a day during summer vacation when we have to pack up and escape, even if it's just for several hours. The heat in a stuffy house can be unavoidable, the wading pool can only cut it for so long, and playdates can often dissolve into a sticky, crying mess during a heat wave. We like to pick a low-key destination and spend the day away from our house, it makes coming home so much easier.


Bonneville Dam is a super family friendly destination and is a perfect place to bring your family for a hasty escape from the Portland sun (assuming we see its return one of these days) . We like to pack up a picnic, jump in the car, and spend a good portion of the day hanging out and observing Herman the Sturgeon, feeding the fish, and enjoying the cool pockets of shade. The Bonneville Dam website features a fish cam so you can find out which fish are migrating through the fish ladders ahead of time. The Discover Your Northwest Bookstore/Gift shop has a very nice selection of educational books, stuffed animals, and rocks/minerals. There may be guided tours available, check with the visitor center for upcoming talks on fish, power generation, or historical background of the dam. Be sure to bring your video camera because the spawning fish put on quite a show (we still have a great clip of my daughter squealing as fish attempt to jump up over a very tall wall)

June 13-14  Family Day in the Gorge at Multnomah Falls: This event provides a great opportunity to take the family to Multnomah Falls and participate in all kinds of fun activities.  Bonneville Lock and Dam rangers will be there leading activities for children of all ages.

Bonneville Dam is also a cool destination for family picnics or parties. You can reserve the picnic shelter for $30/half-day or $50/full-day

The trip out to the Dam takes about 30-40 minutes from Portland, depending on traffic, just about the length of a book on tape.
"To get to Bonneville Lock and Dam, take Interstate 84 to exit 40 or Washington State Highway 14 to milepost 40. The Bridge of the Gods, located about two miles upstream of the dam, provides public access between Oregon and Washington." The Visitor's Center is open daily from 9:00am-5:00pm. Call 541-374-8820 for information. Admission is FREE.

If you plan ahead of time, you can visit Multnomah Falls also and make a full-day trip out of your excursion! Print out a fish identification booklet or activity sheet from the Bonneville Dam website, pack up some snacks and outdoor games, and get some quality fish time (while your house cools down).

What's happening in PDX 5/30-5/31

May 28, 2009

The school year is winding down and the temperature is heating up! It's going to be a warm weekend and there are plenty of activities going on. We're going to be sure to check out the kid's clothing swap at the Central Library for some summer outfits, (we've got a lot of gently used clothes to exchange!) hooray for the library for facilitating this cool event!

Saturday, May 30

Monkey Rolls and Rhyming Time  10:30am-11:30am
Join Heather Pearl as she brings animal stories to life, and involves the audience in acting out the stories. The program also includes classic nursery rhymes, and new ones of her own invention. Seating limited and available on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Holgate Library 7905 S.E. Holgate Blvd. Portland 503-988-5389

PDX Kids Swap 1:00pm-3:00pm
Join us at the library for a free kid's clothing swap. Round up unwanted clean children's clothing, accessories, and other wearables your kids don't  use or love anymore and bring them to the swap! Bring clean clothes in reasonable condition, no rips, tears, visible stains, etc. There are no minimum requirements for how many items you have to bring or how many you can take, but please be courteous and generous.

Don't forget to bring a bag to carry your treasures home in. Items that do not get swapped will be donated to low income and high needs families in our Pdx community.

• 1:00pm – 1:30pm Size 7 to 14+ (Kid Sizes)


• 1:30pm – 2:15pm Size 2T to 6x (Child Sizes)


• 2:15pm – 3:00pm Preemie to 24 months and maternity clothing (Baby and Mommy-to-be sizes)

The Starlight Parade begins at NW Burnside and 9th Ave. It then travels through downtown Portland and ends at Lincoln High School. Use public transportation for your convenience!

From OMSI's website: "Join OMSI on May 31 at 11:00 a.m. to view and test drive (or ride) fuel cell vehicles from leading automakers. Meet the members of the California Fuel Cell Partnership and talk to the engineers who work on the vehicles and provide hydrogen fuel. Fuel cell vehicles have the potential to provide the range, high efficiency, rapid refueling and performance consumers expect with zero tailpipe emissions and dramatically reduced greenhouse gas emissions. Come and see how close these vehicles are to commercialization, how to fill a fuel cell vehicle with hydrogen and learn how fuel cells fit into a clear air future." 

OMSI 1945 SE Water Ave. Portland 503-797-4000

What's happening in PDX 5/23-5/24

May 21, 2009

I think Spring is really here! It's supposed to be another amazing weekend of blue skies and perfect weather. If you're not heading out of town for the long weekend, there are plenty of Rose Festival activities around the Portland Metro area to keep you busy!

Friday, May 22nd

Rose Festival Fireworks Spectacular  events begin at 8pm.
(Curtis Salgado band-8:00pm, Rose Lighting Ceremony 10:00pm, Fireworks 10:15pm)
Governor Tom McCall Waterfront Park, 1020 SW Naito Pkwy Portland    Free Admission


Saturday, May 23rd

Tryon Creek guided nature walk 10:00-11:30am
This week's theme is "Springing Plants". Join a park ranger for a free, guided nature hike to explore the forest and stream ecosystems and natural history at Tryon Creek State Natural Area. Topics will vary from week to week but will be appropriate for all ages. Parents must accompany kids on all hikes.
11321 SW Terwilliger Blvd. Portland 503-636-4398  no pre-registration needed, free, all ages.


Dan Bau, Vietnamese Monochord  2-2:30pm
"The Dan Bau is a musical instrument unique to Vietnam. Learn about its history and prominence in Vietnamese traditional and modern music. You'll get to hear the DanBau's human-like sound via several traditional pieces."  Space at library programs is limited. Seating is available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Gregory Heights Library 7921 NE Sandy Blvd. Portland  503-988-5386

Classics Lite    2:00-3:00pm
Three musicians play violin, viola, cello, flute, and oboe. Pieces are Baroque, Classical and Rag (e.g. Scott Joplin). Space at library programs is limited. Seating is available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Hillsdale Library 1525 S.W. Sunset Blvd. Portland  503-988-5388

Multnomah County Fair  Noon to 7 pm May 23, 24 and 25
Thrill Rides, Pony Rides, Lucky Duck Derby, Huge Petting Zoo, Exotic animals and Reptiles, Family Barnyard Fun, Story telling, Magician Dick Frost, Puppet Shows, Make your own Dirt Baby to take home, Play in the corn box, and meet Miss Piggy and her Piglets. This year's theme is "It's a Family A'fair"
Oaks Amusement Park 7100 SE Oaks Park Way, Portland 503-761-7577
(at the foot of SE Spokane in Sellwood) Free Parking and Free Admission.

Nail Soup: A Scandinavian Story presented by Play after Play 10am
"This is the story of an old woman who needs cheering up. A young man comes along and helps her see that she has always had everything she needs. Together they make a delicious pot of Nail Soup. Filled with movement and music, this sweet story will captivate children and adults alike." When the play is over, the audience is welcome to play and interact with the performers.


Sunday, May 24th
Waterfront Village is open this weekend (starting Friday)  11:00am-11:00pm daily
"Waterfront Village provides a park-load of whimsical kids adventures, hysterical vaudevillian acts, festive bands, and thousands of smiling families each day. This magical world of wonder also features a mysterious ancient temple, live exotic animals (including lions and tigers but no bears, oh no) and the region's best family-friendly carnival."
Governor Tom McCall Waterfront Park  1020 SW Naito Pkwy Portland  Admission: $5 for ages 7 and over (Kids 7 and under are always FREE, courtesy of KOIN Local 6)

Oregon Zoo presents Chimpanzee Challenge Maze (thru September 20th)
"Swing from vines, soar through treetops and 'Live Chimply' in the Chimpanzee Challenge maze. Perform feats of ape-like strength, agility, and communication to discover the surprising similarities between humans and chimps. Developed in collaboration with world-renowned primatologist Jane Goodall and the Jane Goodall Institute, Chimpanzee Challenge brings the plight of the chimps closer to home, empowering visitors to make a difference." $2.00 fee required in addition to regular zoo admission ($1 fee for members)
Oregon Zoo 4001 SW Canyon Road, Portland  503-226-1561

Lions, tigers and bears, oh my: Getting to know Sam

by Sarah Gilbert

October 22, 2008

Have you met Sam? Samudra, son of Rose-Tu, may just be the most famous baby in town. He's also (sorry to Monroe and all the other babies I know) the cutest. Whatever you may think of the concept of zoos, it's hard to resist a baby elephant . Of course, everyone wants to visit the baby. Crowds the first few weeks were intense. Here are some tips on getting a good look at the very big (445 pounds  Read more...