Portland for Pee-Wees

Portland is the hidden gem of the Northwest. Everyone knows about the great outdoor activities: skiing, hiking, boating, beaches and fantastic parks. But if you are visiting with kids, there are a few places you must visit.

• CM2 - The Children's Museum
• The Oregon Zoo
• O.M.S.I.
• The AC Gilbert Discovery Village - in Salem Many of our most memorable kid moments of discovery have been at O.M.S.I. The Oregon Museum of Science and Industry has interactive exhibits and plenty of activities for younger as well as older kids. My son first practiced walking pushing one of the Busy Town grocery carts. I always take a book since we can spend hours there and since my son is an only he enjoys the play with other kids.

  Quick Tips:

  The Entertainment Book for Portland has 2-for-the-price-of-1 coupons at many of the activities. Portland Parent magazine is free and often available at places where parents and children congregate - in particular, O.M.S.I. and CM2. Don't forget to bring your home zoo or museum membership card ,as all of these locations have reciprocal memberships in all 50 states - that means you might get in free as a part of your home membership.

  Best Way To Get Around:

  While visiting Portland, you might consider taking the MAX train to the zoo and CM2 (they are located across the parking lot from each other.) O.M.S.I. is available by TriMet bus, but it's easier to get to by car. Be prepared to go through a somewhat industrial looking area to get to O.M.S.I. - don't worry, you are on the right track!

The Oregon Zoo has gone through many a transformation over the years. It began its incarnation as the Portland Zoo, then morphed into the Washington Park Zoo and - by far the best transformation - the Oregon Zoo. With each transformation, major changes have occurred, with the exhibits going from the old-fashioned cement and bars to the fantastic habitats of today. The Oregon Zoo shows off the best the Northwest has to offer by specializing in native species, as well as other animals shown by continent. If you only have time for one set of exhibits, don't miss the Great Northwest and the Pacific Shores. The native northwest animals are a sight to behold and are frequently quite active, as this is their climate. The exhibits have been designed to get you up close and personal with the animals and have several interactive and educational stops along the way. There is even a "beach" sand pit for kids to play in at Pacific Shores - under cover, in case Oregon's "liquid sunshine" is making itself known. The Oregon Zoo also maintains a world-class elephant exhibit. The Oregon Zoo has one of the most prolific captive elephant-breading programs, where you can see Packy and all his elephant pals. Likewise, the polar bears and penguins are also distinctive exhibits. Seasonal activities also add to the fun. Summer brings the Wells Fargo Summer Concerts, featuring the likes of Susan Vega and the Indigo Girls. October hosts Howloween at the Zoo, and starting right after Thanksgiving are the Zoo Lights. For more information, visit the Oregon Zoo online.