Rainy Day Fun for Winter in Washington County
When Portland’s winter rains set in, locals and tourists alike look for indoor activities to please the kids. Below are five Portland sites that can turn any child’s day into a special occasion full of fun, learning, and discovery. And parents might find they enjoy the outing just as much as the kids.
Fun activities for kids are everywhere in Portland, the following are great for a rainy day and will keep kids active and entertained. There are many fun family activities to do in Portland. Some are best saved for one of the rainy winter days that happen often in the winter and spring.
Roller Skating at Oaks Park
Located in the Oaks Amusement Park, the roller rink offers afternoon and evening skates Tuesday through Sunday. On Sundays and Thursdays, live music comes from the rink’s Wurlitzer pipe organ. There’s plenty of skate room on the large, well-maintained wood floor. Wednesday nights feature free lessons with admission. The park is located on the east side of the Willamette River under the Sellwood Bridge. While the skating rink is open year-round, the adjacent amusement park is closed in the winter.
Ice Skating at Lloyd Center
Take the kids ice skating any time of the year at the Lloyd Center Ice Rink. Built inside the all-indoor Lloyd Center Mall, the rink is open daily. Can’t skate? Classes and private lessons are available for tots through adults. The rink is on the first level of Lloyd Center, located close to downtown between NE 9th and NE 15th avenues and NE Halsey and NE Multnomah streets. Click on the link above to access ice rink schedules, admission, skate rental fees and driving directions. If you go by MAX Lightrail, take the red or blue line to the Lloyd Center/NE 11th Ave. station.
Oregon Museum of Science and Industry
Both an educational resource and tourist attraction, this huge museum boasts exhibit halls, a theater with an IMAX projection system, a planetarium, and a decommissioned submarine to explore. Hands-on, interactive displays, and labs are aimed at making science fun for kids. Parents will have just as much fun as the kids exploring everything from fossils to virtual reality. The OMNIMAX Dome Theater features a five-story screen, steep tiered seating, and surround-sound that puts you right there with explorers of the far corners of the globe. The Planetarium takes you into space with several different shows to choose from. Admission to the theater, planetarium, and submarine are separate from the museum entry fee and can be purchased without museum admission. The museum is located on the Willamette River at 1945 SE Water Ave. Special offers, movie schedules, fees, and directions to the museum can be viewed at the above link.
Indoor Gym and Park in Oregon
Out of This World Pizza and Play is a warehouse turned into a kid’s play area. The larger play area includes a space-themed climbing structure that is over three stories high. Lots of slides and climbing areas will have kids running and moving for a long time. A big inflatable bouncy house with an obstacle course and slide will burn off tons of young energy as well. A bouldering wall will keep kids busy when they need a break from bouncing and sliding. Adults can use the large play structures as well if a smaller child doesn’t want to play by themselves.
There is a toddler area with a smaller bounce house, play structure, and toddler toys. A whole area set aside for ride-on cars will entertain everyone. Pizza, snacks, and beverages are located within the building and there are many tables and chairs for parents to relax at.
Out of This World is located on the corners of Jacobson Road and Century Boulevard in Hillsboro. Hours are Sunday through Saturday from 10:00 am to 9:00 pm. Call with any questions: (503) 629-8700.
Bounce House Play in Portland
Pump It Up is a favorite party spot for the younger kids, with loads of bouncy houses and slides to play on. Many locations have “Open Play” every day throughout the year.
The Beaverton location is located at 16205 NW Bethany Court #120. Call ahead to check the Open Play schedule as it changes monthly: (503) 645-1042. The Beaverton Pump it Up is a “Junior” location, for kids from ages 1 to 6 years only.
Pump It Up of Wilsonville is located at 25749 SW Canyon Creek Road, Suite 700 in Wilsonville. Call ahead to check their Open Play schedule: (503) 582-1331. The Wilsonville location is appropriate for all age groups.
OMSI Science Museum
The Oregon Museum of Science and Industry has many fun activities for kids of all ages. The toddler play area will entertain kids age 6 and under for hours. A water table, sandpit, nature puppets, and many interactive learning areas will keep kids busy and learning. Older kids will enjoy the hands-on science activities throughout the museum including eight science labs and the OMNIMAX Theater. OMSI is located at 1945 SE Water Avenue in Portland. The Museum is open from 9:30 am to 7:00 pm. Call ahead with any questions at 1-800-955-OMSI (6674).
Just because it’s raining doesn’t mean the kids need to sit in front of the television. There are lots of indoor activities that will keep them active and busy for hours. Outdoor activities that are fun, rain or shine, are berry picking, corn mazes and pumpkin picking in the fall.
Portland Children’s Museum
Kids can spend all day in this museum where creativity and discovery abound. Kids can create sculptures in the art studio, put on a play, join a construction crew, shop for groceries, or explore the wealth of other hands-on activities along with the new friends they’ll meet. It’s located off Highway 26 at 4015 SW Canyon Rd., across from the Oregon Zoo. It’s easy to reach by riding the MAX Lightrail red or blue line to the Washington Park station. Admission is $7.
Multnomah County Central Library
The children’s room here is more than shelves of books. For starters, there’s the artwork. When the historic 1913 building was restored recently to its original elegance, the children’s room got an added 14-foot bronze tree by artists Dana Lynn Lewis and Barbara Eiswerth. Oregon native vines entwine the tree’s thick trunk and weave together an assortment of animals, toys, sea creatures, storybook characters, musical instruments and more. Kids can touch while they look. Stories are read almost every day in the cozy Story Theater. On a tight schedule? Try the 15-minute “Story Stop” daily at 2:00 pm for kids from babies to six years old. Central Library is downtown at 801 SW 10th Ave.
Families can enjoy time together in the City of Roses with budget-friendly activities parents and children will both appreciate. Tourists Read more
Where to Pick the Best Fruit in Washington County, Oregon There are many farms in the greater Portland area that Read more
Fall & Halloween Fun at Pumpkin Patch Farms in Washington County The Portland, Oregon area has some of the best Read more
There are many pumpkin patches and Halloween activities and events going on in the greater Portland area. There is fun Read more