Fall weather got you down, Portland families? Bust out the raincoats, boots and hats and venture out into the Northwest gloom for some fun, family-friendly fall activities! We’ve discovered 30 activities around Portland that will keep you all from going stir-crazy this fall.
1. Visit Bauman's Farm to pick up some pumpkins, take a hay ride or get lost in a corn maze.
2. Book tickets on the Amtrak Cascades for a little day-trip fun via the train.
3. Check out the cool LEGO Castle Adventure exhibit at the Portland Children’s Museum.
4. Celebrate Oktoberfest, family-style at Oakes Park Amusement Park.
5. Visit the Bonneville Lock and Dam to see salmon heading upstream to spawn.
6. Head to the Oregon Coast to go clam digging.
7. Plan a movie night with popcorn and a cozy fire to watch It’s the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown.
8. Take a walk through the Halloween Trail at Fantasy Trail, which includes a 40-foot castle, suspension bridge and maze.
9. Ditch the apples and go find some pears along the Hood River Fruit Loop.
10. Spend a rainy day doing some putt-putting at one of Portland’s indoor mini-golf locations.
11. Visit the family-friendly Oregon Flock & Fiber Festival in Canby.
12. Take a drive into the Hood River Valley or out to the Oregon Coast to spot some pretty fall foliage.
13. Spend the day doing pumpkin activities on Sauvie Island.
14. Feeling brave? Go to Portland’s most popular haunted house experience – Scream at the Beach (don’t forget to ride the carousel while you’re there!).
15. Snow before Thanksgiving? Head to Mt. Hood for some sledding and tubing!
16. Older kids (ages 10 and up) will scream with delight at the super fun Halloween Scavenger Hunt – all done by flashlight!
17. Use an old pair of knit gloves to make adorable finger puppets.
18. Don’t miss the Fall Kite Festival on the Oregon Coast.
19. Drop-in to create fab art at a Messy Monkey class at The 100th Monkey Studio.
20. Get pink at the Oregon Children’s Theater production of Pinkalicious.
21. Have a morning play date at Open Space Café where your little ones can entertain themselves while you sip on some Stumptown.
22. Go apple picking!
23. See what’s on the event calendar at A Children’s Place Bookstore – from author readings to story times to kid’s book clubs.
24. Plan a trip to the Evergreen Aviation and Space Museum in McMinnville, about an hour away from Portland.
25. Warm up on a hot chocolate tasting tour of Portland.
26. See the most adorable baby animals on the big screen at the OMSI viewing of Born to be Wild.
27. Hunt down the best parks for tromping through the fall leaves and making piles to jump in. Try the Portland Japanese Garden.
28. Make a trip to the French Prairie Gardens & Family Farm for their amazing six-week long Harvest Festival.
29. Have the kids help you make this delicious fall soup, filled with veggies they’ll actually love.
30. Visit the Portland Saturday Market for some yummy fall vegetables.
-- Katie Kavulla
