Portland Parks & Recreation
Cool off on hot summer days by finding a splash pad (Essex Parks Splash Pad pictured) at portlandoregon.gov/parks/article/454927! Splash pads, park fountains, indoor and outdoor swimming pools, day camps, and many other fun activities make Portland Parks & Recreation synonymous with summer fun. Find summer fun right in your neighborhood, including Parks and Rec’s wildly popular Summer Free For All – the citywide series free movies, concerts, lunch and playground programs in city parks – at PortlandParks.org.
Want to experience new family adventures? Let’s Go have fun at state parks
Oregon Parks and Recreation Department brings you Let’s Go Camping! This fun-filled weekend camping adventure is for families new to camping or those that could use a refresher. For families without their own equipment, the parks department provides tent, sleeping bags, sleeping bag liners, mattress pads and use of a camp stove for the weekend at no extra cost. There are 12 weekend events at various state parks. Campers can choose to arrive on Friday afternoon after 4 pm or by 10 am on Saturday when activities begin. Events end by noon on Sunday. One vehicle is allowed per family. These are very secure events with ranger-led activities, staff members and trained volunteers on hand to assist families around the clock. These events have been very popular with single parents, families on a budget and seniors. Families bring their own food. No pets, alcohol or electronic games. Come have fun and make some great memories with your family outdoors.
Cost for the entire family is $30 for the weekend. Registration is available during business hours. Preregistration and payment are required. To register, call 1-888- 953-7677. More information is available at oregonstateparks. org/index.cfm?do=thingstodo.dsp_letsGoCamping.
There are also new Let’s Go activities this summer in nearby Oregon state parks. Your family can go and try out kayaking, canoeing, hiking, stargazing, birding or fishing for a few hours. The equipment, instruction and leadership are provided, so you can relax and enjoy the day. These activities are open to ages 8 and up (children under 14 need an adult with them), and almost all are free! To find upcoming activities near you, go to oregonstateparks.org and click on Things to Do or call 1-800- 551-6949. These are activities the whole family can enjoy!
Portland Aquarium Fun
There is lots of fun to be had at the Portland Aquarium. Kids can see and interact with fish, reptiles and tropical birds. Feed a Lorikeet as it sits on your finger. Daily Talks educate visitors about a multitude of species. Kids also enjoy birthday parties, field trips and Sleep with the Shark activities. Experience the soft skin of a ray as he swims by the edge of the touch tank. portlandaquarium.net |16323 SE McLoughlin Blvd., Milwaukie
Scienceworks Bravery
These brave girls are trying to catch the attention of a life-size T-Rex in the Prehistoric Predators exhibit at ScienceWorks Hands-on Museum in Ashland. Visitors travel back in time to the Cretaceous Period where technology brings the past to life with incredible animatronic dinosaurs, controlled by state of the art interactive software. Prehistoric Predators is open through Labor Day. Summer hours are 10 am to 6 pm daily. scienceworksmuseum.org
Oregon Coast Aquarium
Immerse your family in a marine science adventure at the Oregon Coast Aquarium. Connect with creatures that inhabit the underwater world off Oregon’s coast through interactive exhibits developed for visitors of all ages. Sea otters, sharks, puffins, jellies and octopuses are just a few of the 15,000 animals that earn this attraction recognition as one of the 10 best aquariums in the United States.
aquarium.org | 541-867-FISH
