Portland recs, family-friendly-ish

[niq]

msniq has a conference there next week, so babyniq & I will be roaming around looking for things to do. Any ideas?

We're staying at the convention center, but we'll have the car with us.

As far as family-friendly, the big thing to avoid is busy, cramped restaurants. Everything else I think we can manage.

[toratoratori]

The Portland Zoo is a MUST. We took our baby cousin (like literally a baby - she's my husband's cousin's daughter) and she LOVED it.

[atlas]

The zoo is really great; the baby elephant is getting so big. It is up in Washington Park which is a section of Forest Park. There are so many trails up there, if you are interested in walking around. The arboretum is up there too and the trees are always fun to look at. Not super green yet, but still nice.

Walking along the river is a ton of fun, but there will be lots of people around depending on what time you are there. There are great pathways on each side of the river. You can easily walk down to the river from the convention center (maybe a half a mile to the Steal Bridge - that's the black one)

I've never been during the winter but Sauvie Island is always fun. It is a bit north of the city, on the west side of the river. A smart phone will easily guide the way.

OMSI is fun, but probably not for a 6 month old. However, I love OMSI so it could be enjoyable for you.

To just kinda wander and kill time. I love Alberta district. It is north of where you will be staying but has awesome little shops on both sides of Alberta street (not a huge street). A good starting off point would be Barista Alberta District. They have some of the best coffee in the city and locations in the Pearl District as well as downtown. The Pearl district can be fun to wander around in too, but a bit busier than Alberta.

There is an amazing restaurant right near where you are staying Petisco. That is one of my most favorite restaurants. It is small and quiet with amazing food.

[niq]

Is there like a fake portlandia tour? Like, can I go see the Wymmyn's bookstore and the Put A Bird On It craft shop and stuff?

ETA argh closed for the winter

[Deleted]

What about the cable car there? I've never been on it, but babyniq might find it interesting?

23rd has some cute restaurants and boutiques. I like wandering around there too.

I like cupcake Jones down there too.

[atlas]

Cupcake Jones is amazing! ooooo, so yummy.  ETA: it is on the other side of the river from where you will be.  About 10 blocks west of the river, right in the Pearl District.

The street car is good. TriMet has day passes and stuff. There are stops right near the convention center. As well as MAX stops. Could be an easy way to get around (and not have to deal with parking)

[atlas]

Also, if you guys are into breweries there are so many. And many of them are family friendly. Depending on the vibe I can give some recs.

[msturtle143]

Feb 13, 2014 12:02:27 GMT -5 spunbutterfly said:

I'm going to differ: the zoo at that age is kind of a waste. It's hard to actively look for animals a lot of the time. The only reason I'd recommend the zoo is for you to have something to do while you walk around/wear/stroller him. Even by 16 months, my kid is not really interested in the zoo per se. He likes the aquarium a lot more cause it's a lot more visually impactful without seeking. Depending on the weather, I'd skip it.

As for food, the restaurants I'd suggest tend to have lines and can get busy. I'd suggest food truck cruising and going back to the hotel to eat. At about 8 months is when we took a trip down to Portland with my son, and that was the easiest thing to do. And plus, the food trucks were /tasty/.

We also ended up doing the Saturday market, or is it Sunday market? I can't remember. Whatever day the market is on. We walked through there and he enjoyed looking at things.

ETA: Even at that age, 8 months, Thor loved Powells FWIW. Until he got hungry. ;p

I second the zoo but it is good for walking around. 
I second Powells also. I wasn't impressed by the aquarium but we went to the one on the coast. 

[dutchgirl678]

Avoid the aquarium! It's not even in Portland, it's in Milwaukie. And the owners are crooks who don't care for the animals. For 6-month olds, anything will entertain them. A good child-friendly brewery is Hopworks on SE Powell. Also check out the McMenamins Kennedy school. They also have movie matinees which is good with a napping baby, though he may be too old for it now . There are lots of cool breweries / eateries in N / NE Portland. The Lucky Lab has a pub on N Mississippi. There is also a wonderful bakery/beer place called Pix Patisserie.

[shevacc]

BIL and SIL live in Hillsboro so G's been to Portland a bunch. At 6 months she didn't care what we did, but I like the Oregon Zoo and it's easily navigable with a stroller. G only started to care about the animals after ~14 months old and now she loooooves the zoo. Saturday market is also a favorite for people watching (it's open on Sundays too, strangely enough). Though if you really want the Portlandia feel, look around for a neighborhood farmers market.

I also really like the rose garden and Japanese garden in Washington park/Forest park (near the zoo). And I'm also a fan of wandering around looking at bridges.

[niq]

Feb 15, 2014 0:20:41 GMT -5 shevacc said:

BIL and SIL live in Hillsboro so G's been to Portland a bunch. At 6 months she didn't care what we did, but I like the Oregon Zoo and it's easily navigable with a stroller. G only started to care about the animals after ~14 months old and now she loooooves the zoo. Saturday market is also a favorite for people watching (it's open on Sundays too, strangely enough). Though if you really want the Portlandia feel, look around for a neighborhood farmers market.

I also really like the rose garden and Japanese garden in Washington park/Forest park (near the zoo). And I'm also a fan of wandering around looking at bridges.

FYI the thing to google for is "rose test garden", otherwise you get the arena where the Trailblazers play.

We went to Petisco tonight and it was really good. Frank's Noodle House last night. Today I didn't do much sightseeing, just walked along broadway and did some shopping (we forgot a few baby things), and then a run along the waterfront (a nice run, but not really scenic while running with this weather, maybe it was scenic for babyniq b/c he could look out on the river). Tomorrow I think I'm going to try another run, plus Powell's, Cupcake Jones, and maaaybe the Rose Test Garden.

cc atlas spunbutterfly et al

[atlas]

Glad you enjoyed Petisco Yeah, our weather has been less than perfect the past few days.

[dutchgirl678]

The weather has been terrible! I don't think there is a lot to see in the Rose Test Garden this time of year but if it's clear like this morning you get a good view of the city. Also check out the shops in NW along 23rd. There are some great restaurants in that neighborhood too. I love Elephant's delicatessen on NW 22nd just off Burnside.

[niq]

CONTROVERSIAL PORTLAND POLL

Voodoo Donut vs Waffle Window (?) For breakfast Saturday?