Family Travel Experiences in Portland, Oregon

The International Rose Test Garden in Portland Oregon (Photo Credit: Eric Bowman)

What are the keys to an epic family vacation?

Sure, it’s mostly subjective to what you and your family love doing the most, but at the heart of a family getaway should be a safe destination with great accommodations and plenty of food options for all to enjoy.

Our recent venture out to Portland, Oregon exceeded these qualifications.

So, what’s there to do in Portland, Oregon for family travelers? We break it down between activities, food, and accommodations. 

Fun Family Activities in Portland, Oregon

Hands down the number one thing all families need to do is stop by and explore the the International Rose Test Garden in Washington Park.

The free garden is filled with over 10,000 rose bushes, making for some incredibly breath taking scenery – especially on a nice weather day giving stellar views of the city.  

Other options for families include: 

• Architectural Heritage Center
• Crystal Springs Rhododendron Garden
• The Grotto (Includes two free elevator tokens and admission to special events.)
• Lan Su Chinese Garden
• Oregon Historical Society
• Oregon Jewish Museum and Center for Holocaust Education
• Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (definitely check out the planetarium and the submarine tour!)
• Oregon Zoo
• Pittock Mansion
• Portland Art Museum
• Portland Chinatown Museum
• Portland Japanese Garden (consider booking their Tea service as well)
• Portland Spirit Cruises (tickets include a river sightseeing cruise. Food and drink available for purchase)

Our kids loved the zoo and all the playful experiences at the science center. The scavenger hunt at the Japanese Garden captivated my wife just as much as it did for my daughter.

Renting a car is probably your best bet as a family, unless your kids are bit older, and or you plan to do most of your activities in the more walkable areas. You’ll certainly be paying ride share prices here and there, so perhaps the savvier move is to secure that car rental.

The main reason we suggest that is because a morning or afternoon drive out to Multnomah Falls is an absolute must. The beautiful scenery surrounding the waterfall will make for a terrific family memory.

QuarterWorld Arcade, which as 30+ pinball machines and 60+ arcade games, is another family fun option. It’s $2 admission and games run from .50 cents to $1 per play, with all games .25 cents on Wednesdays.

Where Families Should Eat in Portland, Oregon

There’s a plethora of fantastic dining options located throughout Portland. 

First though, we have to start with the food cart pods.

Portland’s food scene is diverse and delicious, and the growth of food cart pods around the city has given locals and travelers plenty of places to delight their taste buds.

Wonderlove food cart pod in Portland, Oregon (Photo Credit: Eric Bowman)

Cartopia, Wonderlove, Hinterlands are a few favorites. Food cart pods around Portland feature multiple restaurants in one setting with shared seating in the middle for all. You can find great pizza, tacos, burgers, sushi, Greek food, Thai food, and so much more. Even a spot dedicated solely to the potato – shoutout to the Potato Champion at Cartopia!

Other good spots according to the locals include Por Que No for tacos, Grassa for pasta, and Slappy Cakes for pancakes. Another shoutout goes to Apizza Scholls – a classic pizza spot with .25 cent classic arcade game machines in the back. Watching my 4-year-old become fully invested in beating Mrs. Pacman made our night. It’s also two doors down from the previously mentioned QuarterWorld Arcade. 

For any dads or moms that love beer, fear not – Portland’s brewery scene has many family friendly places. We loved our time at Hopworks Brewery. It was indoors, featured great beer and food, and have multiple play stations for kids, including a full kitchen set up. Little kids love having a kitchen just their size, and after watching both my kids adore this restaurant feature, I find myself wishing every eatery had something like it.

For unique dining, check out Kachka, a restaurant with Eastern European food and flavors. The dumplings here are simply divine.

And no trip to Portland is complete without some donuts. We loved the donut hole sized creations at Pips, but Voodoo Doughnuts is very well known for its unique concoctions, and the locals love Blue Star Donuts, which can also be found at the Portland airport if you aren’t able to grab some in town.  

These are just a sample of the delicious eateries available across Portland’s neighborhoods. Local residents are friendly, so don’t be shy in asking someone for their favorite flavors around town.

Wonderlove food cart pod in Portland, Oregon (Photo Credit: Eric Bowman)

Where Families Can Stay in Portland, Oregon

Portland of course has the main stay hotel brands where travelers can cash in on or further build up their loyalty points.

However, new to the scene and perfectly designed for family travelers is Violet Suites PDX.

Located in the Buckman neighborhood on Portland’s inner east side between the popular Belmont Street and Southeast Hawthorne Boulevard, this boutique hotel feels so much like an elevated, luxury apartment rental.

Violet Suites PDX meets the desires of travelers who look to Airbnb and VRBO because they want more space and comfortable settings.

The Meadowlark Suite at Violet Suites PDX in Portland, Oregon (Photo Credit: Eric Bowman)

Additionally, it offers the safe comfort of a gated parking lot and secure building. You aren’t just walking up to a house or random building.

Violet Suites PDX features five total suites ranging from two and three bedrooms with full kitchens to smaller studio style suites.  

With young children, we loved that there was a great playground at Colonel Summers Park just a few blocks away. 

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