A trip to the city known for the slogan “Keep Portland Weird” is bound to be a different kind of experience for the kids.
Portland as a family vacay is a grittier, more urban-inspired getaway than a pristinely and commercially cultivated visit to a crowded theme park.
The city delivers on the promise of edible offerings that will stretch their culinary limits – in the most delicious way. Include a must-do visit to local gastronomic favourite Tasty n Sons for either brunch or dinner. The young ones will appreciate inventive comfort dishes like Mary’s Fried Chicken and Tynan’s “Craft” Mac & Cheese, which has a creamy depth of flavour unlike any boxed mac their little taste buds have ever known.
Stroll down the street for a dish of ice cream at What’s the Scoop?, where my oldest son (he’s 10) was utterly delighted by the cloud-like toasted marshmallow topping on his rich chocolate sundae.
Sadly, we never managed to hit up the famous Voodoo Doughnuts, because there were simply too many other stops to enjoy, including Lardo. At the inventive downtown Portland sandwich joint, my oldest stuffed himself on a crunchy fried chicken sandwich (yep, more fried chicken).
At five, my youngest wasn’t quite so adventurous in the culinary department, choosing instead a burger at almost every meal stop we made.
Even at our beautiful gourmet dinner at Three Degrees restaurant in the stunning Kimpton RiverPlace Hotel, where we stayed, my youngest feasted on a classic burger and fries, while the rest of us enjoyed the North West-sourced raw oysters, a beautifully tart beet salad and a hearty dry-aged rib eye with gratin and steamed chard. We took in the flavours from a table with a picturesque view of the Willamette River, which flows through downtown Portland, acting as a centrepiece to the city. In the last decade, Portland has carved itself out as a tourist destination, not just for us West Coasters north of the border, but for those throughout the United States. Visitors are drawn to the city for its authentic craft beer culture, world-class food (please visit Pok Pok for one of the best meals you’ll ever have), tax-free shopping (which makes the U.S. dollar pinch not quite so painful), and general laid-back vibe, which is a staple of Oregonians.
This relaxed energy came through in the way the kids were treated everywhere we ate: colouring books were placed down without us having to ask, they were talked to with kindness and patience.
The lovely Kimpton RiverPlace Hotel was also a kid’s dream. Our room included a small tipi-style tent with bear-themed sleeping bags, a camp-fire night light and two beaver stuffies, which my youngest adored. There was also an evening Bedtime Butler service, where staff stroll around with a table that includes classic books, kid-friendly nightcaps (there’s also a well-stocked bar for the grown-ups) and other goodies. My youngest was delighted with the scene and ended up sleeping in the charming tent every night of our three-day stay. In the summer, there is even a space on the hotel grounds to make S’mores.
We did a bit of shopping, scooping up a pair of sneaks from the Nike store. The mega brand was founded by University of Oregon track athlete Phil Knight and his coach Bill Bowerman.
We visited the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI), where, much to the delight of both my boys, there was a hands-on exhibit chronicling the history of video games, from inception to modern day.
We managed just a handful of fun events in our short stay. The reality is there are copious amounts of fun activities to do: bike riding in a cycle-friendly city that rivals the best of Europe; craft beer rooms where the kids can play while you sip on refreshing ale; local literary institution Powell’s Books – the largest independent chain of bookstores in the world; and even more culinary adventures to be had.
One of the best things about Portland is its close proximity to Metro Vancouver allows for a quick getaway without the hassle of flying off to a theme park with the kids. Instead, they get an authentic cultural experience, while you get delicious food and drinks, and discover that Portland is just “weird” enough for the whole family.
If you go:
Stay: Kimpton RiverPlace Hotel (approx. US$225 a night), a river-front four-star hotel that offers some of the most beautiful river views. Known for exceptional, friendly and down-to-earth service, this charming hotel is perfect for couples and families.
Eat: Please don’t miss a visit to Tasty n Sons, or its downtown sister eatery Tasty n Alder. Whether it’s brunch, lunch, or dinner (or all three), this comfort-food culinary family is not to be missed. Seriously.
Visit: Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI), where kids are both inspired and entertained. Plus, as an added bonus, the food in the cafeteria is actually good. It’s a day-long outing, so plan to stay and get the most out of the experience.
Shop: Nike Portland, downtown, 638 SW Fifth Ave., (or any of the locations in the city limits, really). Being within the reaches of the brand’s headquarters means you have access to a ton of styles and options, in every age group, including kids.
