2018 Spring Adventures in Portland with Kids

It may seem like spring will never get here. (The rain! The rain.) But it will! And when it does, there are so many adventures to have with your family. From finding the perfect bloom to perfecting your sand-digging skills, to picking the best Easter egg, here’s our guide to a totally Portland spring.

March

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Eat out during Portland dining month. Across town, Portland’s best restaurants offer three course meals for $33 throughout the month of March. Still a splurge, but a steal compared to normal prices. Bring your kids to spots like Ken’s Artisan Pizza or Mother’s Bistro, or make it a date night. The full list of participating restaurants is available here. And check out our list of always-affordable restaurants here.

Visit the Crystal Springs Rhododendron Garden. Whatever the season, this garden is the perfect wandering spot with young children. It’s not too big, there are all sorts of ducks, plenty of visual interest and spots to let loose. But the truly magical season is in the spring, when the azaleas and rhododendrons bloom. Take your camera. And check out other places where flowers are in bloom here.

Find the perfect egg. Easter is April 1 this year, but the hunts start before then. Scope out your spot for finding those candy-filled eggs. Or get your photo taken with the bunny himself!

Smell the flowers at the Wooden Shoe Tulip Festival. One of the most quintessential Portland-area spring activities. You’ll find 40 acres of tulips, plus lots of kid-friendly entertainment like cow trains, bounce houses, and delicious food. This year’s festival runs from March 23 through April 29.

Whale Watching. Up for a trip? In late March, gray whales begin traveling past the Oregon coast on their way to Alaska. Find some of the best spots to look for whales here.

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April

Explore your local farmers market. Come April and May, many farmers market tents begin to reappear. Wander the stalls and stock up on flowers, cheeses, and early spring fruits and veggies.

Find a new favorite playground. There are playgrounds. And then there are playgrounds. These are our very favorite Portland-area playgrounds, where you can act like a pirate, be a spider, or climb impossibly high. Get ready for some mud, and some fun.

Attend Tryon Creek’s Trillium Festival. Go for a short hike in Tryon Creek, look for horses and frogs, and then stop by the Trillium Festival. You’ll find roving stations and tables set up where you can get bite-sized science and natural history lessons. You can also stock up on plants for your garden. April 7.

Celebrate the planet. Earth Day is April 22. You can celebrate by planting trees, improving parks, or doing earth-related crafts. Check out our full list of local Earth Day happenings here. And find other ways to give back to the community here.

May

Walk (or bike) it out at Sunday Parkways. Mark your calendars for May 20, the first Sunday Parkways of the season! Roads close to vehicular traffic, and walkers and bikers get free reign. Stop at tents for food and drinks and enjoy the streets of Portland.

Hang out at a nature park. Over two dozen nature parks sprawl across the Portland Metro area. Dig tunnels in the sand, climb over boulders and tree stumps, and play with no limits.

Celebrate at the Cinco de Mayo festival. Enjoy carnival rides, entertainment, fair food, artisans, and culture all in the heart of Portland. The festival runs May 4-6 this year.

Cheer at the Portland Rose Festival. Whether you come for the floats, the rides, crafts at the Kid Zone, the food, or the fireworks, the Rose Festival has something for everyone. The festival opens on Memorial Day Weekend, May 25-28th.

What’s your favorite spring-time activity? Let us know below!

Ali Wilkinson
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