10 Best Family Things to Do in Portland, OR

Get ready to create an unforgettable experience with tons of family-friendly activities in Portland!

You can enjoy countless adventures throughout Portland, from beautiful nature areas with hidden paths to stunning gardens. Visit the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI) for hands-on science experiments, see amazing animals at the Oregon Zoo, or get one-of-a-kind family photos on the St. Johns Bridge. Whether your family loves spending time outside, learning through interactive exhibits, or simply wandering through beautiful places, you will find something in Portland. Read on to find the 10 best family things to do in Portland, OR.

The Portland Japanese Garden is an artfully designed sanctuary. The garden is located atop the bluff in Washington Park with a view of Mount Hood. It consists of 12+ acres of land across five distinct sites that incorporate all eight traditional styles of Japanese landscape gardens, such as a koi fish pond for strolling, a sand-and-stone meditation garden, and an authentic Kashintei Tea House. Most visitors walk along moss-covered paths, across zig-zag bridges, and around lanterns.

On the way into Portland's International Rose Test Garden from downtown Portland, you enter a lovely scene of beautiful blooming roses and various flora. You get to see tons of different types of blooming flowers, with more than 10,000 rose plants at the Portland Rose Garden (611 flower varieties). The Royal Rosarian Garden area has rose bushes dedicated to Portland's Goodwill Ambassadors, and the Shakespeare Garden area has flowers planted per Shakespeare's writings, where there is a brick memorial with a quote from Shakespeare that says, “Of all the flowers, I think a rose is the best.” You may also see downtown Portland and Mt. Hood behind the flower beds on clear days.

Father Ambrose Mayer created this 62-acre sanctuary in the 1920s by carving out the face of a magnificent 110-foot-high basalt cliff. The Grotto offers a beautiful blend of natural surroundings and spiritual artistry. At the center of The Grotto is an outdoor chapel with an exact copy of Michelangelo's Pietà, made from marble and illuminated by candlelight around the surrounding rocks and vegetation. While strolling through the gardens of The Grotto, you will find winding pathways, tiny shrines, and an elevator that leads to upper-level gardens. There is also a unique glass meditation chapel overlooking the Columbia River Valley and the Cascade Mountain Range, making it one of the best Portland family attractions.

Pittock Mansion is located in the West Hills of Portland, more than 1,000 feet above downtown Portland. Designed for newspaper publisher Henry Pittock and his wife, Georgiana, the property includes 23 rooms and was completed in 1914. Long before photocopiers, microwaves, and intercoms, Pittock Mansion featured these innovations, along with an elaborate central vacuuming system, an elevator, and hidden indirect lighting. The mansion’s curved hardwood flooring, Turkish smoking room, and varied period décor are matched only by the sweeping views. On clear days, you can see the Portland city skyline above a sea of trees, with five Cascade Mountain peaks in the distance.

Enter Lan Su Chinese Garden (also known as the Portland Classical Chinese Garden) and step into the magical world of the Ming Dynasty. Built in 2000 by master craftsmen from Suzhou, the garden’s centerpiece is Lake Zither, reflecting ornate pavilions and lanterns swaying above koi. Over 90% of the plants are native to China, including camellias, bamboo, magnolias, and orchids. Visitors can stroll along covered corridors, pause in tranquil courtyards, and sip fragrant tea at the Tower of Cosmic Reflections.

Washington Park brings history and discovery alive on every forest trail. Once home to cougars, the park now spans 410 acres and includes the Oregon Zoo (one of the oldest zoos west of the Mississippi, with over 1,800 animals) and the International Rose Test Garden (over 10,000 roses). Visitors can walk among towering trees at Hoyt Arboretum, reflect at the Oregon Holocaust Memorial, or experience the Zen of the Japanese Garden, located on the site of the former zoo. Seasonal free shuttles connect major attractions, making this one of the best things to do in Portland with kids.

Spanning over 5,000 acres across the Tualatin Mountains, Forest Park is one of the largest urban native forests in America. It features more than 80 miles of hiking, biking, and horseback riding trails winding through Douglas fir, western hemlock, and bigleaf maple trees. The Wildwood Trail runs nearly 30 miles along the park’s eastern edge and connects to a 40-mile loop trail system around Portland. Along the way, visitors may encounter the stone ruins of the historic Stone House, ancient creek channels, and viewpoints overlooking the Willamette River and downtown Portland. The park is also home to over 110 bird species and 60 animal species.

Located on 64 acres of scenic landscape within Washington Park, the Oregon Zoo is home to 165 animal species. Conservation efforts include protecting endangered Oregon silverspot butterflies and California condors, as well as partnerships supporting rhinos, giraffes, and carnivores in Africa. These initiatives make the zoo one of the best Family things to do in Portland.

Situated along the eastern shores of the Willamette River, the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI) offers hands-on educational fun for all ages. With five themed exhibit halls, a planetarium featuring laser light shows, and the former Cold War U.S. Navy submarine “USS Blueback” available for tours, the museum is alive with science. Visitors can explore rotating exhibits, watch immersive planetarium shows, and engage with interactive labs.

Built during the Great Depression, the St. Johns Bridge was constructed in just 21 months and completed under budget. The bridge features soaring Gothic-style towers reaching nearly 400 feet high and serves as a vital transit link between North and Northwest Portland.

Book your stay at Capitol Hill Motel in Portland and enjoy comfortable accommodation while exploring the city’s attractions, dining, nightlife, and local highlights.