Portland Oregon - Pitstops for Kids

Touring Oregon Wine Country with Grape Escape wine tours

March 25, 2013 By Amy Hagstrom

Not long ago, I wouldn’t have thought of spending a full day during a Portland Oregon vacation touring the Oregon wine country. I simply wouldn’t have realized it was an option. In fact, the region directly around metropolitan Portland is ripe with wineries, and has been for several decades. During a recent parents’ weekend away in Portland, I spent an early spring Saturday in wine country with Grape Escape Tours, and it was certainly time well-spent. And if you are enjoying Portland with kids, good news: Grape Escape welcomes children on their winery tours, and yes, there’s actually things for them to do.

We started our experience with Grape Escape before we even arrived in Portland. As soon as I reached out via their website, owner Ralph Stinton gave me a call to find out where my party’s interests in wine lay, what we hoped to see during our day in wine country, and logistical details about our group. On our scheduled tour date, Ralph met us in the lobby of our Portland hotel where we chatted further about our expectations, our wine knowledge (or lack thereof), and the like. Following our phone conversation, Ralph had designed a personalized itinerary, which he handed out to us. Included on the itinerary were the three wineries we were scheduled to visit, plus our lunch plans and a paragraph of background information on each winery. Right away, we knew we were in good hands.

We loaded into a Grape Escape 12-passenger van, and Ralph told us more about Oregon’s wine country and the wineries we were scheduled to visit as we drove the approximately 30 minutes outside the city. Our customized tour began with smaller boutique winery Alloro Vineyards, located in the Chehalem Mountains. We met owner Dave Nemarnick, who planted the vineyard then built his beautiful Mediterranean inspired winery. It was obvious that Ralph and Grape Escape enjoyed a good working relationship with Alloro and the other wineries we toured; everywhere we went, he was greeted by name, and able to tell us detailed information about the location, the wines we were tasting, and the differences and similarities between Oregon wines and those elsewhere worldwide.

We lunched at The Allison Inn and Spa in the nearby Willamette Valley, which we had arranged ourselves; had we not, Ralph would have arranged lunch for us. We headed from there to nearby Domaine Serene, a larger winery situated in the Red Hills of Dundee. We were also scheduled to taste at Archery Summit, but Ralph was able to adapt our itinerary when we opted to spend extra time touring The Allison.

Grape Escapes booking tips:

Grape Escape vans comfortably hold up to 12 guests, but caravans are possible if you have a larger group. (Grape Escape has six vans in their fleet.) Ralph is one of several qualified guides, and founded the company 19 years ago. In his words, they ‘grew up’ with the Oregon wine industry, which explains their excellent relationship with the various vineyards.

Rates start at $80 per person for a partial day tour. The tour we enjoyed lasted from 10 am to after 4 pm, and runs $175 per person (the price lowers the larger your group). You’re paying for the transportation, but also for the expertise Grape Escape adds to the experience. The best way to get started is to fill out the form on the website, or call: 503-283-3380.

Oregon wine tasting with kids:

If you’re wine tasting with kids in tow, I’d recommend a half-day tour. I know my children would have gotten restless with a longer day. Ralph and his team know which wineries will be most kid-friendly, such as Stoller Winery, which sports a playground outside. All the wineries we saw included spacious outdoor seating, long rolling lawns, and usually a friendly dog or two. Kids will enjoy being out in the Oregon countryside and will be welcomed by Grape Escape. They’ll also sip sparkling juices and enjoy the same cheese and cracker plates as the adults. Ralph recommends bringing your own car seats, which can be fitted in any of the Grape Escape vans.

As I disclose whenever applicable, we experienced Grape Escape at a media rate, for the purpose of review.

The Allison Inn and Spa: Willamette Valley wine country pick

March 21, 2013 By Amy Hagstrom

Tucked into the green hillside just outside the quiet Portland bedroom community of Newberg, The Allison Inn and Spa somehow feels like both a destination and a detour. Turning up the long drive, you clearly feel as if you’ve arrived, but the location is just close enough to the bustle of downtown Portland that you feel only slightly away. When you’re looking to get away for a peaceful weekend, this is the perfect combination.

Light, airy, and expansive, The Allison is harmonious with the nature surrounding it, from the span of vineyards curving over the hillside to the leafy trees and gardens. Warm wood and highly efficient and eco-friendly features (this is a LEED Gold certified property) combine with bubbling water features, open space, and locally-sourced building materials to create a visually impressive and calming property. I literally sighed with relaxation upon entering the high-ceilinged, bright lobby.

The Allison is very much a labor of love, with owners who believe in drawing in the natural world, leaving a small eco-footprint, and treating guests right. Room rates reflect the luxurious nature of The Allison, but include everything, including things you usually pay extra for, like organic and healthy mini-bar snacks and wifi.

Most guests are here to enjoy the area’s expansive wine tasting (over 200 of the state’s approximate 400 wineries are located in this region), but you could just as easily spend your time on-property, enjoying the Allison Spa (which was too fully booked for us to even tour, a great testament to its popularity), eating gourmet cuisine using locally-sourced ingredients at Jory Restaurant, swimming in the indoor pool, or relaxing with a book on one of the many terraces or heated decks, or walking the grounds.

With kids, The Allison is within easy driving distance of McMinnville Oregon’s Air and Space Museum and adjacent Wings and Waves water park, and families could easily head to Portland for the day or even the Oregon coast. Jory has a full (and reasonable) kids’ menu, and the pool and grounds are kid-friendly.

Allison room amenities:

Hands down, the best room option for families is the double queen room, of which The Allison only has approximately a dozen (so book early). This room option is very spacious, with plenty of room for a rollaway and additionally includes a window seat/day bed perfect for toddlers or small children. The lovely bathroom includes a deep tub for fun baths, and every room has a balcony, fireplace, and the aforementioned free snacks.

The Allison does have suite and junior suites, though for the much higher price point, families don’t get a great deal more than is already provided in their queen rooms. Suites include a limited mini-kitchenette (best for entertaining…not for cooking full meals), and a nice dining table, and additional privacy for parents with a separate bedroom. All rooms, suites and standard rooms alike, include local artwork on the walls which are rotated frequently and always stunning.

Jory Restaurant:

Our meal at Jory was possibly the best food I’ve ever had in Oregon (and I’ve had many excellent meals here). Kids enjoy seeing the open kitchen from much of the dining area, and the kids’ menu is healthy while still being very appealing for little ones. Jory chefs use local ingredients, including their meat, of which they use the whole animal for less waste and in-house, fresh options. In fact, The Allison produces so little waste in general that they are not on a regular waste removal pick-up; they call when they need one. Their breakfast options are as excellent as their dinners (try the signature eggs benedict), and even their compotes, syrups, and butters are made from scratch.

There is an impressive chef’s table at Jory should your party want to indulge; I’m certain the experience would be memorable.

Allison fitness center and spa:

The Allison Spa is beloved among guests and locals alike, but I appreciated that the pool, hot tub, and fitness center is for hotel guests only. The Allison pool is not extremely large, but it’s as lovely and peaceful as the rest of the property, with natural light saturating the water from the glass ceiling and wall (which can retract in warm weather). There’s a hot tub as well as the pool, plenty of lounge chairs, and an outdoor space where you can still keep an eye on kids for summer stays.

The fitness center, adjacent to the pool, is also not large, but again, light and spacious and does not feel cramped as some smaller centers can feel.

Date last visited: March 2013

Distance from the interstate: 20 minutes from I-5.

Directions: The Allison is located at 2525 Allison Lane in Newberg Oregon.

Portland happy hour picks: Where to go for happy hour with or without the kids in Portland

March 15, 2013 By Amy Hagstrom

If you’re visiting Portland without the kids, have older kids with discerning tastes (as mine have become as they get older) or have younger children who appreciate great dining atmosphere over crayons and chicken nuggets (not mine at that age!), you’ll want to try one (or all!) of the following Portland restaurants with happy hour deals, lively ambiance, and a true Portland city feel.

23 Hoyt:

Located at 529 NW 23rd Avenue, 23 Hoyt is in the heart of the quaint Northwest district of Portland and offers a cozy atmosphere in winter and open, bright atmosphere in summer. Their happy hour (ending at 6 pm at the time of our visit) is one of the best deals in the city, offering extensive cocktails for as little as $3. My blood orange martini was stellar. After happy hour, stay for dinner to enjoy a casual but lively environment that’s still tame enough for the kids.

Pazzo Ristorante:

A Kimpton restaurant located adjacent (and attached to) the Kimpton Hotel Vintage Plaza at 627 SW Washington Street, Pazzo Ristorante is a moderately-priced Italian restaurant with far from moderate food. Their bar area is separate from dining seating, so if you have kids in tow, you can order drinks at the table. Otherwise, soak up the ambiance of this warm, inviting interior at a bar table overlooking the street. The food at Pazzo is stellar: try the butternut squash ravioli as well as the peppered bread brought to each table. Read more about Pazzo Ristorante following our recent Pazzo giveaway.

Special offer for Pit Stops for Kids readers: now through March 31, mention that you saw our recent Pazzo Ristorante dinner giveaway when making your reservation, and receive 20% off your meal!

Thirst Bistro:

Located at 0315 SW Montgomery St #340 along the RiverPlace Escalade, Thirst Bistro is small and intimate, and a great place to pop into during happy hour while walking along the river front. Grab drinks and tapas here, then stay for a light dinner, or walk a few doors down to RiverPlace hotel’s Three Degrees Waterfront Bar and Grill for a family-friendly meal that will satisfy the adults as well as the kids. Children can watch the boats on the river, and parents can always take restless kids for a short walk to see goose and ducks while waiting for food.

Photo credit

Expedia Kids in the City: Portland Oregon

June 7, 2012 By Amy Hagstrom

Today, Pit Stops for Kids is proud to participate in Expedia.com’s fantastic Kids in the City summer series. For 12 days, 12 American cities are featured by 12 travel bloggers. Each day, readers of Expedia experience a different city, all perfect for family summer vactions. Today, Pit Stops for Kids is presenting the final city of Portland, Oregon.

As an Oregon resident, it’s hard to imagine a better city to explore with kids than Portland. Small enough to navigate easily, yet big enough to host all the excitement families want in a city vacation, Portland is a fun, stimulating mix of beautiful scenery, outdoor activities, and often-alternative (yet always free-thinking) urban culture. Read on to see our favorite ways to enjoy Portland, then head to Expedia to view our Portland Fact Sheet, containing all the logistical information you need to plan your own Portland summer visit.

Get outside.

Portland is famous for its outdoorsy, sporty mentality. Everywhere you go in Portland, you’ll see cyclists heading to work, joggers on the river front, and crew teams skimming down the Willamette. There are abundant natural areas for families to explore. Kids will love walking the river front at Tom McCall Waterfront Park, where they can spy docked ships and watch the working drawbridges lift and fall. Book a cruise on the Portland Spirit to see more of the Willamette, or if you have babies and small children, spend a day in the slow lane at Mt. Tabor Park, where the walking trails meander amid leafy trees and the playgrounds provide hours of fun.

Older kids will love biking the many family-level bike trails, and everyone will enjoy a day trip driving the Columbia River Gorge, located just miles outside the city on I-84. There, families can see the same view as early pioneers at the Cape Horn Overlook, feel the spray of stunning Multnomah Falls, and watch salmon jump up the fish ladder at the Bonneville Dam. And myth buster alert: it rains far less in Portland than you might think, but if a downpour catches you by surprise, you can always stop at the REI anchor store or original Nike store (both downtown) for the latest rain gear.

Learn a thing or two.

Located downtown, families simply must stop at Powell’s City of Books. A Portland institution, Powell’s consists of multiple rooms (and stories, no pun intended) of new and used books. An entire room is dedicated to children’s books, where readings are often held around the squishy chairs and kid-sized tables. School-aged kids and teens enjoy their own spaces as well, and adult book-lovers will have to be pulled out against their will! Be sure to grab a store map at the entrance to get around!

Across the Willamette from Powell’s lies OMSI, the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry. OMSI boasts a full-scale hands-on museum, with permanent exhibits on earth, life, and chemical science, a baby and toddler area, a fun logistical puzzles and brain teaser section, and working science labs for school-aged kids. Everyone will love the IMAX and planetarium shows, and past visiting exhibits have included headliners like Sue the dinosaur and Richard Scarry’s Puzzletown.

A short MAX ride away (more on Portland’s public transit to come), Portland’s Washington Park houses the Oregon Zoo and Portland Children’s Museum. Small enough to be manageable and yet big enough to feature all the animals families want to see, the Oregon Zoo remains one of our favorites for its friendly, knowledgeable staff, great shows, and park-like atmosphere (feel free to bring in a cooler on a wagon and picnic on on the center green spaces). On rainy days, the Children’s Museum can’t be beat. Featuring three stories of interactive fun, young kids will love the tree fort, working grocery store, vet clinic, and waterworks, but the museum’s most unique exhibit is its pottery art studio and ‘recycled art’ lab. Open during select hours and fully staffed, these spaces allow kids to create freely, using real art equipment, supplies, and tools. My kids have spent literal hours inside!

Minutes outside of the city, families will find countless Oregon farms and vineyards, many with you-pick opportunities and country entertainment, and in McMinnville (45 minutes away), kids will go crazy for the Evergreen Aviation and Space Museum and adjacent Wings and Waves indoor water park. Plan to spend the better part of a day at this highly educational (yet completely entertaining) complex, which will teach families about WWII aviation history, space program events, and even the science of water. The water park is as big and comprehensive as any we’ve seen, and includes attractions for everyone from toddlers to teens.

Eat like a local.

Portlandians love their local, whole foods, which are abundant at the Portland Saturday Market and at downtown’s many Portland food carts during the summer months. During a weekend walk along the water front or downtown blocks, food trucks are available at every corner, offering everything from gourmet grilled cheese to escargot. Our favorite trucks include The Honey Pot, selling slices of pie, and Herb’s Mac and Cheese, featuring delicious, farm-to-table–you guessed it–macaroni and cheese. If you want to sit down for a meal, a McMenamins is likely nearby. A chain of restaurants in Oregon, McMenamins are always converted from historic or fated-to-be-demolished buildings, ranging from old schools to fire stations to train terminals. For a morning treat, head to Voodoo Doughnut, located near the Burnside Bridge downtown, for some of the world’s most unqiue doughnut creations.

Stay in the heart of it all.

Families centralized in the downtown area will have little use for their car, due to Portland’s efficient and simple-to-navigate public transit system. Both the Hotel Monaco Portland, which caters to kids, and the Embassy Suites Portland, which offers a fantastic free breakfast, lie within Portland’s ‘Fareless Square’, where rides on the MAX lightrail are free. The Hotel Monaco also rents out free bikes to families, so they can explore downtown on wheels. Within the downtown area, families can spend time at Pioneer Square, Portland’s signature shopping and eating mecca, and in the adjacent Pearl District, where antique shops and speciality stores invite families to poke around.

Whether you spend a day or spend a week, you’ll fall in love with Portland. While you’re planning, don’t forget to check out our Fact Sheet and video at Expedia.com. While you’re there, check out the other cities represented: Philadelphia, San Francisco, Denver, New York, Chicago, Boston, Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, Seattle, San Diego, and Minneapolis.

Pit Stops for Kids was compensated to support the Kids in the City summer-travel campaign.

Guide to Portland food carts with kids

May 3, 2012 By Amy Hagstrom

Ever since getting my first taste of food cart eating in Vancouver last June, I’ve sought out food trucks and carts while in cities. I’ve found great food cart fare in Boston and traditional hot dog cart fare in New York City, and given Portland, Oregon’s foodie bent, I wasn’t surprised to find the food cart craze had hit the City of Roses as well.

During an overnight at downtown Portland’s Hotel Monaco this April, we hit the pavement in search of the best food carts in Portland.

Our favorite Portland food cart finds:

A Taste of Greek: Located on SW 2nd and Oak, A Taste of Greek has, in my 12-year-old’s opinion, ‘the best gyros he’s ever had’. My falafel was tasty too. And we fed two people for under $10.

Starchy and Husk: Also on Sw 2nd and Oak (this is food cart mecca), Starchy and Husk has gourmet mac and cheese kids and adults will love, with add-ins like sweet potato and pancetta. Best of all adding a side salad and corn bread is only $1.

Fuego 1: If you crave Mexican fare, you have lots of options (our favorite, Fuego, has three locations alone). The burritos are great here, and you can find lots of vegetarian options. Fuego 1 is located at 6th and Yamhill.

The Honey Pot: For dessert or an afternoon snack, head to The Honey Pot, located at 43rd and Belmont. They serve slices of pie that will please everyone in your group from the artisan foodie to the pickiest kid. Our favorite: The Boyfriend, which is peach pie made from coconut milk. Plus, they sell pre-made pie dough for only $2.50 if you want to bake at home.

How to find Portland food carts:

Walking through the downtown blocks of Portland guarantees running into one or more ‘pods’ of food trucks, but if you want to find that particular cart you’ve been hearing about, we’ve found Food Carts Portland to be most helpful for pre-trip review reading, and the Portland Food Cart Directory most useful on the fly. Food carts group together on downtown parking lots, and a sure bet is the Burnside Bridge area near the Portland Saturday Market. Keep in mind that most food trucks are seasonal, so hit ‘food truck and cart season’ from April through October for the most variety.

Little People, Big World’s Roloff Farms

October 9, 2011 By Amy Hagstrom

If you’re a fan of the TLC program “Little People, Big World”, you’ll want to make a stop off I-5 this fall season to tour Matt Roloff’s very own family travel destination, The Roloff Farms, which he opened to the public earlier this month (to remain open throughout this pumpkin season).

The Roloff Farm consists of a 34-acre farm near Portland, Oregon, and harbors a pirate ship, a three-story tree house with all the trimmings, and an Old West town complete with a sheriff’s office, hotel and post office for kids to enjoy.

Open to the public, “Roloff Farms” will include a number of wagon tours, a pumpkin fun house, a giant hay pyramid, and a petting zoo with exotic animals including a baby tiger and pygmy porcupine. The farm will also be open this month in celebration of Matt Roloff’s 50th birthday.

According to Matt, always brimming with creative ideas, new attractions are being added every week, so visitors are encouraged to visit the Roloff Farms website for updates before arriving.

Distance from the interstate: 20 miles from I-5 and 16 miles from 405.

Admission cost: Access to the pumpkin patch is free, but parking is $2 per car. According to farm operators, parking has been expanded to prevent wait times. Two different tours of the farm are available, and cost $6 each or $10 for both.

Hours of operation: The farm is open Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays from Oct. 1st to October 30th. Hours are 10 am to 6 pm.

Food services: Porter’s Catering will be located at the farm, featuring “Cuisines from Around the World”, in addition to on-site BBQ, fresh cut chili cheese fries, and more!

Directions: From Portland, take Hwy 26 west to Exit 61 (Shute/Helvetia Rd). Turn right (north) onto Helvetia Rd at the exit. Continue for approx 3 miles and follow the signs to Roloff Farms.

Bonus! Fall festivals make for great family photo ops! Learn more (or share your vacation photo tips) at KOA Campfire’s ongoing discussion on photography:

Oregon Museum of Science and Industry

September 14, 2010 By Amy Hagstrom

The Oregon Museum of Science and Industry, or OMSI for short, is both a landmark and beloved institution in Portland, Oregon. Situated right on the bank of the Willamette directly across from the downtown district, OMSI is one of the best places (and arguably the best place) to take kids in the area.

Nate and his friend Jonah get a lesson in the Physics Lab.

With multiple exhibits (including Turbine Hall, Life Hall, Earth Hall, and Science Playground in addition to guest exhibits, an IMAX and a planetarium) for all ages, staffed science labs where kids don safety goggles and roll up their sleeves, stunning displays (the beginning of life display is particularly moving) and fun experiences (try the earthquake house), you can easily spend a day here. There’s also a working submarine to tour, a toddler and preschool area (with changing displays), and an entire hall of brain teasers that kept our grade schoolers busy for over an hour!

Tip: If you’re visiting from anywhere in the Northwest and have a membership at your local children’s museum or science museum, stop by the membership desk prior to paying admission and see if your membership can be applied toward free admission to OMSI. It did in our case! Even if you don’t have your membership card with you, the desk personnel are happy to call your local museum and verify your membership that way.

Nate gets an astronaut’s perspective.

Date last visited: August 2010

Distance off the interstate: Five-ten minutes off either the I-5 or I-405 into downtown Portland.

Hours: Daily 9:30 a.m.â€”7:00 p.m. (until September 6). Fall hours:Â Tuesday-Sunday, 9:30 a.m.â€”5:30 p.m. (starting September 7).

Admission: $12 for adults, $9 for kids. IMAX, planetarium, and submarine are extra costs (see website for pricing). Combo packs are the way to go if you plan to do extra things!

Food Services: Inside the museum is both the OMSI Cafe and Galileo’s. There’s also a sack lunch area.

Website: www.omsi.edu

Directions: From I-5 or the 405, take Naito Parkway (downtown) to the Hawthorne Bridge. Cross the river onto Hawthorne Ave, and turn right onto Water Ave.

Courtyard by Marriott Portland/Beaverton

August 30, 2010 By Amy Hagstrom

Courtyard by Marriott Beaverton

8500 S W Nimbus Drive
Beaverton, Oregon

The Courtyard by Marriott in Beaverton makes for a nice, centralized home base while exploring the Portland area. While we’d normally stay downtown and take advantage of the MAX system, if you plan to visit the suburbs as well as the city center, Beaverton is a good option.

We had a mixed bag of service at this location. Prior to arrival, I was given incorrect information about the type of room we had reserved (I was told a roll-away bed could fit, when in fact it couldn’t). Had I been given the correct information, I would have known to bring extra bedding for one child, or upgraded to a larger room (none were available at check-in). Note: Unless you upgrade to a large suite, families of five cannot beÂ accommodated.

The rooms are on the small side, but clean, and we liked that one of the beds converted into a couch for extra floor space during the day. The indoor pool/hot tub area was large and a great place to spend the morning hours as we waited for the Portland fog to clear. There’s also a nice exercise facility and free wifi both in-room and in their large business center off the lobby.

Date Last Visited: August 2010

Distance from the Interstate: 15 minutes from I-5.

Room Rates: Rates range from $89 to $135, with many online and seasonal deals. Be sure to check what’s available!

Dining Options: The hotel offers a buffet breakfast in their on-site cafe, which regularly charges $10 per person, but is included at no extra cost for most room rates. This is not advertised, however, so be sure to ask at check-in whether your room qualifies. If so, it’s a great deal, with a very good variety of hot and cold breakfast items. If not, I’d walk across the street to the collection of fast food restaurants (including a good bagel place and a Starbucks) instead of paying $10 a person.

Website: http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/pdxcy-courtyard-portland-beaverton/

Directions: From I-5, take the 217 Beaverton/Tigard Hwy. At Exit 4, take ramp and follow signs for SR-210/Scholls Fy. Road. From Scholls Fy, turn left onto SW Hall. Turn left onto Nimbus.

A Pit Stop a Day (Day 1): Portland Spirit River Cruise

June 25, 2010 By Amy Hagstrom

The Portland Spirit leaving downtown Portland.

Tom McCall Waterfront Park
Portland, OR

Our Day 1 route (see map) took us from our home in Southern Oregon four hours north on I-5 to beautiful Portland, where we were fortunate to embark upon the Portland Spirit for a cruise down the Willamette River.

The Portland Spirit is a 150′ yacht with three public decks, two of which are enclosed and climate controlled. We were met at the dock by the skipper (and a photographer), and shown aboard. The kids immediately made their way up the stairs to the top (outdoor) deck to take in the views (and try to climb the rails…we had to implement a safety talk at this point).

Toby and Calvin scope out downtown Portland.

Toby was fascinated by the many steel bridges along the Willamette.

There are several maps of the Spirit’s routes on-board.

The Spirit embarked at 7 pm and cruised south down the Willamette River to Lake Oswego (there are also cruises which will take you down the Columbia Gorge and a jet boat which takes you toward the coast by Astoria). You can eat a gourmet meal aboard the Spirit, or can buy a sightseeing-only ticket; we opted for the latter, and spent the bulk of our time taking in the views on the top deck (although you’re free to explore the entire yacht).

I cannot say enough about the views afforded on this cruise. The scenery was beautiful, and we had fun checking out all the mansions along the banks of the river by Lake Oswego. The many rowing and sailing clubs out on the water kept the kids’ attention, as did the many bridges we cruised under. The entire crew on-board was very friendly and helpful. On the top deck, the First Mate and Skipper were on-hand to let the kids know when the bridges would open up to let us pass and even gave them a turn at the wheel in the bridge.

Uh oh…it’s the Pit Stops crew at the helm!

Hmm…which delicate instrument should I touch first?

A few practical notes for parents: the cruise takes over 2.5 hours. Very young children might get squirmy (although there’s plenty of room to let them walk around and play). If you want to buy additional snacks or drinks aboard, plan accordingly. We spent an extra $20 on drinks for a family of five (a cocktail each for the adults, lemonade for the kids) and $10 for a souvenir photo. There is also a small gift shop on-board.

Extra Tip! Bring sweatshirts (even in summer) if you plan (or your kids plan) to stay outside on the deck. It gets windy, and weather in the Northwest is always unpredictable.

Date last visited: June 2010.

Distance off the interstate: Approximately 10 minutes from I-5. (Be aware of possible rush hour traffic from 5-6 pm!)

Hours: The evening (dinner and/or sightseeing) cruise boards at 6:30 pm and departs at 7 pm, returning to the dock at 9:30 pm.

Admission Prices:

$68 Adults
$63 Seniors and Children
Sightseeing only (no dinner): $28 per person

Food Services: If you’re interested in eating aboard the cruise, you’ll be booking the dinner cruise. If you opt for sightseeing only, the bar is still open to you. You can buy drinks (alcoholic and non-alcoholic) and snacks at any time.

Bathrooms: Located on-board.

Website: Portland Spirit

Directions: The cruise departs from the Salmon Street Springs Fountain in Tom McCall Waterfront Park. From I-5, take exit 299B on the left for I-405 W toward US-26 W/City Center/Beaverton, then take exit 1A on the left toward Naito Pkwy/Japanese-American Plaza. Merge onto SW Harbor Dr. Turn right at SW Naito Pkwy. The park is on the right-hand (river) side of the street, and you want to look for the cross-street of Salmon St. We found a parking garage for only $3 for the night (on a Thursday after 6 pm) in the World Trade Center building directly across from the Salmon Street fountain.

More parking in the area:

Smart Park Garage at SW First/SW Jefferson
Pay lot underneath the Hawthone Bridge, accessible to northbound traffic on Naito Parkway
Pay lot north of the Hawthone Bridge, accessible to southbound traffic on Naito Parkway

As I disclose whenever compensated while reviewing an activity or location, my family and I were hosted on the Portland Spirit at no cost. This compensation came with no expectations or agreements for a positive review.

Up next! We spend the night at Portland’s Hyatt Place!