Vacation: The Pacific Northwest
Photo from our Spring Break trip to San Diego
We have another family vacation on the horizon! At this stage in our life, we are choosing to financially prioritize traveling with our family. We find that traveling together removes us from the day-to-day stresses and immerses us in each other’s company and offers us new experiences and adventure.
Do you have any recommendations for Portland or Seattle? (Megan, I hope we can finally hang out together!)
This post has an amazing (and overwhelming) amount of Portland advice, and I enjoyed this post about going to Seattle with family. Here’s our tentative plan:
Sunday
- Arrive really late at night (this will be our first flight with Tate needing his own seat!)
Monday: Seattle
- Boat adventure in the morning
- University of Washington in the afternoon and maybe Trophy Cupcakes
Tuesday: Seattle
- Museum of Flight
- ? in the afternoon
Wednesday: Seattle
- ? in the morning
- Drive to Portland in the afternoon
Thursday: Portland
- Slappy Cakes for breakfast
- Bike ride in the morning
- Hiking in the afternoon
- Powell’s Bookstore in the afternoon
Friday: Portland
- Breakfast
- Westmoreland Park
- Drive to Seattle to catch our flight
9 Comments
Phae Feaga
The OMSI (I think? Oregon museum of science and Industry?) was awesome, and it's right on the river bike trail so depending where you are staying, you can do a very lovely bike ride to it.
You have to go to Pike Place market in Seattle, the boys will get a kick out of the fish throwing!
BatGirl
I want to second OMSI. We took our 2 year old this summer when we visited Portland. It was stunning. She loved it, we could have been there all day. Hands down the best science museum I've ever been too.
Sarah Kopper
Pine State Biscuits in Portland. The biscuits + mushroom gravy is SO GOOD.
Also, I recommend not spending all your time in the cities. So many beautiful hikes, beaches, waterfalls, etc. Fall in the PNW is perfection!
Chelsey
The science museum in Seattle is amazing. I remember there being a lot of fun things for kids of all ages.
Angela Mae
Seattle: Seattle Center is great to walk around, you've got the Pacific Science Center, the Seattle Children's Museum, the Space Needle, Experience Music Project, Chihuly Garden and Glass, AND a large artist-designed playground.
If you're wandering the University of WA be sure to check out the Burke Museum (rad exhibits for all ages and a nice touchable area for kids), and the Henry Art Gallery. Also, the Henry is "free" (suggested donation entry).
Naturally there is the Pike Place Market – so much to see, smell, hear, and taste.
If the weather is good Alki Beach front on Puget Sound has gentle tide and a variety of decent eateries; also in West Seattle are a few forest spots that make for easy access trails (Lincoln Park has easy trails, a decent playground, water access).
Both Seattle and Portland have PlayDate locations (PlayDate SEA and PDX respectively): indoor fun centers that charge a low entry for kids, free for adults, decent food and bev (including beer and wine).
The red trycycle website is another solid resource for finding events during the time of your trip. And if you like the stylings of Casper Babypants he has some upcoming live (free!) shows: http://www.babypantsmusic.com/shows
You guys are going to have a blast!
Kerstin
Portland: I recommend taking the city bus from Pioneer Square to the top of Marquam Hill where the OHSU hospital is. Then take the aerial tram down to the South Waterfront. Rent a family pedal bike and bike along the esplanade back into downtown. The tram is free downhill and runs every day (except after sept 13 it won't run on Sunday's anymore until next summer). – Kerstin
Mariah Chadukiewicz
Definitely look into the Seattle CityPass. 70$ for 5 attractions. This includes the space needle, a harbor tour, and a few other things but there are options. The EMP museum is really cool if you are at all into music or pop-culture. The harbor tour is a nice way to see the city, and for me in August it was a great way to beat the heat for a little while. The park in Seattle city center is really great too. Musical swings and playground equipment!
Portland, just try to check out some of the cool restaurants. If you can get a kid free night, check out some of the bars too, they are great. Circa 33 is really cool. Salt & Straw Ice cream is totally worth the wait, but if you get there at the right time its not too bad of a line. Try as many flavors as you like!
Enjoy!
Lauren
I just got back from the PNW! If you had more time I would say to add in a trip to the San Juan Islands – especially a whale watching tour – because the isles are a beautiful area where you can explore, feel like you are in a different country, and have no concerns about safety / need for passports. Also – you have to take a ferry there and that is such a fun experience! 🙂 I would highly recommend you make a trip to Orcas Island once with the kids – if not this time then maybe another – it's a very art centered island and I liked it better than San Juan Island (but we don't have kids so your take may be different).
CarMar
Not sure what your boat adventure is, but I always recommend to visitors to take the Bainbridge Ferry from Seattle. You can hop on and ride back. Great views of the city and cool for little kids to check out a big boat! There is also lots to do and see at Pike Place for adults and kids! Seattle also has some great parks – Discovery Park to the northwest of downtown is huge and has a hike out to a lighthouse.