PDXBloss's Passport
 | Been to 103 Attractions |
 | 91 Reviews |
 | 77 First to Review |
 | 84 Photos |
 | 86 Helpful Votes |
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Send a ComplimentOur Family's Travel Personality
adventurous, curious, quiet, relaxed, simple, independent, energetic, spontaneous, easy_going, scheduled
We Just Got Back From
The San Juans and Desolation Sound
Our Favorite Vacation Spot
New Zealand, but we did it as a couple. It would be great with older kids and we can't wait to take our son one day.
A Place We'd Love To Visit
Off to Whistler, BC in Dec/Jan! Can't wait to take our guy skiing for the first time!
Worst Travel Moment With My Kids:
Traveling to the coast for my birthday, and our guy having hand-foot-mouth disease and we didn't know it. He was screaming nearly the whole time and was having such a hard time eating and sleeping.
Websites I Like:
Favorite places to walk or hike in Oregon
A few of the places we have been to go for a walk or hike with our little guy.
11321 SW Terwilliger Blvd
Portland, Oregon
Comment:
A favorite hiking area for us (and lots of other locals!).
reviewed on: March 24 2009
"Great hiking in the city!"
Tryon Creek State Park is a go-to for us, especially since we are so close to it. The park is a heavily wooded area, with trails that are really well maintained. There are both hiking trails and trails for horses (you will see riders on occasion, and I believe the bikers have to stick to those trails also to keep everyone safe). Hikers can also go on those trails, just be wary (and I would avoid taking the kids in case you have to make quick movements).There is an interpretive center where they hold different lessons (you can find out what is happening on the website I have listed in 'more information'). They will bring animals out for the kids to learn about and teach them about forests. There are all sorts of different trails throughout the park, and I would classify most as easy with a couple of moderate trails. We did a hike there with our playgroup and we had 3-year old twins with us, that thought our hike got a little long (we should have taken one of the shorter routes for them).
Great place to go over and over! One quick note: not really hugely stroller-friendly...some trails are, most are not. If you have a kid-pack, you will be better off.
4000 SW Fairview Blvd
Portland, Oregon
Comment:
Another favorite and near the zoo. It is beautiful here.
reviewed on: March 19 2009
"A great nature walk in the big city"
The Hoyt Arboretum trail system is one of our family's favorites when we don't have time to drive to another hike outside of Portland (or between rain showers!). It is a beautiful little piece of Washington Park and the greater Forest Park. You feel like you are off an away, not in the city. There are all sorts of different trees and you walk through different types of gardens. Certain spots can be slightly hillier than other, but all in all I would call it an easy hike.There is a great grassy area where people enjoy the sunshine or have pinics (no tables, so bring a blanket if you wish). They do have a structure across Fairview with a couple of tables, but during the summer you will see camps with lots of kids hanging out there. The area is really enjoyable.
There are bathrooms and trail maps at the Visitors Center and there is also a volunteer who can tell you all about things. Most of the trails are wheelchair/stroller ready (there are occasional steps that will be called out on the trail maps.
SW 18th Place
Portland, Oregon
Comment:
We walk here a lot and you feel like you are in the woods despite being near the city.
reviewed on: April 11 2009
"A favorite place for us"
This park is a real gem in Portland. Even though it is close to the city, you feel miles away. A gentle creek runs through the park, and we have seen smaller salmon making their way up and down the creek. There are great hiking trails that are well maintained (although if you have a really little one you will want to keep a close eye on them during parts of the trail that are up on the cliff...very long drop, but nice view). There is also a modest play area with swings and a slide. It is really quiet and beautiful!
Summit Avenue
Eugene, Oregon
Comment:
We walked here last weekend. Our guy made the whole walk himself from grandmas house up through the park and home (about a mile and half...he is 19 months). He enjoyed the flowers that were starting to bloom and watching the squirels run around.
reviewed on: March 19 2009
"Great for a short walk, near the University"
I grew up at the base of the park and this has always been a favorite. In the late spring the whole park bursts into color as the Rhododendrons bloom. It is a really beautiful ornamental park. You can also see deer and other 'wild life' while on your walk. There is a structure there with picnic tables to eat at (the original structure was built during the Depression as a public works project, but was crushed by falling trees in a wind storm about 10 years ago and has been rebuilt). There is an open play area with 2 swings and more tables to relax at and bathrooms. There are also bike/running trails on the other side of the park.
NW 29th Ave & Upshur St
Portland, Oregon
Comment:
Beautiful park of Portland and of Forest Park
reviewed on: April 30 2009
"A great hike minutes from downtown!"
You feel like you are a world away here. The Balch Creek Trail is part of the Forest Park trail system and is really lovely. For the littlest kids, it might be a bit long of a walk, but slightly older kids should have no problem.From the parking lot, there is a reasonably steep hill to walk down (and you will have to walk back up at the end). After that, the hills don't seem that bad and you can choose how long you want to walk. I enjoy a 3+ mile round trip that takes you through the 'park', through a beautiful NW Portland neighborhood, under one of our many bridges, and then back up along Balch Creek (the route can be found in William Sullivan's '100 Hikes in Northwest Oregon & Southern Washington'...hands down, these are the best hiking guides for Oregon). You will walk along Balch Creek, which a tributary to the Willamette River and is home to cutt-throat trout and a huge variety of birds. Not to mention a beautiful forest.
We first did this hike while I was pregnant and directly after my husband had hip surgery. We did it very slowly, but we enjoyed it. There were lots of families (folks of all ages) and the kids seemed to be enjoying themselves. Since, we have done it with our guy in a backpack.
There are some hills, and no bathrooms (I seem to remember the ones at the trailhead being locked also...they may open at certain times of year though). The parking lot is a little small, but we have never had any trouble finding a place to park.
The trailhead is a short walk from The Audubon Society of Portland (in fact it is the driveway directly before the ASP), so you can hike and then go look at birds. Makes for a really nice afternoon!
Check out the attached websites for more details and photos of the area. It is really beautiful.
SE 7th Ave & Sellwood Blvd
Portland, Oregon
Comment:
Great for some bird watching and it is paved, so you don't have to worry about mud after a rain.
reviewed on: April 11 2009
"Beautiful birds!"
This is a little jewel in Portland. Living here for 10 years, I had no idea it existed until I came across it in one of my hiking books. It is an urban walk just off the 40-mile loop along the river, and is really near Oaks Park (Portland's Amusement park). The refuge is in a wetland where migratory birds stop and it is pretty cool to see how many different birds you can see. One of our favorites the day we were there were these amazing, majestic Blue Herons. Our guy was pretty little, but liked pointing out the things he saw. As he gets older, we will go back and try to figure out together which birds are which. This is going to be a favorite place I think.Another bonus is it is in the Sellwood Neighborhood, so you can go watch birds and then walk to a nice lunch or coffee. It was great!
Naito Pkwy between SW Harrison St & NW Glisan St
Portland, Oregon
Comment:
Another nice paved walk.
reviewed on: April 11 2009
"A great walk or spot to hang out"
The Waterfront Park in Portland is a popular spot. It is one of the highlights for visitors of Portland as you can walk along the Willamette River and watch boats and birds and people and count the bridges. The park itself hosts the Salmon Street fountain (a favorite for Portlanders to play in when the weather gets above 65 degrees!), Tom McCall Park, is right across the street from the world's smallest park (Mill's End Park), and is a part of the 40-mile Tom McCall Loop that goes up and down both sides of the river. The park also hosts lots of events throughout the year, including the Rose Festival. During Fleet Week, it is really fun to walk along the Waterfront and look at all of the different ships that have come in for the event.
15655 SW MILLIKAN WAY
Beaverton, Oregon
Comment:
Another bit of nature.
reviewed on: April 13 2009
"Nice walking/running trails in nature"
I worked in the area and used to go for walks at lunch time here with friends. After having my little one we still get together with friends for walk. Many of the trails are wheelchair/stroller ready so if you little one isn't able to walk for a long distance, you are covered. They also have 'off-road' trails to explore as well. There is a center for kids to go in and learn about nature. We haven't been in there yet, so I can't really speak to it.
During the week/day time, the place is really safe as there are lots of people walking or running (especially on sunny days!). As it gets later, there can be some folks that you might want to avoid or at the very least have a buddy with you (and take your cell phone).
SW Foothill Drive & SW Dellwood Ave.
Beaverton, Oregon
Comment:
A nice park with a nice little walk (and it is paved also).
reviewed on: April 13 2009
"Great park with fishing!"
We went to this park with our playgroup, and it is such a neat space. The park surrounds a small lake with paved trails that go all around it. The lake is in a neighborhood, so you don't hear traffic and it is really peaceful. You will get to see Canadian Geese that have decided to hang out here (they are all over Oregon at this point). The lake is really a neat draw too, with a deck area that take you out to the eage and you will see folks fishing here. There is a small playstructure as well for the kids and lots of open space to run and play. There is lots of grass to sit on for picnics or to relax and plenty of shade under the big trees. Makes for a nice afternoon.
