Dispel the notion that all of Oregon is wet and rainy. In truth, families can experience nearly any climate and terrain within Oregon’s borders. There are so many fun things to do in Oregon with kids!
Want a beach vacation? Oregon’s got it. Feel like camping in the mountains? Sure! Interested in a cultural city stay, a farm tour, or a desert excursion? There is so much family fun in Oregon waiting for you!
Use this guide to plan your own Oregon family vacation.
The Best Things to Do in Oregon with Kids
Visit 10 Waterfalls in One Day
Located 30 minutes outside Salem, Oregon, Silver Falls State Park is home to the Trail of 10 Falls. This trail loop in the heart of Oregon old-growth forest takes hikers along Silver Creek past—you guessed it—10 waterfalls, four of which are big enough to necessitate the trail winding along the rocky canyon wall behind them.
The trail is over eight miles long, but families can take a shorter loop with young kids. The camping at Silver Falls is excellent, with rustic cabin stays or traditional camping sites available. An advanced camping reservation through Oregon State Parks is advisable for this popular park.
Go Fly a Kite in Lincoln City
In Lincoln City, Oregon’s wide-open beaches and windy conditions make it ideal kite flying climate. In fact, Lincoln City beaches are known for the “sport.” Even if you can’t visit during Lincoln City’s annual summer kite festival, families can pick up their own kites at shops such as Catch the Wind Kite Shop.
Scenic coastal hiking, beachcombing, shopping, and dining will fill the rest of your hours. The Pacific may be too chilly for a swim (no matter the season), but the kids will hardly miss bathing suit weather with so many activities.
Find family-friendly Lincoln City lodging.
Take in Culture at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival
The quaint college town of Ashland, Oregon near Oregon’s California border is known for its theater scene, and recently, its culinary scene.
Experience a Shakespearean stage play at the famous outdoor theater or historic indoor theater during the Oregon Shakespeare Festival season (which runs most months of the year.) Afterward, dine casually (yes, even with kids!) in one of downtown’s many farm-to-table restaurants.
If you have kids too young for the theater, or need something to do between curtain calls, head to Ashland’s ScienceWorks hands-on museum.
Or spend a sun-soaked day in beautifully landscaped Lithia Park. Be sure to try to mineral water in the city’s public drinking fountains…if you can stand the taste, it’s said to be quite healthy!
Search for discounted theater tickets in the fall and spring, and pair your theater experience with a stay at the historic Ashland Springs Hotel, in the heart of downtown.
Fish and Kayak in Oregon’s Sisters Country
A short jaunt from Bend, Oregon, in the heart of the high desert, the area known as Sisters Country is comprised of lodge pole pine forests, high mountain lakes, fish-filled rivers, and volcanic buttes.
Families can spend a lazy weekend fishing and basking in the sun as this section of Oregon gets more sunny days than any other. They can also enjoy a kayak tour or horseback ride.
Kayak tours directed by Wanderlust Tours are the best in the state!
The town of Sisters is one part cowboy town, one part outdoor adventure mecca, and has something for everyone. Book a stay at the peaceful at one of the Metolius cabin vacation homes for a vacation filled with rainbow trout, riverside hikes, and ample room for the kids to play.
Here are more great things to do in Bend, Oregon.
Stare Over the Rim at Crater Lake National Park
It doesn’t matter if you’ve visited Crater Lake National Park a dozen times- every time you look down at the blue water of Crater Lake, it’s like the first time. The view is awe-inspiring, and this geological wonder only continues to amaze the more you learn about it.
Created after the event of the Mt. Mazama volcanic explosion thousands of years ago, Crater Lake is now a wonderful hiking and exploration spot for families. Stay in nearby campgrounds and enjoy a meal at the historic Crater Lake Lodge. A boat tour out to intriguing Wizard Island is a must in summer.
If you’re driving from Medford en route to Crater Lake, stop at Union Creek for a hike along the Upper Rogue and generous piece of pie from Becky’s Café!
Hike to the Umpqua Hot Springs
Not far from Crater Lake National Park you will find the Umpqua Hot Springs. The hike is short- just 0.3 miles- but it is a bit steep. You will be rewarded with seven soaking pools with varying water temperatures between 100°F to 115°F. The higher pools tend to be hotter as the water does cool as it flows down river.
The pools are carved out of the rocky terrain and lined with smooth mineral deposits. They cascade down the hillside, and the views are quite nice, especially in the fall.
The Umpqua Hot Springs Trailhead is located near Toketee Falls, off Highway 138. This waterfall is one of the most picturesque in the state and shouldn’t be missed.
Cozy Up by the Fire at the Historic Timberline Lodge
You don’t have to be skiers to enjoy Mt. Hood’s Timberline Lodge, on-site at the Timberline Ski Resort, although that never hurts. Families come to this luxurious yet rustic lodge for R&R, snow play, and delicious yet kid-friendly dining.
Timberline Lodge offers hiking, wildlife viewing, and wildflower spotting in the summer. Kids who don’t ski can snowshoe in the Mt. Hood Wilderness in the winter. The big lodge breakfast in the dining room is a must: both cozy and filling with a casual atmosphere.
If a lodge stay isn’t for you, motels and home rentals are available in nearby Government Camp, Oregon, which is also a gateway to additional ski resorts, gear outfitters, and sledding sno-parks.
Stay at these Family Friendly Hotels in Oregon
Sleep in a Yurt Along the Oregon Coast
Oregon State Parks was one of the first park systems to welcome camping yurts to its list of accommodations, along with rustic cabins, luxury cabins, and camping sites.
Families can reserve a yurt (a circular one-room building with canvas roof) at a wide selection of Oregon state parks, including our favorite, Sunset Bay.
Staying in a yurt is what we call ‘camping light’: families enjoy heat, electricity, and real beds. Bring your own camp kitchens, however, to cook and eat outdoors.
While not exploring your Oregon coast yurt, check out seaside towns such as Bandon, OR, for excellent crabbing, beachcombing, and a selection of gourmet candy and taffy.
We love to take the coastal trail connecting Sunset Bay to nearby Shore Acres, along with a picnic lunch. Be ready to see seals and seabirds!
Visit the Oregon Coast Aquarium in Newport
Sometimes the weather along the Oregon Coast doesn’t cooperate and you will need something indoors to keep everyone entertained. The Oregon Coast Aquarium does a great job of showcasing the marine life of the Pacific.
They have an underwater walk-through tunnel where visitors can view marine life like sharks, rays, and rockfish swimming overhead. The tunnel simulates three different oceanic environments found off the Oregon coast: the Orford Reef, the Halibut Flats, and the Open Sea.
There are also exhibits with marine mammals such as harbor seals, California sea lions, and sea otters. . There’s also an interactive touch pool where kids can gently touch starfish, sea urchins, and other critters. The aquarium also has one of the largest walk-through seabird aviaries in North America.
Learn About Lewis and Clark in Astoria
Fort Clatsop is part of the Lewis and Clark National Historic Park and a great place to learn about history. This replica fort has several costumed re-enactment programs and ranger-led activities designed to teach guests about what life was like back in the early 1800s. My kids especially loved when the rangers fired off old guns.
Here are more great things to do in Astoria on a family vacation.
Snowboard on Sand Dunes at Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area
The Oregon Dunes stretch for 40 miles along the coast, from Coos Bay to Florence. They are so much fun to explore, especially is you have a snow board or sand board to slide down the towering hills of sand. If you don’t have your own, you can rent a sandboard in Florence.
The largest of these dunes are about 10 miles south of Reedsport near the town of Lakeside in Eel Creek Campground. There are picnic tables and restrooms here, so be sure to pack a lunch. You can hike through the dunes until you reach the sea.
Read our full guide to Oregon National Parks.
Head Underground at Oregon Caves National Monument
In between Medford and the coast in Southern Oregon lies Oregon Caves National Monument, which have been a protected monument for over 100 years.
There are several different cave tour options, the most popular being the Discovery Cave Tour. The tour is 90 minutes, and the cave temperature is approximately 45 degrees, so dress warmly- even in summer!
Trekaroo tip: Kids must be 42″ to take the tour. Be sure to grab a Junior Ranger booklet before your tour so your kids can earn a badge.
Go on an Animal Safari in the Pacific Northwest
Wildlife Safari, in Winston, is a drive-through animal park spanning over 600 acres and home to over 600 animals including giraffes, rhinos, zebras, lions, and cheetahs. The drive-through route is 4.5 miles and allows you to see a variety of animals from your car and without a cage in between.
They also have a petting zoo, reptile house, keeper talks, and animal shows. This facility is world-renowned for its cheetah breeding and they have experiences where you can take photos with cheetahs and meet them up close. They also have a variety of behind-the-scenes animal feedings and wildlife encounters.
Peruse Portland’s Sunday Market
Portland is a city in love with the outdoors. Everywhere you go, you’ll see people walking, biking, rowing, and hiking. Every Saturday, rain or shine, the city population congregates under the Burnside Bridge for the Portland Saturday Market.
Families will be entertained by street performers, awed by magicians, and fed by food trucks while perusing the many home-baked and homemade wares.
Afterward, stop by nearby Voodoo Doughnuts for one of their unique selections, or pick from this list of fun and cheap eats in Portland.
Later, head up to Powell’s City of Books, where you can fill a long, rainy afternoon finding your favorite (or new) titles. If you find yourself with a sunny afternoon, head to the family-friendly Oregon Zoo or walk through the Pearl District.
Not sure where to stay in Portland? We can help you out.
Sample Cheese and Ice Cream at the Tillamook Creamery
One of the most famous brands for ice cream and cheese on the West Coast is Tillamook. Their Creamery has been producing dairy products since 1909 and is open for daily tours.
Self-guided tours are free and allow you to look down on the creamery floor and see the entire cheese-making process in action. There are plenty of interactive exhibits alongh the way, including a mechanical cow the kids can “milk”.
Of course the best part of a visit to the Tillamook Creamery is tasting their products. Visitors can sample a variety of cheeses like cheddar, Colby Jack, and pepper jack, as well as 30 different varieties of ice cream.
Explore the Columbia River Gorge
Alive with history, industry, and greenery, the Columbia River Gorge is a short drive from Portland and yet a world away. Start with an easy hike on paved walkways to the bridge overlooking Multnomah Falls . There are several waterfalls in the area worth exploring.
Then continue on to the Bonneville Dam Fish Ladder in Cascade Locks, Oregon. Kids can see salmon migrating up-river in season, viewed from underground (or underwater) windows showcasing the Columbia River, and feed fish in the fish farms.
Ambitious families can hike into the temperate rain forest spanning the Oregon side of the Columbia. Start at one of many highway-side trail heads. Make time to head all the way to Hood River to watch the windsurfers on the water.
Go Whitewater Rafting on the Deschutes River
Oregon is known for its wild side with both wildlife and rugged outdoors. Nowhere is this more prevalent than in the outdoor adventure town of Bend. From Bend, families can book excursions on the whitewater-tipped Deschutes River.
Want more family fun in Bend? Here are 23 great things to do in Bend with kids.
With tours for all ages of kids, from family floats to full on rapids, Sun Country Tours will show you a good time, no matter what your speed.
Once you dry off, head to Lava Lands National Monument to learn more about the area’s volcanic history, or the High Desert Museum to see falcons, river otters, and replicas of Oregon Trail pioneer wagons.
Another fun trip nearby is to the Oregon Painted Hills at John Day Fossil Beds National Monument. They are considered one of the Seven Wonders of Oregon.
Thank you to Amy Hagstrom who wrote the original version of this article.
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