Oregon Vacations Travel Guide

General Information

Baby Equipment Rentals - companies in Oregon that rent baby gear and equipment including car seats, strollers, cribs and more

Family Resorts in Oregon - resorts, hotels and other family friendly lodging

Official Oregon Travel Commission - Overview of the seven Oregon regions, resources for planning a trip to Oregon, find places to stay, get the local weather, maps and more.

Oregon Coast Visitors Association - Maps, events, attractions, travel tips and cities along the Oregon coast.

Salem Oregon Convention and Visitors Association - Salem guide to upcoming events, dining, recreation, shopping, accommodations, maps and more.

Zoos

Oregon Coast Aquarium
2820 SE Ferry Slip Rd
Newport, Oregon 97365
Phone: (541) 867-3474
Nearly 200 species of marine mammals, birds, fish and invertebrates.

Oregon Zoo
4001 SW Canyon Rd
Portland, Oregon 97221
Phone: (503) 226-1561
Animals from around the world are at home in this award-winning zoo. Grizzly bears, wolves, musk oxen and snowy owls live in the Alaska Tundra exhibit. Western Oregon native animals are featured in the Cascade Stream and Pond exhibit. Giraffes, zebras and black rhinos inhabit the African Savanna exhibit. Visitors to the African Rain Forest may experience thunder, lightning, rain and fog while viewing crocodiles, monkeys and tropical birds. Visitors enjoy riding on the zoo train's four-mile route between the zoo and Washington Park. Passengers may stop en route at the Japanese Garden and International Rose Test gardens.

Wildlife Safari
6 miles south of Roseburg
Winston, Oregon 97496
Phone: (541) 679-6761
Experience Oregon's only drive-thru park where hundreds of exotic animals from around the world roam free. Discover a photographer's paradise on our 600-acre reserve. Uncaged animals, living much as they would in their natural habitat, are likely to be found anywhere. After your drive, visit the village where you can relax in our expanded White Rhino restaurant, explore the unique Cashbah gift shop, experience the Education Center, visit the petting zoo, ride the train, take a trek on an African elephant (weather permitting) plus enjoy a variety of animal shows, films and exhibits.

National Parks

Fort Clatsop National Memorial
Astoria, Oregon
Phone: (503) 861-2471ext.214
This site celebrates the 1805-06 winter encampment of the 33-member Lewis and Clark Expedition.

Oregon Caves National Monument
Cave Junction, Oregon
Phone: (541) 592-2100
Above ground, the monument encompasses a remnant old-growth coniferous forest. It harbors a fantastic array of plants, and a Douglas-fir tree with the widest known girth in Oregon. Three hiking trails access this forest. Below ground is an active marble cave created by natural forces over hundreds of thousands of years in one of the world's most diverse geologic realms.

Crater Lake National Park
Crater Lake, Oregon
Phone: (541) 594-2211
Crater Lake is widely known for its intense blue color and spectacular views. During summer, visitors may navigate the Rim Drive around the lake, enjoy boat tours on the lake surface, stay in the historic Crater Lake Lodge, camp at Mazama Village, or hike some of the park's various trails including Mt. Scott at 8,929 ft. Diverse interpretive programs enhance visitors' knowledge and appreciation of this national park, 90% of which is managed as wilderness. The winter brings some of the heaviest snowfall in the country, averaging 533 inches per year. Although park facilities mostly close for this snowy season, visitors may view the lake during fair weather, enjoy cross-country skiing, and participate in weekend snowshoe hikes.

John Jay Fossil Beds National Monument
Kimberly, Oregon
Phone: (541) 987-2333
Within the heavily eroded volcanic deposits of the scenic John Day River basin is a well-preserved fossil record of plants and animals. This remarkably complete record spans more than 40 of the 65 million years.

Museums

Working Wonders Children’s Museum
520 SW Powerhouse Drive Suite 624
Bend, Oregon 97702
Phone: 541-389-4500
You can forget about the old, look-but-don't-touch-approach of traditional museums. At Working Wonders kids learn by doing. They immerse themselves in the exhibits and become part of the creative environment. They're free to explore, discover, learn and most of all, play. By harnessing the power of play, Working Wonders provides the hands-on learning experiences that are critical to childhood development. No where else in Central Oregon will you find this type of creative, self-directed learning. It's so much fun; your kids won't even know they're learning!

University of Oregon Museum of Natural History
1224 University of Oregon
Eugene, Oregon 97403
Phone: (541) 346-3024
The Museum is the repository for all anthropological artifacts and specimens found on Oregon state lands, including the 9,000 year old sagebrush sandals popularized as "Oregon's oldest running shoes." Museum exhibitions explore the archaeology and fossil history of Oregon, animals, plants, environmental topics, and traditional human cultures. The museum also sponsors a variety of educational programs, including lecture series, workshops, field trips, events for families and children, guided group tours, and a periodic Identification Day for artifacts and specimens.  The museum's specialty is anthropology -- both archaeological (prehistoric) and ethnographic (more contemporary) subjects.

Fort Rock Homestead Museum
PO Box 84
Fort Rock, OR 97735
Phone: (541) 576.2251
The Fort Rock Valley Historical Society has a great museum about the early 1900s homestead era in Eastern Oregon. A collection of original homes, land office, church, and school buildings are open for self-guided tours. They also have a nice prehistory display of projectile points and ground stone artifacts from the area. Volunteers are available to answer questions. Activities especially for kids: Pump water in a barrel. See how a windmill works. Read patient histories in Dr. Thom's office. Go into a blacksmith shop. Look for rabbits and lizards in the museum grounds. Sit in a chuckwagon.

The Evergreen Aviation Museum
3850 SW Three Mile Lane
McMinnville, Oregon 97128
Phone: (503) 434-4180
"Up-close and personal" encounters with world-famous aircraft; Educational lectures on aviation history and science; Hands-on activities for all ages; Community events and national gatherings; Information and scholarships to help build young aviation careers; A gathering place for family and friends; All of this and more is available when you visit us at our new 121,000 square foot facility in McMinnville, Oregon, featuring the famous Hughes Flying Boat ("Spruce Goose"). The new building located one mile east of McMinnville on Highway 18.

Oregon Museum of Science and Industry
1945 SE Water Avenue
Portland, Oregon 97214
Phone: (503) 797-OMSI (6674) / (800) 955-OMSI (6674)
Five exhibit halls and eight science labs offer 219,000 square feet of brain-powered fun through hundreds of interactive exhibits and hands-on demonstrations. OMSI's multi-attraction complex features a big screen OMNIMAX® Theater, the Northwest's largest planetarium, and the USS Blueback, the last fast-attack, diesel-powered submarine built by the U.S. Navy and after serving for 31 years, the last of its kind to be decommissioned. In addition to enjoying one of the featured exhibits at temporary display at OMSI, you can touch a tornado, uncover a fossil, surf the internet, enter the world of virtual reality, experience an earthquake, or simply experiment on your own in one of our many hands-on labs.

Portland Children's Museum
Across from the Oregon Zoo in Washington Park
4015 SW Canyon Road
Portland, OR 97213
Phone: 503-223-6500
Portland Children's Museum offers exhibits for children of all ages including
the youngest visitors under 1 year of age. Baby's Garden is an exhibit sure to stimulate children from birth to 3 years with an aquarium, water stream, tree slide, and more. Kids will have a blast in Water Works where they can make a splash through water exploration. At the Play It Again Theater, children can perform on a real stage equipped with costumes, lighting, sound, props, and more. Other hands on play include Vroom Room, Dig Pit, Grasshopper Grocery & Butterfly Bistro, The Clay Studio, and The Adventures of Clifford the Big Red Dog exhibits. Children ages 5 years and older can build earth friendly projects at The Garage. Additional exhibits and programs makes this an ideal spot for families looking for a fun, interactive, and educational experience for kids.

A.C. Gilbert's Discovery
116 Marion Street NE
Salem, Oregon 97301
Phone: (503) 371-3631
A.C. Gilbert's Discovery Village provides innovative and stimulating educational experiences which spark children's natural curiosity. The Village's mission is to provoke curiosity, inspire awe, foster enjoyment, encourage learning, and enable understanding in all youth. This is accomplished through fun and challenging exhibits, summer camps, birthday parties, membership opportunities and outreach programs in the sciences, arts, and humanities.

Tillamook Air Museum
6030 Hanger Road
Tillamook, Oregon 97141
Phone: (503) 842-1130
A great collection of all type of aircrafts stored in and out of old gigantic blimp hangers.

Theme Parks, Amusement Parks & Water Parks

The Enchanted Forest
8462 Enchanted Way SE (located 7 miles south of Salem off I-5. Take exit 248, the Sunnyside Turner exit)
Turner, Oregon 97392
Phone: (503) 363-3060 / (503) 371-4242
Visit a world of fantasy where storybook characters come alive in a beautiful forest setting. Explore Fort Fearless and the western town of Tofteville. Meet the spirits of the Haunted House... if you dare. Ride the thrilling Ice Mountain Bobsleds, and the spectacular Big Timber Log Ride with a forty foot plunge and breath-taking splashdown. Go back in time to the Old World Village and experience the dazzling water-light show "Fantasy Fountains." Plus, great kiddie's rides, refreshments, picnicking, gift shops... and much more.

Oaks Amusement Park
S.E. Spokane St
Portland, Oregon
Phone: (503) 233-5777
Thrill seekers rides, family rides, kiddies rides, roller skating, picnicking areas and more.

Family Activities

If you know of a family activity in Oregon, let us know and we will add it here.

Summer - Family Vacation Hot Spots (Beaches, Lakes, etc.)

Astoria, Oregon - Within a 20 mile radius, one can see dozens of exciting attractions including Fort Clatsop National Memorial, Fort Stevens State Park, Fort Astoria, Heritage Center Museum, Flavel House Museum, Uppertown Fire Fighters Museum, Astoria Column, and the Columbia River Maritime Museum, home to one of the nation's finest displays of model ships and nautical artifacts.  A walk to explore the city's waterfront should include stops at the 6th Street Viewing Dock, the 14th Street Riverpark with its interpretive panels of river activity, and the 17th Street Pier where there's a chance to tour visiting ships. Discover the bustling business district with its many unique shops and galleries.  For the kids, there's nothing like a trip to the Uppertown Firefighters Museum at 30th and Marine Drive. It is full of fire fighting memorabilia from 1877 to 1963. The collection includes motorized, hand-pulled and horse-drawn fire engines, as well as a large photographic collection of some of Astoria's spectacular fires.

Brookings Harbor, Oregon - Along with hiking and driving the scenic area of Brookings Harbor, it's Located approximately 6 miles north of the California border on Hwy. 101, Brookings-Harbor is the only spot in the continental U.S. that was bombed by a foreign power (Japan) in World War II. The bomb site is marked by a monument accessed from the Bombsite Trail, located about 10 miles inland from Brookings-Harbor on South Bank Road.

Cannon Beach, Oregon - Nine miles of scenic beaches, relaxing scenic walks, shopping, restaurants and home of the Haystack Rock, at 235 feet high, it's the third largest coastal monolith in the world. It has been designated as a marine and bird sanctuary, and is full of wonders.  Cannon Beach is in the northern part of Oregon and is approximately 10 miles south of Seaside.

Gold Beach, Oregon - water sports on the beaches, golfing, hiking, scenic nature walks & wildlife viewing, camping, great restaurants and much more.  Located approximately 30 miles from Brookings along the southern shore.

Grants Pass, Oregon  (For general visitor information call 800.547.5927) - Grants Pass, considered the whitewater rafting capital of Oregon is also the center of recreational life and adventure activity along the legendary Rogue River. Summer fun for families include such activities as Hellgate Jetboat Excursions, www.hellgate.com and Wildlife Images Rehabilitation and Education Center, www.wildlifeimages.org as well as our historic downtown and large outdoor market area. Enjoy such annual events as the Boatnik celebration during Memorial weekend, which features the famous whitewater hydroplane races, a parade, carnival and numerous sporting tournaments, www.boatnik.com.
Visitors (June through September) are greeted by the larger-than-life, artistically bedecked fiberglass bears that line the streets of downtown during the annual Bearfest. www.bearfest.org.
Art Along the Rogue in October invites professional and amateur artists of all ages to express themselves in chalk street art while area musicians entertain, www.artalongtherogue.com. The winter holidays are made special by the Magical, Musical Christmas fiber-optic panels that are placed throughout downtown, www.magicalmurals.info.

Lincoln City, Oregon - Lincoln City is nestled between 7 miles of sandy beaches and a 680 acre scenic lake on the central Oregon Coast.  There are excellent locations for wave, whale, sunset and storm watching, and the beach is a treasure trove for collecting driftwood, agates, shells and floats. Large rocks emerging from the sea create perfect pockets for tide pooling during low tides, and beach hiking, surfing, windsurfing and fishing challenge adventure seekers. 15 public beach accesses welcome those who wish to indulge!  Located roughly 80 miles southwest of Portland.

Seaside, Oregon - Three miles of powder-soft beach and two miles of manicured, ocean front boardwalk make Seaside a popular tourist town.  You'll find dozens of delightful mini-malls, specialty boutiques, antique shops, art galleries, museums, arcades and cinemas. Ride an elegant steed on the Town Center Carousel and don't forget to visit the famous Seaside Aquarium, where playful seals and spectacular sea life are the highlight of any trip.  Take a casual stroll along the Promenade boardwalk and enjoy the turnaround at Broadway in the heart of Seaside. Broadway has many shops and activities for visitors. Just a few minutes from downtown, the wonders of this magnificent coastal wilderness are waiting to be discovered along many secluded walking and hiking trails.  Seaside is also perfect for swimming, surfing, kite flying, volleyball, golf and tennis.

*** For a complete listing of State parks, activities, small towns and beaches along the Oregon coast, click here.

Bonneville Lock & Dam ( Lake Bonneville) - Boating, fishing, swimming and camping.  Rugged rock walls of the Columbia River Gorge provide fascinating scenery. Also be sure to watch migrating fish from the underwater viewing rooms next to the fish ladders. Two of the nation's largest hydro electric power plants are located here. Located 40 miles east of Portland off I 84.

Crater Lake - Wonderful Scenic view.  If you're in the area this is something you should see.  This crater formed lake is in the center of Crater Lake National Park.  Boat rides and hiking.

Upper Klamath Lake - Fishing, boating, swimming, camping and other recreational activities.  This 35 mile long lake is one of the largest in Oregon featuring Pelican and Howard Bays. The city limits of Klamath Falls lies on the southern shoreline. Hagelstein Recreational Area lies on the eastern shoreline, Agency Lake makes up the northern section. Located in Klamath Falls off Oregon State Route 62.

Ten Mile Lakes - Miles and miles of shoreline, swimming, water sports, picnicking, fishing, boating, and more.  Ten Mile Lake and North Ten Mile Lake are both located off U.S. 101 at Lakeside.

Lake Owyhee - Lake Owyhee is 52 miles long and provides, boating, fishing, swimming, picnicking and camping.  Home of Lake Owyhee State Park Located about 28 miles west of Homedale, Idaho.

Hagg Lake - Fishing, boating, skiing, swimming and picnicking.  Located about 30 minutes west of Portland off Patton Valley Rd just south of Forest Grove.

Zoos, Museums, National Parks listed above.

Winter - Family Vacation Hot Spots (Ski Resorts, etc.)

Mt. Ashland Ski & Snowboard Resort
1745 Hwy 66
Ashland, Oregon 97520
Phone: (541) 482-2SKI
The ski area has 23 trails in addition to chute skiing in a glacial cirque called the 'bowl' and an annual snowfall of over 300 inches.

Anthony Lakes Mountain Resort
47500 Anthony Lake Highway (19 miles west of the North Powder Exit 285 off Interstate 84)
North Powder, Oregon 97867
Phone: (541) 856-3277
300 acres, 21 runs with a skill level breakdown of the following: 20% beginner, 38% intermediate and 42% expert.

Cooper Spur
Cooper Spur Road (approximately 25 miles from Hood River)
Cooper Spur is the perfect place to learn to ski and snowboard, offering convenience, value and challenging runs for everyone learning to ski.  500 vertical feet, longest run is 1,500 feet; 100 acres of terrain perfect for novices to intermediates; 40% novice, 40% intermediate, 20% advanced; Runs served by a T-bar and rope tow; Lighted night skiing on over 90 acres of terrain.

Mt Bachelor Ski Resort
Located 22 miles southwest of Bend on the Cascades Lakes Highway
Phone: (800) 829-2442
A great family ski destination with over 350 inches of annual snow, and a mountain with a wide variety of terrain for every level of skier from beginner to the super advanced.

Summit Ski Area
Highway 26 (54 miles east of Portland)
Government Camp, Oregon
Phone: (503) 272-0256
A safe, family oriented area that is easy to get to, and best of all, extremely affordable. Offering just about everything: Skiing, Snowboarding, Cross-Country, Snow Shoe Rental, Ski School, Rentals, Summer Activities (limited) and more.

Mt. Hood Ski Area
Approximately 25 miles south of Hood River, Oregon
Phone: (503)272-3206
65 day runs, 34 night runs; 960 Skiable Acres including 300+ acres outback with a terrain divided up as follows: 20% beginner, 40% intermediate, 40% advanced.

Timberline Lodge Resort
(On the south side of Mt. Hood at the 6,000 foot elevation, 58 miles east of Portland, Oregon)
Phone: (503) 622-7979 / (503) 222-2211
Timberline offers over 1000 skiable acres with 31 groomed trails. You'll find some of the most scenic terrain in the entire Pacific Northwest, the longest ski season in North America, and 3,590 vertical feet of winter terrain. There are two other ski areas to add to the area's diversity: Ski Bowl, famous for its night lit terrain and Mt. Hood Meadows, which offers a variety of steep as well as ungroomed runs. Timberline also offers, snowboarding, tubing and cross country skiing.  During the summer you can hike, golf, fish, bike, take chair lift rides, scenic walks and much more.

Willamette Pass Resort
Highway 58 (Located at milepost 62, 70 miles East of Eugene, Oregon)
Willamette Pass, Oregon
Phone: (541) 345-SNOW
Alpine skiing, boarding and telemarking to cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, even snow tubing.  There is a family center, ski school and much more.

Zoos, Museums, National Parks, Theme, Amusement and Water Parks and Summer vacation hot spots listed above.

Helpful websites and services

If you know of a website or company that is helpful to families traveling to Oregon, let us know and we will add it here.

Travel Specials & Vacation Packages