Banks-Vernonia State Trail In 2014, Bicycling Magazine names Portland as one of the top bike-friendly cities in America. Portlandian parents are raising their children as fellow bikers, but young ones riding on busy streets is dangerous and biking around the cul-de-sac only stays entertaining for so long. Lucky for us parents, the Banks-Vernonia State Trail offers miles of paved, motor vehicle free bike paths. In the early 90’s, Oregon State Parks turned 21 miles of an old railroad line into a biking, hiking, and equestrian trail.  Serious bikers can spend a day biking the 42 mile round trip ride. For a family half-day adventure, Keep Reading

Oaks Park Preschool Skate (SE Portland) While Oaks Park amusement park is only open in the summer, the roller rink is open year round. The rink hosts various skating sessions, but the session that best fits our lifestyle these days is the Preschool Skate on Tuesday and Wednesday mornings during the school year (starts October 1st for the 2019/2020 season). The session is geared for folks 6 and under (and accompanying adults). It currently costs $7.50 a child. This includes skate rental and a snack and adult admission is free. It does also say that older siblings (aged 6+) can attend with a younger sibling, although admission price will Keep Reading

Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge (Tualatin) Got little walkers? Got a need for hiking in the glorious Pacific Northwest while it’s raining? I most definitely have the place for you! After a rather grumpy, drizzly summer morning, kvetching from both me and the munchkins (“Can we move to Hawaii yet?”) pushed my darling hubby over the edge, who said, “Get in the van.” He discovered Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge a few months earlier, having noted that one of its trails is open all year long;  outdoor freedom! TRVNW is between Tigard and Sherwood on 99W, easy access from I-5 or OR-217 (I have a pathological aversion to 99W, Keep Reading

Commonwealth Lake Park (Beaverton) Commonweath Lake Park is a small gem (20 acres) in the Cedar Hills area of Beaverton that packs a big punch. Seemingly hidden in the midst of a housing development, it’s off Butner Road with access from Foothills Drive and Huntington Avenue. First, the lake. It’s man-made and cute as a button! Swimming?  No way! Too many water fowl. Fishing? In Beaverton? Why yes!  Tualatin Hills Parks and Recreation District stocks the lake with trout, although in speaking with one fisherman you can also catch perch there. Trout must be a minimum of eight inches long or be released with a park limit of five trout per Keep Reading