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

Philip Foster Farm and Barton Park (Eagle Creek/Barton) Although I grew up not far from where the Oregon Trail once wound along the Clackamas River to its end in Oregon City, it wasn’t until I accompanied my kids on a school field trip that I discovered that historic Philip Foster Farm, located in Eagle Creek, is well worth the admission ($20/car or $5/person). Open May through October, this is a great spot for kids to connect with Oregon history. What makes this historical park extra special is how hands-on they let kids be. Instead of watching a laundry demonstration, my kids got to scrub clothes on a real washboard and run them through the Keep Reading

Ready to discover (or re-discover) Portland? From the coast to the Gorge, from Clark County to Salem, The Ultimate Guide to Portland Family Fun will allow you to experience the awesomeness this area has to offer, all from Frugal Living NW readers! Go here for links to all posts! A Day in Vancouver, Washington Looking for something fun to fill your day?  There are so many great things to do in Vancouver, I had to whittle this list down to our core favorites – and it was not easy! Vancouver Farmers Market, located on the west side of Esther Short Park in Vancouver, WA – The 2019 schedule runs from March 16-Oct 27. (Two different locations Keep Reading

A Day in Salem, Oregon  Since having kids, I have come to appreciate the Salem area more than ever. It is incredibly family friendly and if money is tight and a full fledged vacation is out of the picture, Salem would be the perfect location for a “staycation.” Here is a list of just a few of our favorite destinations in Salem. Pre-Outing Coffee Stop: Broadway Coffeehouse Broadway Coffeehouse is our favorite locally owned coffee house. Here coffee is an art, but they are not pretentious about it. Bring the family along and find the perfect spot to sit down somewhere within their spacious building. They serve Stumptown coffee and Keep Reading

Ready to discover (or re-discover) Portland? From the coast to the Gorge, from Clark County to Salem, The Ultimate Guide to Portland Family Fun will allow you to experience the awesomeness this area has to offer, all from Frugal Living NW readers! Go here for links to all posts. Welcome to Battle Ground, Washington!  The city’s unusual name comes from an anticipated battle between U.S. soldiers and Native Americans who lived near the fort—but the battle never occurred.  Weird, huh?  Battle Ground is a little bit north of Vancouver and Portland, and it’s easy to find from I-5 (just about an hour from Portland and 30 minutes from Vancouver).  There Keep Reading

Wunderland Nickel Arcade and Cinema (Portland Metro) Too hot, too cold, too wet outside? Then head for your local Wunderland Nickel Arcade and Cinemas, where the temperature and the prices are just right. This post is specifically reviewing the Milwaukie location, but there are several other Wunderlands throughout the Portland Metro area. Located just off Highway 99 in Milwaukie, Oregon, this old theater is easy to find, has ample free street parking and caters to families. Once a three-plex, the largest auditorium was converted several years ago to a surprisingly roomy nickel arcade that feels like a mini Las Vegas for kids. There is a Keep Reading

Wildwood Recreational Site (Mt. Hood) Whenever we start to get an urge to explore the wilderness with our young twins, Wildwood Recreation Site on Mt. Hood is near the top of our list. We discovered it about three years ago and we find new things to enjoy each time we take the trip. The Cascade Streamwatch and Wetland Boardwalk Trails are well worth the trip and there are plenty of other attractions there, too. Just 16 miles east of Sandy on Highway 26 lies the town of Welches. A crossroads to people heading to Government Camp or higher, Welches is home to Wildwood Recreation Site. We usually stop at the Thriftway just a mile past the park Keep Reading