Although it's hard to believe, the holiday season is about to begin! All around the country, communities are kicking off their celebrations, and I am excited to announce the launch of holiday city mini-guides to help your family find fun and festive activities.
I'm excited to turn this post over to our local Portland expert, Erin. Enjoy!
Hi everyone! I'm Erin, Mom to Elliott (3) and Walt (1).
Portland is such a gem. Nestled along the Willamette River, adjacent to the Columbia River Gorge, the Willamette Valley, and a stone’s throw away from the pristine wilderness of Mt. Hood and the scenic expanses of the Oregon Coast, it is a nature-lover’s dream. Admittedly, I have not always been at “one” with nature, but upon relocating to the Rose City I have come to embrace all sorts of outdoor pursuits I never before imagined. We are able to get out and hike year round - my favorite time of year to hike around the city is January and February - and you can be on the slopes and the beach in the same day (although with kiddos you might spread it out a bit more).
There are so many things to do in Portland around the holidays, but I thought I’d share what we plan to do this year. Last year we didn’t get to enjoy as much as we hoped since our youngest was born in mid-November. We are excited to do a bit more this year!
Cutting Down a Christmas Tree
This may sound like a very un-green way to start the holiday season, but the Christmas tree industry in Oregon is alive and well. Christmas tree farms are highly sustainable, and due to our extended rainy season often only take 5-7 years to grow saplings to full Christmas tree height. There are any number of wonderful farms: Baggenstos and Sleighbells always rank high on lists of popularity. But we love to go to Helvetia Tree Farm Once we’ve located the perfect Noble Fir we head back to get warm by the fire pit and roast marshmallows (free, but you can purchase a s’mores kit for not much more) and cocoa while our tree is prepared for the drive home. Inside is a sweet gift shop and an electric train room, the highlight of the visit for our three year old! And there are always animals to visit with as well - last year there were cows and pigs that made us all giggle. And of course, Santa makes an appearance and there is even a snow machine to mimic the real thing!
The Nutcracker and Christmas Tea at the Heathman
Admittedly, I don’t know how this is going to go with my three-year-old. But as he’s gotten older we’ve tried some children’s theater and some community theater productions and he’s done pretty well and enjoys the sets and music as well as the general spectacle of performance art. The Oregon Ballet Theater asks that patrons keep younger children at home, but what could be more classic holiday season fare than a viewing of The Nutcracker? Afterward we plan to go to The Heathman for Christmas Tea It is a true high tea service, but they offer a Peter Rabbit tea for little ones that includes hot cocoa, ants on a log, and snickerdoodles. I’m really excited for this outing - cross your fingers for me!
Taking in the Lights
Viewing Christmas lights is as big a part of Christmas as carols and cookies in our house. Last Christmas I spent many evenings driving my (then) two year old and 3 week old around looking at lights and crossing my fingers that one of them would fall asleep. This Christmas I plan to get them a little closer to the action! One of my favorite traditions is going to Zoolights It seems that many zoos across the country have adopted this idea of stringing hundreds of thousands of tiny twinkle lights around exhibits and inviting patrons for an evening of oohs and ahhs. In the past we’ve found the crowds a bit more manageable earlier in the evening on weeknights and after New Years’ Day. The Oregon Zoo puts on a great show and we’re excited to bring the boys again this year. We are also excited to visit Peacock Lane to see the houses decorated to the nines. This street sits just south of Laurelhurst and is a small stretch of road lined with historic tudor style homes that have been carefully iced and trimmed with lights year after year. We have never made it and are so excited to see them this year!
Holiday Train Ride
What could be more Christmassy than a train ride to the North Pole? But who has the time? We plan to take the boys on a fun, festive train ride this year and have decided on the Holiday Express which leaves from the Oaks Park Station in SE Portland and travels through Oaks Bottom Wildlife Refuge. The beautiful, classic trains are decorated for the holidays and if you catch one of the trains at dusk you’ll get to see the trains decorated with Christmas lights. And of course, the jolly old elf himself makes an appearance aboard the train! If you’re in the mood for something a bit more immersive, the drive to Hood River to ride the Polar Express is well worth it. The train leaves from Hood River and travels up the mountain into the snow to the “North Pole” where Santa boards the train and visits with every family. I have heard that the pricier seats in the sky dome car are well worth the extra expense.
New Year’s Eve at the Children’s Museum
My kids can’t stay up until midnight. They are a mess by 9:00 and past that it’s every man for himself. So I love that the Children’s Museum celebrates New Year’s Eve all day long on December 31st! Starting at noon there is a countdown to “midnight” every 30 minutes or so, and the kids get to celebrate over and over with hand made noisemakers from the craft studio and music. It’s a great event but very popular, so plan to arrive early if you want to avoid lines!