Discover the best family activities Portland offers during spring break. From OMSI to Forest Park, plan your spring vacation Portland adventure with kids.
The Stay Portland Team
275+ vacation rentals across Portland
# Spring Break Portland: Your Family's Perfect Week
Spring break in Portland hits differently than your typical beach destination. Instead of crowded shores, imagine your kids exploring a submarine at OMSI, riding a heritage railway at the Oregon Zoo, or splashing in a downtown fountain that erupts out of the pavement. Portland's mild spring weather—usually hovering between 50-60°F in late March—makes it perfect for mixing indoor discoveries with outdoor adventures.
Located at 1945 SE Water Avenue, OMSI isn't just any science museum. Your kids can board the USS Blueback submarine (the actual sub used in The Hunt for Red October), experience earthquake simulations, and catch a film in the planetarium or the big-screen theater. The exhibit halls keep families busy for hours, and the cafeteria serves surprisingly good pizza and local kombucha for the adults.
Pro tip: Buy tickets online to skip the spring break lines, and arrive right at opening for the calmest submarine tour experience.
At 1005 W Burnside Street, Powell's sprawls across an entire city block with color-coded rooms that feel like literary neighborhoods. The Rose Room houses the children's and young adult section, where kids can curl up with books in cozy reading nooks. Turn it into a treasure hunt: give each child $10 to find their perfect spring break read.
This 410-acre wonderland holds enough attractions to fill multiple days:
The Pearl District is the easiest neighborhood in the city to do with small children. Start at Jamison Square (810 NW 11th Avenue), where a shallow, tide-like fountain fills and drains across a stone beach—kids will happily lose an hour to it on a warm day. The Portland Streetcar stops right at the park, and the surrounding blocks are flat, wide, and stroller-friendly, with galleries and cafes for the adults between splash sessions.
NE Alberta Street bursts with color from its numerous murals. Make it educational by having kids count the murals between NE 15th and NE 30th Avenues. Stop at Salt & Straw (2035 NE Alberta) for their famous ice cream—the honey lavender and sea salt caramel are kid-approved favorites.
This family-friendly neighborhood offers Oaks Amusement Park (7805 SE Oaks Park Way), Portland's oldest operating amusement park. The vintage carousel, roller rink, and mini golf course provide classic spring break fun without overwhelming crowds. Check the seasonal schedule before you go—hours are limited early in the season.
As one of the largest urban forests in the US, Forest Park offers 80+ miles of trails. For families, try the Lower Macleay Park to Pittock Mansion hike—roughly 2.3 miles uphill each way, with the reward of panoramic city views. Start at NW 30th and Upshur. For a shorter version, turn around at the Stone House ruin about a mile in.
Rent bikes from Everybody's Bike Rentals (4810 NE Garfield Avenue) and cruise the Springwater Corridor. The flat, paved path along the Willamette River stretches for miles with plenty of spots to stop for picnics. OMSI's submarine is visible from the trail—a great preview or follow-up to your museum visit.
This extinct volcano turned park at SE 60th and Salmon offers easier hikes than Forest Park. Kids love discovering it's an actual volcanic cinder cone, and the views from the top showcase Portland's spring beauty with blooming cherry trees and rhododendrons.
Portland's spring weather can surprise you with sudden showers. Keep these indoor options ready:
After full days exploring submarines, counting murals, and hiking to city views, your family needs a comfortable place to recharge. Skip the cramped hotel rooms where kids bounce off walls. A spacious Stay Portland rental gives you separate bedrooms for proper bedtimes, a full kitchen for easy breakfasts before adventures, and living spaces where the whole family can spread out with their Powell's book haul. Many of our properties include game rooms, private yards, and locations within walking distance of Portland's best family neighborhoods—because the best spring break memories happen when you live like a local, not a tourist.
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