The Experience: This gorgeous hike takes you through old-growth forest and along the middle section of the Salmon River, where kids can float sticks, skip stones and dip their toes. And because there’s almost no elevation gain, even younger trekkers can enjoy the walk. More…

The Experience: If your kids are tired of the neighborhood swimming pool and would like an end of summer adventure that’s close to home, take a drive to Kelley Point Park. The sprawling public park is located at the very tip of Marine Drive, at the confluence of the Willamette and the Columbia Rivers. More…

The Experience: My son and I were just finishing up a hike at Latourell Falls in the Gorge the other day when he spotted a rock wall that looked perfect for climbing.

Perfect to him means terrifying to me. I let him scamper up about four feet before I called him back down.

“I don’t think that’s such a good idea,” I said, trying to sound calm while scanning the vertical wall above me.

Thanks goodness for The Circuit Bouldering Gym in Southwest Portland, where Sam can clamber to his heart’s content, and I can breathe easy. More…

The Experience: Our city looks more beautiful than ever from the height of the Portland Tram. I was fortunate to ride the tram with my son and his friend on a recent sunny afternoon, and the views of downtown, the east side, and the distant mountains were crystal clear. More…

The Experience: Travel back to a simpler time every Thursday night throughout the summer at Kruger’s Farm Market on Sauvie Island. Gather with other families to listen to live music and share picnics from home or buy corn on the cob from local vendors, while the kids dance on the green, green lawn and run free in the fields. More…

The Experience: The first thing you need to know about Bishop’s Close, a privately owned garden in southwest Portland, it that it does not have public restrooms. The second thing is that it’s really designed as a place for quiet comtemplation, not for rambunctious children.

Those two caveats being noted, Bishop’s Close can be a wonderful place to take kids for a short stroll, provided they use the toilet before you go and they can stick to a path without running and shouting. More…