The Experience: A world of knights and princesses awaits at the Children’s Museum in the form of the new Lego Castle Adventure that opened this month and runs through January 22.

Lego fans of all ages will find plenty to play with and ogle – from detailed replicas of European castles to life-sized dragons and knights, to a catapult you can use against a simulated castle wall. More…

The Experience: The Portland Art Museum’s summer headline show, The Allure of the Automobile, lives up to its name with stunning cars (when you see them you’ll understand why they’re considered art) that are much more interesting than those high-end vintage vehicles you may be used to. It’s truly a must-see for adults and older kids. Lively placards with period photographs describe the car and its historical context, and you can rent an audio tour for $5 or download it for free on your iPhone. More…

The Experience: The Oregon History Museum’s “Oregon, My Oregon” captures our state’s past in dynamic detail. The permanent exhibit, which occupies a whole floor of the building, covers the period before whites arrived up to the present. More…

The Experience: My first rule when I take my kids to museums is “keep it short”. I want them to leave on high note, with at least a few strong impressions of what they’ve seen, rather than walking out whining, pouting and hungry – and hating even the mention of the “m” word.

This makes it difficult to take in all that the newest exhibit at PAM has to offer. More…

The Experience: Kids can become immersed in the daily lives of the pyramid builders in this fascinating new exhibit at OMSI. With hands-on activities, artifacts, and explanatory videos at various levels of complexity, Lost Egypt will entertain and educate everyone from about age four on up. More…

The Experience: Sam’s head was sweating and his eyes were on fire as he approached me from the other side of the large exhibit hall.

“Where have you been?” I asked above the noise from the various machines surrounding us.

“I was figuring out the gear ratios on the bikes over there,” Sam said.

Sometimes we go to museums, and my kids just wander from booth to booth, not knowing how to engage with the subject at hand. Not so with the latest exhibit at OMSI, which opens this weekend. Every part of the exhibit is highly interactive, involving kids’ hands and minds to investigate problems and devise solutions. More…

The Experience: The folks who designed and manage the Portland Children’s Museum must truly be kids at heart, because they’ve succeeded in creating a space that captures nearly every child’s imagination. Each room and hall and nook and cranny is filled with activities to delight and entertain kids of all ages, from infants to older elementary school kids. More…

3995 Brooklake Rd. N.E.
Home to 15 Heritage Power Equipment Museums featuring vintage trucks, tractors, cars, motorcycles and more. Open Wed-Sun, 9 am-5 pm
3995 Brooklake Rd. N.E., Brooks (40 miles S of Portland); 503-393-2424; antiquepowerland.com

Theatrical presentations, exhibits and hands-on 19th century activities.
1726 Washington St., Oregon City; 503-657-9336; www.endoftheoregontrail.org.

Home of the famed Spruce Goose, Evergreen now houses two museums, one devoted to aviation and the other to space exhibits, including the Willamette Meteorite.

500 NE Capt. Michael King Smith Way (Hwy. 18), McMinnville; 503-434-4180; www.sprucegoose.org.

This newly-opened “museum” educates visitors on the root causes of poverty and offers a hands-on experience on what daily life is like for oppressed people around the globe. Free.

28 SW First Ave.; 503-896-5002; www.actioncenter.org/portland

Museum and research library located above Willamette Falls.
211 Tumwater Dr., Oregon City; 503-655-5574; www.historicoregoncity.org.

Exhibits and events showcasing the history of the Pacific Northwest.
1200 SW Park Ave.; 503-306-5198 (info); 503-222-1741 (office); www.ohs.org.

On the sternwheeler “Portland” at the foot of SW Pine St. in Tom McCall waterfront park (between the Morrison and Burnside bridges); 503-224-7724; www.oregonmaritimemuseum.org. Presents Oregon’s river history.

Includes OMNIMAX theater, Murdock Planetarium, submarine tour and dozens of interactive exhibits for all ages.
1945 SE Water Ave.; 503-797-4000; www.omsi.edu.

Located on the oldest continuously active airfield in the West, the museum highlights the development of aviation in the 1920s and 30s.
Vancouver’s National Historic Reserve, 1115 E 5th, Vancouver, Wash.; 360-694-7026; www.pearsonairmuseum.org.

Interactive permanent and changing exhibits for young children, as well as art studios, workshops, storytelling and other activities.
4015 SW Canyon Rd.; 503-223-6500; www.portlandcm.org.

Justice Center, 1111 SW 2nd Ave., 16th floor; 503-823-0019; www.portlandpolicemuseum.com. Free.

An extensive collection of rocks, minerals, fossils and petrified wood housed in a classic ranch-style home listed on the National Registry of Historic Places.
26385 NW Groveland Dr., Hillsboro; 503-647-2418; www.ricenwmuseum.org.

Historic fire museum, tours and educational events. Free.
Historic Belmont Firehouse, 900 SE 35th Ave.; 503-823-3615 (event and tour info); www.jeffmorrisfoundation.org.

Quirky museum highlights vacuum cleaners from the 1800s to the 1960s. Free.
107 NE Grand Ave.; 503-232-4101; www.starks.com.

Museum and research library located on the Portland Community College Rock Creek Campus.
17677 NW Springville Rd.; 503-645-5353; www.washingtoncountymuseum.org.

Environmental education center with hands-on exhibits, programs and events focusing on the water cycle, daily usage, recycling and tasting. Free.
4600 SE Columbia Way, Vancouver, Wash.; 360-487-7111; www.cityofvancouver.us/watercenter.asp.

Features artifacts and exhibits of the Old West. Free.
1300 SW 5th Ave., 2nd floor; 503-886-1102; www.wellsfargohistory.com.

Completely renovated in 2005, now features interactive forestry education exhibits for all ages.
4033 SW Canyon Rd.; 503-228-1367; www.worldforestrycenter.org.