The Experience: Some area kid spots are good for summer, some for winter, and some year ‘round. The Little Gym in Lake Oswego is one of the latter.

The Little Gym is perhaps best known for its broad curriculum of gymnastics, sports, dance and karate classes for ages 4 months to 12 years. More…

The Experience: When our grandparents and parents were little, they may have spent summer days catching frogs, digging in the dirt and playing outside using little more than their imaginations and whatever they found on the ground. They didn’t need skateboards, TV, or sidewalk chalk. They got sunshine and fresh air, they reinforced their More…

67 camping spots available on “first come, first served” basis.
3010 SE Oxbow Parkway, Gresham; 503-797-1850; www.oregonmetro.gov.

For information only, call 800-551-6949.
To reserve campsites at the following parks, call 800-452-5687 or visit www.oregonstateparks.org.

Nestled in the incomparable Columbia Gorge and close to numerous waterfall and hiking trails, this park is open mid-March through October. Call 800-551-6949 for exact open and closure dates.
Off I-84 east (take Exit 35 and follow US 30 west to the park); www.oregonstateparks.org/park_146.php.

On the south bank of the Willamette River, Champoeg is a fascinating blend of campgrounds and living history site with several museums dedicated to Oregon’s earliest pioneers.
Off Highway 99 W seven miles east of Newberg; www.oregonstateparks.org/park_113.php.

Opened in mid-2007, Stubb Stewart is the first full-service state park to open in Oregon in more than 30 years.
Off Oregon 47, four miles north of Hwy 26 and 47 intersection (31 miles west of Portland); www.oregonstateparks.org/park_255.php.

McIver State Park is located on the scenic Clackamas River, four miles west of Estacada. Hiking, horseback riding, disc golf and more.
24101 S Entrance Road, Estacada; www.oregonstateparks.org/park_142.php.

The Clackamas County Parks Department makes three campgrounds available to the public. For reservations, call 503-742-4414. For more information, visit www.clackamas.us/parks.

Off of Hwy 224, approximately 10 miles east of Clackamas on the Clackamas River. Fishing and rafting are popular activities.

Three miles southeast of Molalla on the Molalla River; has a playground for kids.

Approximately five miles south of Estacada; features nature trails, a creek and foot bridge.

PGE owns and operates several campgrounds within a few hours of Portland.
503-464-8515; www.portlandgeneral.com/community_environment/parks_campgrounds.

67 camping spots available on “first come, first served” basis.

3010 SE Oxbow Parkway, Gresham; 503-797-1850; www.oregonmetro.gov.