All in the Family
Summer fun that's kid tested, parent approved
JUNE
Pedalpalooza
From training wheels to tandem bikes, there’s an event for every tire size at Portland’s Pedalpalooza. At the three-mile “Kidical Mass‚” ride, mom and dad can line up their custom-made Vanilla bikes beside junior’s pimped-out tricycle and pedal through downtown or Southeast Portland. June 11-27; shift2bikes.org
Oregon Zoo Summer Concerts
In our music-loving town, even the critters know how to rock. The longest-running outdoor music series in the Northwest kicks off its thirty-first year with performances from Femi Kuti and the Positive Force, the B-52s, and Sly & Robbie and the Taxi Gang. Bust a move to “Love Shack” and you’ll be the hit of the animal kingdom. June 17, 19, 24; oregonzoo.org
Tryon Creek State Natural Area
Tryon Creek’s hands-on courses let you brush up on your camping skills without embarrassing yourself in front of the kids. The park offers free Saturday guided hikes with a variety of themes, like ‘Northwest Hiking Essentials’ or ‘Springing Plants.’ Or try the ’Let’s Go Camping’ program, where for $25 a ranger will walk you through each step of the camping process, from raising the tent to lighting a campfire. oregonstateparks.org
Beacon Rock State Park
Just forty miles from Portland, Beacon Rock’s intimate $19 campsites go quickly, but this Washington gem with myriad hiking trails will reward early birds. Short, leafy paths, such as Doetsch Trail (a one-mile loop), hug the Columbia River and are great for tiny legs, while the Hamilton Mountain Trail—a strenuous four-mile hike to the peak’s summit—features a nest of powerful, hair-blowing waterfalls. How’s that for getting in touch with nature? parks.wa.gov
Lincoln City Kite Festival
Forget high-tech entertainment like the Wii; the simple pleasure of watching fabric ride the wind still gives us the chills, especially if the fabric is a giant multicolored kite in the shape of an octopus. Lincoln City’s Summer Kite Festival brings enormous kites and dexterous flyers—and we’re betting a few ooohs and ahhhs—to Oregon’s central coast for a day of spectacular swoops and dives. June 27-28; oregoncoast.org
Published: June 2009
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