It’s a new year and time to make new goals for the new decade. Keeping your family healthy and happy is likely at the top of your list. Portland is known for it’s active, outdoorsy lifestyle, but translating all the offerings our city and nearby locations have to offer into to-dos for the fit family can feel overwhelming. We’ve taken some time to roundup some great ways to improve your family’s health over the next year. Scroll down to get started with your New Year’s resolutions fast.
photo: via pexels
YOGA
Yoga is a great way to keep your family strong flexible and mindful. Check out classes at these following spots.
Sellwood Yoga
Located in the beautiful Sellwood neighborhood, this studio has classes that will inspire and enrich the lives of every member of your family. Their specially designed kids classes serve children 2 years and up. There’s a kid’s fitness series, yoga and mindfulness for girls and family yoga Fridays for kids 2 to 10 years old. If you are one of those parents who looks ahead, keep an eye out for their summer camps too!
7970 SE 13th Ave
503-575-9982
Online: sellwoodyoga.com
Yoga Shala of Portland
If you are expecting, have a brand new or young child or want to do a little yoga with your newborn, then this is the studio for you. Parents can get their flow on while children ages 12 months – 12 years are cared for by loving professionals in their childcare room. If you are expecting and want to make sure everything is zen with your babe, then their Prenatal class is just what the midwife ordered. There’s even a tiny tots yoga + open play class.
3808 N WIlliams
503-963-9642
Online: yogashalapdx.com
Yoga Union
Your little ones will love the Preschool Yoga & Story Time, Yoga Union’s a 30-minute yoga adventure for kids. Students get to explore connection to their body and mind through yoga and games. Themes of mindfulness such as breathing, understanding emotions, practicing kindness, awareness and compassion are explored all through stories and play and your little ones will love stretching their bodies and imaginations. Perfect for tots two and up.
2305 SE 50th Ave
503-235-9642
Online: yogaunioncwc.com
photo: jocelyn m. via Yelp
HEALTHY EATS
Eating out with kids is always tricky, especially when you are trying to keep it healthy. The following restaurants offer good-for-you-eats and are also kid-friendly. Check em out.
Harlow
Harlow’s kid’s menu hosts a variety of delicious options. Try the “Littlest Dragon Bowl” filled with rice or quinoa, avocado and choice of sauce, and follow it up with a cup of fruit, or try the “Baby Chia” at breakfast. If it’s been “one of those days”, parents will love the cocktail menu, as well!
3632 SE Hawthorne Blvd.
971-255-0138
Online: harlowpdx.com
POA Café
POA Café has an open, kid-friendly space filled with natural light, and the best part is the play area! Caretakers can sip their coffee (or wine) in peace as the littles play and build up an appetite. Once they’re ready for a snack, the menu boasts healthy choices with avocado or sweet potato toast and berry smoothies.
4025 N Williams Ave.
503-954-1243
Online: poacafe.com
Jam on Hawthorne
Need a place to go for breakfast with your little early bird? Jam on Hawthorne is open at 7:30 am daily and has a fun little play area to entertain your energetic eater, plus a great kid’s menu. Try the oatmeal chia blueberry pancakes made from Bob’s Red Mill oats.
2239 SE Hawthorne Blvd.
503-234-4790
Online: jamonhawthorne.com
For a full list of our faves check out this article.
photo: via pexels
GYMS WITH CHILD CARE
Don’t miss a workout when you take a class at these gyms. They’ll take care of your kids while you get your sweat on.
barre3
Locally founded barre3 offers hour-long classes designed for a full body workout. Incorporating elements of yoga, ballet and isometric holds, classes are taught in group settings with individualized modifications to fit any fitness level. With five area locations in the Pearl, SE Division, Cedar Mill, Kruse Village and North Williams, there’s likely also a studio near you. The “play lounge” is only $5 per session, where children can read books, play with toys or draw pictures with the onsite nanny service.
Four Portland-area locations, including the Pearl, SE Division, Cedar Mill and North Williams
Online: barre3.com
Aspire Total Fitness
Another locally-owned and operated fitness studio is Aspire Total Fitness, situated in Happy Valley. Aspire Total Fitness offers group classes, nutrition counseling and personal training for a fully customized experience. In addition to their wide range of cardio, resistance band and barbell classes, Aspire also offers childcare during your workout. Drop in rates are $5/child, or families can purchase an unlimited monthly package for $75 (great for those fitness fanatics with 2+ kids).
14210 SW Sunnyside Rd. Ste. 600
Happy Valley
503-855-3588
Online: aspiretotalfitness.com
Boom Fitness
With locations in both Beaverton and Bridgeport, Boom Fitness has CrossFit, yoga, kickboxing and cycling classes (to name a few!), plus personal training options. Their kids club provides supervised childcare to infants through pre-teens for a flat rate package of $35 per month, or a drop off fee of $8. Check each location for childcare hours.
Bridgeport
18039 SW Lower Boones Ferry Rd.
503-684-8151
Tanasbourne
2200 NW Amberbrook Dr.
Beaverton
503-531-8400
Online: boomfitnesspdx.com
For a full list of gyms with childcare check here.
Photo: Warren County CVB via flickr
HIT THE POOL
There’s no better way to get the wiggles out and get some exercise in, than by splashing around the pool. especially when it’s too cold to get out. We’ve got great spots for your next indoor water play day.
Conestoga Community Center
While this pools is loved by locals because it is home to the only outdoor splash pad in its district, we are celebrating it for its fantastic indoor pool! Additionally, Conestoga Community Center has even more to offer. The center includes a dance and fitness room, weight room, four multi-purpose classrooms, two wooden floor gymnasiums, and an outdoor playground for nicer days.This unique and refreshing venue full of sprinklers, fountains, slides, and lap pools that will keep little and older swimmers (along with mom and dad) busy for hours!
Mon.-Thurs., 5:30 a.m. – 9:30 p.m.
Sat., 8 a.m. – 8 p.m.
Sun., 9 a.m. – 8 p.m.
9985 SW 125th Ave.
Beaverton
503-629-6313
Online: thprd.org
Mt. Scott Community Center
The biggest attraction at Mt. Scott Community Center in the fall and winter months is the fabulous pool which far surpasses the usual lap pool! It’s full of colorful water features, a kiddie “fun” pool, a swirly twirly water slide, a hot tub for the adults, a lazy river for babes, and a whirlpool with gentle currents. Get there on the right day and they might even put out a rope for swinging out over the water Tarzan-style. Sign up for Kids’ swim lessons or bring the whole family for hours of happy wet squeals!
Mon.-Fri., 5:30 a.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Sat., 7 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Sun., 12 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.
5530 SW 72nd Ave.
503-823-3183Online: portlandoregon.gov
Evergreen Wings and Waves Water Park
This indoor waterpark is an all season experience! It has ten waterslides—each designed for adventurers of varying age, ability, and courage. Daredevils might enjoy the Nose Dive that spits you into a pool and shoots you out backwards! When you’re over sliding and gliding explore the wave pool, whirlpool, or revolver pool! For an extra perk the whole park is ADA accessible. Come on Fridays for their buy one get one free special!
Check site for hours
500 NE Captain Michael King Smith Way
McMinnville
503-434-4180
Online: wingsandwaveswaterpark.com
For more places to swim, check this article out.
photo: keri logan via flickr
GO HIKING
There are tons of great spots to go hiking around and near to Portland. Get a good work out with your kids on one of these trails.
Powell Butte
Hike around a giant extinct volcano at this park in the city limits! Powell Butte is a beautiful place for a hike, with wooded paths, meadows, and perfect views of surrounding peaks on clear days. Starting at the small visitor center kiosk it’s an easy trek to the top on the paved path. There you’ll find a viewing platform pointing out the nine different mountains encircling you, including Mount Jefferson, Adams, St. Helens, and even Rainier. From there, you can follow the hiking trails around the back of the park into the forests or turn around and wind through the grassy meadows instead. The summit is a 0.7 mile hike, and the whole loop is about 2.9 miles. Spring sees wildflowers galore on the hills, and with them comes the buzz of bees and flutter of butterflies.
Powell Butte Nature Park
16160 Powell Blvd.
Portland, OR
Online: portlandoregon.gov
Hoyt Arboretum Trails
Try to count how many different trees you can find in Hoyt Arboretum, we dare you! With 2300 species and over 12 miles of trails, it’s quite the challenge. Whether you can count that high or not, you’ll find plenty of easy hikes on the hills near the Oregon Zoo and Children’s Museum. There’s something for every time of year– in spring, find the 0.3 mile Magnolia Trail between Wildwood and Oak Trails for a great view of the flowering trees. There’s also cherry blossoms, dogwood flowers, and Japanese snow-bells. Don’t forget to look down for early trilliums!
Start your visit in the parking lot (it’s a pay lot, avoid the hunt and cost by taking the Max or even biking), then head to the Visitor’s Center for a kid’s map and scavenger hunt flyer with fun activities.
Hoyt Arboretum Visitor’s Center
4000 SW Fairview Blvd.
Portland, OR
Online: hoytarboretum.org
Oak Bottoms Wildlife Refuge
It’s not a long trail or hike, but for a quick afternoon out in nature, it’s a perfect escape. Start on the bluffs at the small parking lot, then wander down the bluff– turn right to head around the pond for the 2.3 mile loop. The path is well kept, with bridges, boardwalks, and viewing platforms that extend over the wetlands. In the small loop at Tadpole Pond kids will find plenty of places to look for the little creatures along with salamanders and birds.
The park is near the Springwater Corridor, Sellwood Riverfront Park, and Oaks Bottom Amusement Park if you need to extend your day of fun at all.
SE Sellwood Blvd & SE 7th Ave.
Portland, OR
Online: portlandoregon.gov
For more great hikes, check out this article.
GRAB A SMOOTHIE
Stay fueled with healthy bites and sips. Try something from one of the healthy local smoothie stops.
Harlow
Amidst the hustle and bustle of Hawthorne, there’s a stately-yet-kid-friendly respite in this vegan-friendly, gluten-free establishment. The list of smoothies is impressive (we hear good things about the strawberry-avocado with maca, date and hemp seeds), but you’ll be just as glad to see a 12-ounce peanut butter and jelly smoothie on the kids’ menu. You can find similar menus at Harlow’s sister restaurants, Prasad and Prasad East.
Open: Mon.-Sat. 8 a.m.-9 p.m.; Sun. 8 a.m.-3 p.m.
3632 SE Hawthorne Blvd.
971-255-0138
Online: harlowpdx.com
Canteen
Canteen is the brick-and-mortar evolution of the Sip Juice cart that started a “vegan milkshake” revolution a few years ago. With three locations across Portland and a variety of Juice and smoothie options they’re popular for a reason. Kids will love that the “Orange One” is like a creamsicle, with orange and vanilla, and you’ll be glad it’s naturally sweetened with banana and dates. Everything here is vegan.
Open: check location for days and times
2816 SE Stark St.
503-922-1858
Online: canteenpdx.com
Poa Cafe
Poa is one of those great meeting places for parent and child alike, with food and drinks, WiFi, and indoor and outdoor play areas for the little ones. Smoothies tend toward more adult flavors (matcha, anyone?), but there’s a wide selection, including an apple pear smoothie with hazelnut milk, apples, pears, nutmeg, ginger and cinnamon. There’s even a selection of smoothies available in kid-size for $5 and their menu includes vegan, GF and Paleo diet options, to boot.
Open: Daily 8 a.m.-4 p.m.
4025 N Williams St.
503-954-1243
Online: poacafe.com
—Annette Benedetti
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