Get ready to pay tribute to our, forefathers Portland style. This President’s Day give your little patriots some appreciation for the past by keeping them busy all weekend long. There there are loads of things lined up from Feb. 17-19. So whether you’re looking to entertain the kids on President’s Day proper or over the whole three-day weekend, here are activities that will help them remember the greats we used to call Commander in Chief. Read on to find out more
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photo: Trackers via facebook
1. Catch Chitra the Girl Prince! at the NW Children’s Theater and School. We may not have gotten our first woman president yet, but it doesn’t hurt to celebrate the weekend with some girl power. Shows run Sat.-Sun. at noon and 4 p.m.
2. Let the kids get muddy, sweaty, and hone their outdoor skills at Trackers Earth Portland, which has two story-based, role-playing adventure camps available on President’s Day proper. The programs are all day, with before and after care available. Ages 4 & up, $74-$78/day.
3. Calling all artists! The Craft Factory is open on President’s Day and invites kids to come and get creative from the hours of 10 a.m-5 p.m. Grab a craft for $14 and you get an unlimited amount of accessories to decorate and personalize your piece with. If one craft isn’t enough for your little artist, each additional craft is just $7.
4. Rain in the forecast? No problem! You and the kids can take a wet-free raft ride, see forests from a bird’s-eye-view, practice your smoke-jumping skills, hop aboard the Trans-Siberian Railway and much more at the World Forestry Center Discovery Museum. The museum is open Thurs.-Mon., 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Cost $7/adult; $5/ages 3-18; free/ages 2 & under.
5. On President’s Day proper, creative reuse store SCRAP PDX is holding a two-hour sewing workshop for ages 6 & up. While crafting cute and cozy hat, kids will learn sewing basics with felt, tracing and cutting patterns, and button sewing. Cost is $10/child.
photo: Craft Factory via flickr
6. For music, exercise and old timey fun, head to the roller skating rink at Oaks Park. Open Skate is offered on President’s Day from., 1 p.m.-5:30 pm. Admission is $7.00 and skate rentals start at $2.
7. Is your energetic brood bouncing off the walls? Then take them to JJ Jump, an indoor playground that’s filled with inflatables (think bouncy houses and foam slides) where they can jump, play, run, and slide ‘til they drop. The Clackamas location has a kids 7 and under only open play session from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. $4-$6.50.
8. President’s Day weekend is a great time to hunt for early blooms at Crystal Springs Rhododendron Park, a 9-acre botanical garden riddled with gravel pathways, water features, native wildlife and its namesake shrub. Open daily, year-round. Admission is free in February.
photo: Carrie Uffindell
9. Indulge your train-crazy kiddos with a visit to the Oregon Rail Heritage Center. Open Thurs.-Sun., 1 p.m.-5 p.m. Admission is free.
10. From plates to figurines, you and the kids can choose from over 200 pieces to create ceramic masterpieces at Mimosa Studios. All prices include studio time, paint, glaze, and firing. Walk-ins are welcome but weekends and holidays can get busy, so the studio recommends calling ahead to reserve a spot.
11. Cap off the long weekend with some much-needed adult time while the kids frolic on Playdate PDX’s indoor playground. This family staple is very popular, so for a less crowded experience, go during off times like evening or early morning. And if you go on Mondays after 5 p.m., admission is free.
12. If you’re still looking for ways to keep everyone entertained over the three-day weekend and beyond, check out our list of 50 ideas for winter fun in town.
What activities does your family enjoy on non-school days? Tell us in the comments below!
— Carrie Uffindell & Annette benedetti
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