1.
Portland Area
In Portland, take the kids to see Rio, the Oregon Zoo’s new baby Ocelot. Then head across the parking lot to the World Forestry Center’s Discovery Museum, which features all kinds of fun, interactive exhibits about the forests of the Pacific Northwest. Kids (and adults) can be a virtual smokejumper, learn how to plant a tree or take a white water rafting trip through a forest.
The Portland Children’s Museum is also within stroller walking distance. Here, kids can explore the interactive exhibits, including “Building Bridgetown”, a construction exhibit featuring a 17-foot-high, two-story house that kids get to help build.
2.
Oregon Coast
Head to the Oregon Coast Aquarium in Newport, the former home of Keiko the Hollywood whale. Here you can see an impressive 500 animal species in both indoor and outdoor exhibits. Make sure to check out “Passages of the Deep”, a 200-foot undersea tunnel that weaves its way through three ocean habitats where you’ll see sharks, rays, and other sea creatures swimming all around you.
And for an upclose encounter with sea lions, head south to the Sea Lion Caves in Florence, the largest sea cave in the country.
3.
Southern Oregon
Take the kids on a drive-thru animal park adventure at Wildlife Safari in the Southern Oregon town of Winston. Here, such exotic animals as ostriches, elephants, cougars and giraffes roam freely around 600 acres of terrain reminiscent of their native habitats. You’ll drive through wooded areas and open grasslands to get up close to lions, rhinos, bears—even cheetahs. Wildlife Safari is dedicated to conserving rare and endangered species through reproduction, conservation, research and education. They have a successful Cheetah Reproduction Project as well as their African Elephant Conservation & Reproduction Center.