🌲 Portland Family Trip

March 17–23, 2026 · Chris, Emily, Griffin (8) & Jo (4)

✈️

Arrive PDX (8:12 PM)

Land at PDX → National Emerald Aisle (skip the counter, pick your SUV) → check into Airbnb.

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🍳

Pine State Biscuits (or order in)

Easy first-night dinner. Multiple locations — pick the closest.

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🏘️

Sellwood-Moreland morning (possible school visit)

Start in the neighborhood. Keep it flexible if there's a school visit.

☕

Coffee: Fairlane Coffee ⭐

6647 SE Milwaukie Ave · easy Sellwood stop.

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🥐

Lunch: Twisted Croissant & Patisserie ⭐

French pastries + savory options. 2129 NE Broadway St (quick drive from Sellwood).

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🪑

SE 13th "Antique Row"

Walkable antique district.

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🦅

Sellwood Riverfront Park + Oaks Bottom

Flat, easy loop; great for bird watching.

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🎡

Oaks Park Amusement Park (verify weekday hours)

7805 SE Oaks Park Way · oakspark.com

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📚

Things From Another World (TFAW) ⭐

Owned by Dark Horse Comics. 10956 SE Main St, Milwaukie · Hours vary — call: (503) 652-8815

Backup: Excalibur Comics

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🔬

OMSI (2–3 hrs)

1945 SE Water Ave · Tue–Fri 9:30am–5:30pm · omsi.edu

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Dinner: Ramen Ryoma

1037 SW Morrison St · (503) 221-5685 · Mon–Thu 11:30–2:30 & 5–10; Fri–Sat 11:30–midnight; Sun 11:30–10

Backup: AFURI Slabtown (Day 5)

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⏰

Leave Portland ~7:00 AM

~2 hours northwest.

☕

Coffee: Sleeper Coffee ⭐

1 12th St Suite 101, Astoria — great pre-adventure caffeine.

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🥪

Lunch: Blue Scorcher Bakery ⭐

Organic co-op bakery (family-friendly). Best bet in Astoria for a quick, easy lunch.

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⚓

Fort Stevens State Park ⭐

Peter Iredale shipwreck on the beach + historic fort tunnels. Beach/shipwreck 24/7 (no fee). Facilities Mon–Fri 8–5.

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🗼

Astoria Column

Climb 164 steps for 360° views; kids roll wooden planes. 9am–7pm. Parking pass $5.

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⛵

Columbia River Maritime Museum (optional)

1792 Marine Dr · Daily 9am–5pm · crmm.org

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🦞

Bridgewater Bistro (Astoria dining option)

20 Basin St, Astoria · waterfront seafood-forward.

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☕

Street 14 Café (Astoria lunch option)

1246 Commercial St, Astoria

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🍗

Dinner back in Portland: Nong's Khao Man Gai

SE: 609 SE Ankeny St (Daily 9–9) · Downtown: 417 SW 13th Ave (Daily 9–8) · khaomangai.com

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🏰

🥇 Witch's Castle — Forest Park

Moss-covered stone ruins along Balch Creek — genuinely fairy-tale vibes for kids.

  • Trail: Lower Macleay Trail out-and-back
  • Distance: ~1.5 miles RT (flat, easy)
  • Hours: 5am–10pm · Free
  • Optional: continue to Pittock Mansion for views (+2 miles)
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🦄

Coffee: Just Bob ⭐ "Unicorn Cafe"

2403 NE Alberta St — great vibes for a post-hike reset.

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Lunch: Alberta cARTS ⭐

Food cart pod at 1027 NE Alberta (pick whatever looks best).

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🥈 Backup Hike: Latourell Falls (Columbia Gorge)

249-ft waterfall framed by columnar basalt. Lower falls only: 0.4 miles RT (flat, great for Jo). Full loop: 2.4 miles. ~30 min east of Portland.

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🎨

Alberta Arts District (lunch + scouting)

Food carts and an easy NE neighborhood vibe walk.

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🐒

Cosmic Monkey Comics ⭐

5335 NE Sandy Blvd · Daily 11am–7pm · (503) 517-9050 · cosmicmonkeycomics.com

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🌮

Dinner: Por Qué No Taqueria ⭐

N Mississippi: 3524 N Mississippi Ave · SE Hawthorne: 4635 SE Hawthorne Blvd · Daily ~11am–10pm

Backup: Güero (NE Portland)

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☕

Coffee: Haven Coffee ⭐

2772 NW Thurman St — perfect quick stop before Washington Park.

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🦁

Oregon Zoo (verify hours)

4001 SW Canyon Rd · oregonzoo.org

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🌸

Portland Japanese Garden Closed Tuesdays

611 SW Kingston Ave · Wed–Mon 10am–3:30pm (winter/spring) · japanesegarden.org

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Hoyt Arboretum (free)

Adjacent to Washington Park. Always open.

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🥞

Lunch: Tasty n Daughters

3434 NW Nicolai St · Tue–Sun 9am–2:30pm

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🧸

Thinker Toys ⭐

7784 SW Capitol Hwy · Mon–Sat 10–6; Sun 10–5 · thinkertoystore.com

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👖

Men's: Self Edge ⭐

1022 W Burnside St #J · Mon–Fri 12–6; Sat 12–7; Sun 12–5 · selfedge.com

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🧥

Men's: nakamuraya Closed Mondays

209 SW 9th Ave · Tue–Sun 12–6 · nakamurayaportland.com

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🎋

KIRIKO (Japanese textiles)

1001 SW Morrison St · Mon–Thu 11–6; Fri–Sat 11–7; Sun 11–6

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Women's: Frances May ⭐

1003 SW Washington St · Mon–Sat 11–7; Sun 12–6 · francesmay.com

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Women's: Betsy & Iya

1777 NW 24th Ave · Mon–Sat 10–6 · betsyandiya.com

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🛒

Beaverton scouting: Uwajimaya

11705 SW Pacific Hwy, Beaverton · Daily 9am–9pm

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Dinner: AFURI Slabtown ⭐

1620 NW 21st Ave · (503) 384-2920 · afuriramen.com

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🏛️

Fort Vancouver National Historic Site (verify Sunday hours)

800 Hatheway Road, Vancouver, WA · Check nps.gov/fova before going.

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🌊

Vancouver Waterfront Park

Easy river walk + coffee.

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Downtown Camas + Lacamas Lake Regional Park

Charming historic main street + easy kid-friendly trails (Pothole Falls waterfall).

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🍛

Dinner: Yaowarat ⭐

7937 SE Stark St · Mon–Thu 5–9; Fri–Sat 5–10; Sun 4:30–9 · yaowaratpdx.com

American option: Screen Door (walk-in only — go early)

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🚗

Return rental car by 9am

National on-site at PDX.

✈️

Depart PDX 10:46 AM

Quick Reference

Fast access to the where/when. Use "Copy" then paste into Maps or texts.

Coffee
Fairlane Coffee
6647 SE Milwaukie Ave (Sellwood)
Maps
Coffee
Sleeper Coffee
1 12th St Suite 101, Astoria
Maps
Coffee
Just Bob
2403 NE Alberta St ("Unicorn Cafe")
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Coffee
Haven Coffee
2772 NW Thurman St
Maps
Comics
TFAW (Milwaukie)
10956 SE Main St, Milwaukie · Wed 11–7 (verify)
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Comics
Cosmic Monkey Comics
5335 NE Sandy Blvd · Daily 11–7
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Toys
Thinker Toys
7784 SW Capitol Hwy · M–Sa 10–6, Su 10–5
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Men's
Self Edge
1022 W Burnside St #J · M–F 12–6
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Women's
Frances May
1003 SW Washington St · M–Sa 11–7
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Ramen
AFURI Slabtown
1620 NW 21st Ave
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🚩

Heads Up — Key Flags

  1. Biwa: permanently closed → replaced with Ramen Ryoma
  2. Oregon Zoo: verify hours at oregonzoo.org — some sources show reduced mid-week schedule
  3. Portland Japanese Garden: Closed Tuesdays
  4. nakamuraya: Closed Mondays
  5. TFAW (Milwaukie): hours vary — call ahead: (503) 652-8815
  6. Fort Vancouver: reportedly Tue–Sat — confirm Sunday hours at nps.gov/fova
  7. Screen Door: walk-in only; weekend waits can be long — go early
  8. Car seats: Alaska allows free gate-check — bring your own vs renting ($10–15/day each)
  9. Rental car: National Emerald Aisle at PDX · charge to CSR · decline CDW