Family Outings in Portland: the great,the boring and the detestable.

I've wanted to go to the Children's Museum for many years but for one reason or another I've just never made it inside.
Finally, now that Jaxon is old enough to enjoy more outings we decided no more wasting time!
With one of our favorite couples meeting us there, this was sure to be a great Saturday outing. One thing I love and hate about having Jaxon around older children is that he is learning and replicating their behavior. He is so smart and wants to be big so he acts like a sponge- sucking up everything they do and repeating every word or action.Hence why I am picky about who I have him around. I'd rather have him replicate a mellow tempered, 3 year old, who follows his/her parents directions, and is a great listener, and has good manners, rather then having to reprimand him for watching an unruly 3 year old who slaps his parents, runs off, never sits still, and acts like he belongs in a cage rather than wasting my money at a museum. FYI, I don't personally know anyone who has a child like this, thankfully.

Well the Museum was well worth the money and we ended up purchasing an annual membership.
I felt like a child in there! I was equally as excited to explore each room and we stayed for a few hours.
Jaxon's favorite space was the water room, no surprise there. Jaxon has always loved playing in the bathtub, going to swim lessons and walking along the Willamette River promenade. He literally cried when we left and wanted to go back and cried again when it was time to go home. Luckily he had the always well mannered Elijah accompanying him and showing him how big boys should act.
There aren't many indoor places for toddlers to go in Portland and many of them have problems like being overpriced, unsafe for children, overcrowded or just plain boring after 30 minutes.

Among the businesses with toddler friendly exhibits are...the Portland Aquarium, OMSI, The Children's Museum, PDX Playdate, the Playground Gym and of course some local parks have community centers. Of these I have enjoyed the Children's Museum the most and the local community center, for the price I believe these places provide the most value.

 I like PDX Playdate the least. It's advertised like this chill spot for adults where your kids can play and you can enjoy a healthy bite to eat and an adult beverage, all the while your kid can play within earshot. Really the food is overpriced cafe fair and the majority of the play area is obstructed from your view. The staff is under 20 and oblivious to what good customer service means. But the icing on the cake is the giant overcrowded jungle gym where you could potentially lose your child for an hour or two and have them run out with a bloody nose, a broken leg or screaming about some bully. Yes, I was there when a girl approximately 5 years old came out with a gushing nose, blood everywhere, screaming at the top of her lungs and the idiot teens who worked there sat and did nothing while the mom frantically tried to drape her child in paper towels and at the same time figure out why and how her daughter was injured. Your only hope of avoiding these situations is to accompany them, which means your overpriced heat and serve pizza and wine is left unattended on a table, abandoning your personal belongings in a room full of strangers while you try your best to fit into a jungle gym overrun with loud, dirty, ill mannered, nasty, gross, snotty children who don't belong to you and who act like they are never allowed outside the house. I've been there twice,spent well over $30 each time and had a HORRIBLE experience and never got to sit down with my child and my guest because at least one adult had to accompany my son. I won't be back until my son is at least 7 and I'm sure he can hold his own against bullies and yet be trained enough not to be one himself.

Jaxon enjoyed this trip because he loves the water and aquatic life, but after 30 minutes we had seen all the exhibits and he was getting bored. Not really worth the money or the drive.

The most important thing for my family is that we can be safe, be together and all have a great time. I'll gladly pay top dollar for that experience. Today we were able to share another awesome family day together, and it was fun and educational for Jaxon. With Jesse working every weekend we have to make Saturday and Sunday mornings count. We'll be heading back to the Children's Museum next weekend.

Two tired little boys after a busy day. Aren't they as cute as can be?!