PDX Parent Picks 2017

Food & Drink

BEST KID-FRIENDLY RESTAURANT

Winner: Laughing Planet Cafe

Come for the tabletop dinosaurs, stay for the fresh, tasty food with plenty of healthy choices for kids and grown-ups alike. We’re partial to the Highway to Kale salad; our kids flip for the bean and cheese burritos, with a side of fresh veggies and a smoothie.

Top 5: Cultured Caveman, Hopworks Urban Brewery, Laurelwood Brewpub, The Oregon Public House, Zoiglhaus Brewing Company

BEST BRUNCH

Winner: Slappy Cakes

Sure, you could stay home and make pancakes. But it’s so much more fun to make them at Slappy Cakes, where the batter can be buttermilk or chocolate or peanut butter, and the toppings are basically endless.

Top 5: Batter Griddle & Drinkery, Jam on Hawthorne, Off the Waffle, The Original Pancake House, Tin Shed Garden Café

BEST FOOD CART POD

Winner: TIE: Portland Mercado and Cartlandia

Don’t feel like making lunch, or dinner? Solution Portland Mercado at midday, for the best Latin American-influenced street food around, and Cartlandia for dinner, for food from pretty much everywhere else around the globe.

Top 5: Cartopia, Hillsdale Food Cart Park, Mississippi Marketplace, Rose City Food Park, Tidbit Food Farm and Garden

BEST PIZZA

Winner: Hotlips Pizza

In this pizza-crazy town, Hotlips stands out for all-around kid-friendliness, from the slices that take just seconds to warm up to the free peppermints available at the cash register and the classic arcade games in the seating area.

Top 5: Pietro’s Pizza, Pizzicato Pizza, Pizza Jerk, Scottie’s Pizza Parlor, Sizzle Pie

BEST WELCOMING COFFEE SHOP

Winner: Roseway Play Café

Recipe for a perfect coffee shop: Great coffee, healthy eats, and dedicated space for the kids to play, or hear some tunes. Check, check and check at our winner, Roseway Play Café.

Top 5: Bipartisan Café, Jim and Patty’s Coffee People, Know Thy Food Cooperative, Maplewood Coffee & Tea, Papaccino’s Coffee House & Cereal Bar

BEST LOCAL ICE CREAM

Winner: Salt & Straw

The lines outside tell the story: Tourists may flock to Salt & Straw for their kooky flavors (fish sauce ice cream, anyone?), but in-the-know local kids line up for chocolate gooey brownie.

Top 5: Cloud City Ice Cream, Eb & Bean, Fifty Licks Ice Cream, Nectar Frozen Yogurt Lounge, Ruby Jewel

BEST DOUGHNUTS

Winner: Pip’s Original Doughnuts

Portland does doughnuts like nobody’s business. And nobody does it better than Pip’s Original in Beaumont Village. Pro tip: They’ll give you a dozen free doughnuts on your b-day!

Top 5: Annie’s Donuts, Blue Star Donuts, Coco Donuts, Sesame Donuts, VooDoo Doughnut

BEST CAKE, CUPCAKES, COOKIES

Winner: Saint Cupcake
Need cupcakes for your kiddo’s birthday party? To Saint Cupcake you go! These are the yummy, buttercreamy stuff of birthday party legend.

Top 5: Baker & Spice, FAT Cupcake, JaCiva’s Bakery, Piece of Cake Catering and Desserts, Toadstool Cupcakes

Family Fun

BEST INDOOR PLAY PLACE

Winner: G6 Airpark Portland

Now you see ‘em, now you don’t. Your kiddos fly high at G6’s massive indoor trampolining complex. Just a hour or two there will be enough to tire them out for the rest of the day, guaranteed.

Top 5: Local community centers, Lumberyard Indoor Bike Park, Play Boutique, PlayDate PDX, Portland Children’s Museum

BEST PLAYGROUND

Winner: Westmoreland Park

When the reimagined Westmoreland Park opened a few years back, it signaled the start of a new era in PDX-area playgrounds: the nature playspace. Look for that trend to continue in coming years. (But the original is still our readers’ favorite!)

Top 5: Harper’s Playground, Kʰunamokwst Park, Marshall Park, Peninsula Park, Washington Park

BEST ART STUDIO

Winner: SCRAP PDX

Portland has always been on the leading edge of the green movement, so it makes sense that our top pick for little artists is SCRAP, where recycled bits and bobs are turned into fantastical pieces of art.

Top 5: The Craft Factory, Portland Child Art Studio, Smartypants PDX, Spark Arts Center, VIBE of Portland 

BEST BIRTHDAY PARTY SPOT

Winner: Oaks Amusement Park

Got a kid with a summer birthday? Oaks Parks has it covered, with rides galore. Winter baby? Try the roller rink. This is an all-year round destination, and a timeless Portland landmark.

Top 5: Local community centers, Mad Science Portland and Vancouver, Oregon Museum of Science and Industry, Pietro’s Pizza, Portland Children’s Museum

BEST ALL-AGES VOLUNTEERING

Winner: Oregon Food Bank

Many hands make light work at the Oregon Food Bank. You and the kids might be sorting potatoes or apples, pasta or oatmeal, but you’ll always leave knowing that you’ve helped out other families all over our state.

Top 5: Butterfly Boxes PDX, The Children’s Book Bank, Children’s Healing Arts Project, Friends of Trees, SOLVE Oregon

BEST MEMBERSHIP

Winner: Oregon Museum of Science and Industry

The crowds flocking to this year’s blockbuster Art of the Brick exhibit only confirmed what our readers already knew dollar-for-dollar, if you can only buy one membership, it should be to OMSI.

Top 5: Oregon Zoo, Portland Art Museum, Portland Children’s Museum, Portland Japanese Garden, Local swap ’n plays

Services & Shopping

BEST CONSIGNMENT SHOP

Winner: Beanstalk Children’s Resale Clothing

At Beanstalk, owner Carmen Ripley Wilson handpicks a carefully curated selection of like-new items (at a fraction of the price), with a special emphasis on the especially modish and/or adorable. Summer vacay and back-to-school shopping, here you come.

Top 5: Bella Stella Resale, Hazel & Pear, Hoot-N-Annie Children’s New and Resale Boutique, Just 4 Kids, Smallfry

BEST LOCAL NEW KIDS’ CLOTHING

Winner: Hanna Andersson

Here’s the thing about clothes from Hanna Andersson They last forever. Last year’s dress is this year’s tunic, and next year’s shirt. Our kids are still wearing their Hanna jammies from three years ago. Long may they reign.

Top 5: Black Wagon, The Bull and the Bee, EcoBaby Gear, Posh Baby, TreeHouse Children’s Boutique

BEST CONSIGNMENT EVENT

Winner: SuperKids Resale Consignment

Big consignment sales are not for the faint of heart, but SuperKids Resale makes it look easy, with a well-organized selection of clothes, shoes and all the baby gear you could ever need.

Top 5: Baby’s Bottom Dollar Sale, Just Between Friends, Pass It On, Thriftmouse Pre-Loved Consignments, Twice Around the Block

BEST TOY STORE

Winner: Thinker Toys

There’s a reason Thinker Toys has been a Multnomah Village mainstay for two decades and counting. This sprawling-yet-cozy store has something for everyone, from handmade stuffies for the littles to the coolest science kits for big kids.

Top 5: Finnegan’s Toys & Gifts, Grasshopper Store, Hammer + Jacks, Kids at Heart Toys, Seahorses PDX

BEST BOOK STORE

Winner: Powell’s Books

Ah, Powell’s. Let’s get lost together in the stacks, hide out in rare books, dream away the afternoon in the travel section, and meet up again in the kid’s area, shall we? Next up the expanded storefront on SE Hawthorne opens soon, with a much bigger children’s section.

Top 4: A Children’s Place Bookstore, Annie Bloom’s Books, Green Bean Books, MudPuddles Toys & Books

BEST GROCERY STORE

Winner: New Seasons Markets

From a kid’s-eye-view, New Seasons has it all — car carts, plentiful samples, free fruit for kids and stickers at the cash register. Now if only they could invent a way to get the kids to stop sneaking Coco Puffs into the cart when you’re not looking.

Top 5: Costco Wholesale, Fred Meyer, Market of Choice, Trader Joe’s, WinCo Foods

BEST SUMMER CAMP

Winner: Trackers Earth

Does your kid want to learn how to shoot an arrow? Start a fire? Weave a basket? Paddle their own canoe? Catch a fish? Milk a goat? Forge their own trail? Do it all — and more! — at reader favorite Trackers Earth.

Top 5: BaxterSports, Camp Namanu, Local parks and recreation programs, Portland Children’s Museum, Oregon Zoo

BEST FAMILY-FRIENDLY BIKE STORE/REPAIR

Winner: Sellwood Cycle Repair

In Portland, plenty of kids learn to bike almost as soon as they can walk. Whether they are on a balance bike, a tricycle, training wheels or ready to pedal, Sellwood Cycles will set you up right.

Top 5: Bike Gallery, Bikes for Humanity PDX, Community Cycling Center, Islabikes, River City Bicycles

BEST COMIC BOOK SHOP

Winner: Books with Pictures

Owned by local parents, Books With Pictures has a smart, well-edited selection of graphic novels targeted at both kids and adults, with comfy seating and plenty of room to browse, too.

Top 5: Bridge City Comics, Cosmic Monkey Comics, Excalibur Books and Comics, Other World Games & Comics, Things From Another World

BEST KIDS’ HAIR SALON

Winner: Kids Castle Cuts

In a snug storefront just off Woodstock Boulevard, this is the place for stylish kiddos to come to get shorn — while sitting in a pink Jeep or fight jet. And if there is a wait, there’s a full room of fun toys to keep them entertained.

Top 5: Brick and Mortar, Kuts 4 Kids and Adults, Lil Snippers, Pigtails and Crewcuts, Sit Still Salon

BEST LOCAL FESTIVAL

Winner: Portland Rose Festival

Portland’s biggest party of the year stretches on for months, but really gets in gear around Memorial Day weekend and continues into June, with fun parades and carnival rides galore.

Top 4: Pickathon Music Fest, Portland Winter Light Festival, Sunday Parkways Portland, Waterfront Blues Festival

Arts & Entertainment

BEST KINDIE MUSICIANS/PERFORMERS

Winner: Olive & Dingo

Tall-bike riding clowns Olive & Dingo topline storytimes all over town, and they are rock-stars to the junior set, who clamor for balloon animals and boogie down to their spirited songs.

Top 5: The Alphabeticians, Micah and Me, Mo Phillips, Penny’s Puppets, Red Yarn

BEST PERFORMING ARTS COMPANY

Winner: Northwest Children’s Theater and School

Top 5: Echo Theater Company, Oregon Ballet Theatre, Oregon Children’s Theatre, Oregon Symphony, Tears of Joy Theatre

BEST MOVIE THEATER

Winner:  McMenamins Kennedy School Theater

Here’s the very best part about the new mama matinees at the Kennedy School. Not only do you get to get out of your house, not only does it not matter if the baby cries, but you can cry too, and no one will bat an eye.

Top 5: Academy Theater, Hollywood Theatre, Laurelhurst Theater, McMenamin’s Bagdad Theatre & Pub, Regal Bridgeport Village Stadium & IMAX

Health & Wellness

BEST KIDS SPORTS CLASS

Winner: Portland parks and recreation, multiple locations

For the price, you can’t beat local parks and recreation classes. They’re the perfect intro, especially, if you don’t know whether your 2-year-old’s passion is going to be, say, basketball or jiu-jitsu. Take a class and find out!

Top 5: Glendoveer Golf & Tennis, Portland Lil’ Kickers, Rose City Futsal, Soccer Shots, Tualatin Hills parks and recreation district

BEST SWIM INSTRUCTION

Winner: Local parks and recreation community centers, multiple locations

Yesterday’s Angelfish are tomorrow’s Park Sharks. Just don’t get stuck at the Sea Lion level — man, it takes a long time to master those dives!

Top 5: Cascade Athletic Clubs, Children of the Sea, DolFun Swim Academy, Farber Swim School, SwimBabes

BEST DANCE CLASS

Winner: BodyVox Dance

Sometimes a kid just has to boogie down. And where better to do that than at BodyVox, where they can also learn the fundamentals of choreography, and the math and science behind intricate dance sequences?

Top 5: Classical Ballet Academy, Dance with Joy Studios, Northwest Dance Project, Oregon Ballet Theatre, The Portland Ballet

BEST KID ROCK-CLIMBING GYM

Winner: The Circuit Bouldering Gym

Kids of all ages, shapes and sizes love to scale the climbing walls here, which lead to a fun slide that zips them down to the bottom again. And … repeat!

Top 4: Ascent Climbing Center at ClubSport Oregon, Planet Granite Portland, Portland Rock Gym, Source Climbing Center

BEST KID GYMNASTICS CLASS

Winner: The Children’s Gym

Tumblebugs and aspiring Olympians alike love The Children’s Gym for its flexible scheduling and challenging classes.

Top 5: The Circus Project, OMEGA Gymnastics, The Playground Gym, Upper Westside Play Gym, VillaSport Athletic Club and Spa

BEST MAMA/BABY FITNESS CLASS

Winner: Fit4Mom

Here’s why so many people love Fit4Moms — everyone else in there knows what it is like to try to lose the baby weight. Get moving, and bring the baby along, too — no one minds if you’re breastfeeding while doing your squats.

Top 5: Pre/Postnatal yoga at Alma Midwifery, Baby Boot Camp, Healthy Muhm Bootie Camp, Hike It Baby, Yoga Union Community Wellness Center

BEST KID-FRIENDLY YOGA

Winner: Imagination Yoga

Study after study has shown that yoga helps kids stay calm and make thoughtful choices. The folks at Imagination Yoga layer on fun movements and even offer classes aimed at kids with special needs.

Top 5: Roseway Yoga & Movement, Woodstock Wellness Center, Yoga Playgrounds, TIE: Yoga Shala and Root Whole Body, Yoga Union Community Wellness Center

BEST MAMA-FRIENDLY SPA

Winner: Zenana Spa and Wellness

A haven for mamas-to-be, new mamas, and been-there-done-that mamas alike, Zenana is the place to come for upscale massages, non-toxic nail care and blissful facials.

Top 5: Blooming Moon Wellness Spa, Common Ground Wellness Center, Löyly Sauna, Luna Wellness, VillaSport Athletic Club and Spa

BEST DENTIST FOR KIDS

Winner: World of Smiles Pediatric Dentistry

Going to the dentist doesn’t necessarily sound like a fun outing out, but our readers think the staff at World of Smiles make it bright and enjoyable for your kiddo — they’ll leave with (you guessed it) a smile on their faces.

Top 5: Dentistry for Kids, Greenburg Pediatric Dentistry, Hollywood Children’s Dentistry, Little Smiles Pediatric Dentistry, Sprout Pediatric Dentistry

BEST PEDIATRIC OFFICE

Winner: Metropolitan Pediatrics

One of the city’s biggest pediatric offices is also a top pick of our readers, known for their attention to detail, 24-hour advice nurse line and caring staff.

Top 5: Broadway Medical Clinic, Hillsboro Pediatric Clinic, Oregon Health & Sciences University, Pediatric Associates of the Northwest, Sellwood Medical Clinic

BEST KIDS’ OPTOMETRIST/OPHTHALMOLOGIST 

Winner: Oregon Health and Sciences University’s Casey Eye Institute

Take it from our readers If the eye chart is defeating your kiddos, and their teachers say they’re having trouble focusing in school, go see the folks at OHSU’s Casey Eye Institute for a consult. They also have world-class ophthalmologists specializing in pediatric eye diseases.

Top 4: Alberta Eye Care, Child Eye Care Associates – Tigard, Eye Health Northwest, Hawthorne Vision Center

BEST PLACE TO GIVE BIRTH

Winner: Providence Health & Services hospitals

There are so many different ways and places to give birth in 2017, but readers gave the nod to Providence Health & Services Hospitals for an array of options for every family/lifestyle.

Top 5: Alma Midwifery Services, Kaiser Sunnyside Medical Center, Legacy Health Hospitals, Oregon Health & Sciences University, Women’s Healthcare Associates Midwifery Birth Center

BEST WORKOUT WITH ONSITE CHILD CARE

Winner: 24 Hour Fitness

Because sometimes you just have to work up a sweat that doesn’t involve lugging around a kid on your back. Our readers recommend dropping ’em off at the well-liked child care program at 24 Fitness while you go get your sweat on.

Top 5: Cascade Athletic Club, ClubSport Oregon, Mittleman Jewish Community Center, Southwest Community Center, VillaSport Athletic Club and Spa

Family Travel

BEST DESTINATION

Winner: Cannon Beach/Seaside/Manzanita

It’s only an hour and a half away, but the Oregon Coast feels like a different world. If you seek seashells and sea stars and sea stacks and seeing for miles up and down the coast, look no further than Cannon Beach, Seaside and Manzanita.

Top 5: Bend, Columbia River Gorge, Lincoln City/Newport, Mount Hood/Government Camp, Tillamook/Oceanside/Pacific City

BEST KID-FRIENDLY RESORT

Winner: Kah-Nee-Ta Resort & Spa

Our readers advise escaping Portland’s endless grey skies to Kah-Nee-Ta, closest of Central Oregon’s family-friendly resorts, where you can bask in high-desert hot springs and sleep in luxury teepees in the crisp mountain air.

Top 5: Black Butte Ranch, Skamania Lodge, Surfsand Resort, Sunriver Resort, Timberline Lodge

BEST LOCAL HIKE

Winner: Forest Park

Be it ever so humble, there’s no place like home. Forest Park is Portland’s shared backyard, and the trails that wind their way above the city are a welcome respite from concrete for all ages.

Top 5: Eagle Creek Trail, Falls Creek Falls, Powell Butte, Timothy Lake, Wahclella Falls