Rainy Day Fun in Portland, Oregon

It rains in Portland. A lot. Here are 8 ways to have fun despite the gray days and muddy playgrounds.

Indoor Play Spaces

A big perk of living in a city where it rains for half the year is the abundance of indoor play spaces for kids. From Montessori-inspired peaceful play spaces like LEKA Playland to trampoline parks such as DEFY Beaverton, Portland has enough to keep your child busy the entire wet season. See our full list of indoor play spaces and pools here, or check out our list of rock climbing gyms.

What could be better than kid-friendly arts and crafts studios? Kids engage in screen-free creativity, and the mess stays outside your home. And Portland has lots of options. Pair your project with a gourmet milkshake at Creative Culture, or upcycle something spectacular at SCRAP PDX. See our full list of studios here.

Whether you go retro at Oaks Park or hit the ice at the Lloyd Center, skating through winter isn’t a bad way to pass the season.

Speaking of classic fun, an afternoon eating pizza and going for a strike is fun for the whole family. See our favorite places to bowl here.

Sneak in some extra learning at one of our city’s fabulous museums.

Winter is the best time for kitchen fun, and Portland has plenty of kid-friendly classes to keep your child busy.

Escape rooms are a bit of a splurge, but they make for a perfect winter holiday gift for the whole family.

Get cozy at the theater, and support Portland’s performing arts scene at one of our local venues. Find a new favorite on our list of places to see a show.

Meg Asby is our Web Editor. She is a mom of two in SW Portland and loves nothing better than a cartful of books from Central Library.