See Part 1 here!

Spring Break in the Pacific Northwest might not always have sun, but that doesn’t mean you can’t still have fun. Check out these great ideas for short Spring Break getaways.

Salem

Book yourself a room at any of the reasonably priced hotels with a pool to get the most mileage out of this get-a-way. Smaller kids will love Gilbert House Children’s Museum where they can get inspired with hands-on exhibits and play areas. Visit the delightful Enchanted Forest for a day of theme park fun. Bring your own lunch and eat at one of the many picnic tables, or buy food from a park vendor. Take a ride on the Willamette Queen, a gorgeous double-paddle sternwheeler. Hour-long tours depart from Riverfront Park in Salem. Explore our State Capitol and check out exhibits on the first floor to see how Oregonians have influenced our state government over the years. When you get hungry, stop by Annette’s Westgate Café for a hearty breakfast, lunch or dinner.

Kahneeta

If you want to park yourself somewhere and relax for a few days, check out KahNeeTa Resort and Spa. Bonus: once you get east of the cascades, there’s a chance you might even have sun and blue skies for Spring Break! The pools are warmed by mineral hot springs and range from the shallow, walk-around pools where parents don’t have to be in constant freak-out mode while their little ones play, to the diving board, water slide adorned numbers the teens will love. Play a few rounds of mini golf or schedule a horseback ride up to a scenic ridge lookout. Enjoy the several restaurants on-location, but if you want other options, you’ll need to be prepared to drive a while.

Portland

Play tourist here in town and do a fun activity every day of the week. Sports fans and curious kids will love taking a guided tour of the Moda Center or Providence Park Stadium. After your Timber’s Tour, hit up Uno Mas for some muy delicioso tacos in a fan-centric atmosphere. Franz Bakery offers a fun, free, and tasty tour of their facility on NE 11th Don’t forget to visit the outlet across the street for great prices on yummy treats. Walk or bike the East Bank Esplanade and cross the Burnside Bridge to loop back along Tom McCall Waterfront Park. Or, for kiddos with a little more endurance in their legs, try the 4-T Trail that completes a loop via a four-mile trail, tram, trolley and train. Get lost in Powell’s for a few hours, and then find a food cart pod for lunch. Taste test at a different donut shop every day. Portland has enough to keep you going long past Spring Break. But Pip’s should definitely be towards the top of your list.