Many people think of Portland as just a big city, but there’s more to it than just concrete buildings. Portland is home to many small family-run farms that let your kids connect with animals and nature like never before. There’s nothing better than a day spent out on the farm exploring the sights and sounds of the animals and connecting with nature. Kids everywhere love seeing the animals they read about in books and watch on tv, up close and personal. Your little ones will have a fantastic time as they get to pet and feed their favorite animals and taste locally grown fruits and vegetables. Many of the farms listed have their own shops where you can buy food and goods grown and produced right there, which is not only exciting for you but helps support the local community and enable local farms to continue running. So if you’re looking for the best farms around Portland to take your kids to, then just keep reading!
Triskelee Farm is a multi-generational family-run business that prides itself in teaching the joys of farming. Named after the Celtic symbol Triskele, which stands for the past, present, and future, Triskelee Farm is proud to have three generations working and living together to provide education and conservation. Many animals are available for you to pet and feed, including goats, chickens, ostriches, peacocks, horses, and alpacas. You can also book a farm tour, where your family can see the ins and outs of what it means to be a farmer and the work that goes into running a farm successfully. You can also take a fun horse ride or visit the exciting learning center. Located within a half-hour of Portland, Triskelee Farm offers enjoyment for the entire family.
Frog Pond Farm is a family-owned farm that is fun for the whole family. Get up close to llamas, goats, pigs, cows, chickens, and even a camel at their petting area. Fun activities are scattered throughout, including basketball hoops, a giant Connect Four, tennis ball slingshot, and giant soccer balls. Your kids are sure to have a blast from the moment they get out of the car! There is also a coffee cart that sells pastries for the adults to enjoy. Only about a half-hour outside of Portland, you have to add Frog Pond Farm onto your list of fun kid-friendly activities to check out! Frog Pond is open year-round and is proud to host holiday events your kids will love, from a pumpkin patch to a Christmas Tree farm where you can pick your own tree!
Shrink Ray Farms is a one-acre farm with an array of chickens, goats, sheep, and a duck pond and orchard. Located on a picturesque property overlooking the Columbia Gorge, you can walk along the grounds enjoying the fresh air and local produce that grows throughout. Vegetables are available to purchase along with the fruit grown within the orchard. For an extra fun treat, you can order a goatgram, a bouquet of local plants that you get to feed to one of the goats on the farm. Your little one will get a kick out of watching them eat every green morsel vehicle you get to pet them. A greenhouse that works year-round to provide the freshest and most delicious food is also on the property. Shrink Ray Farms is only a short drive from Portland and is sure to be an experience you and your kids never forget!
Topaz Farms is located on Sauvie Island and is a locally run family farm that features a petting zoo with mini goats and donkeys, ducks, roosters, chickens, and turkeys. There is also a popular farmers market attached that features locally grown produce from this and other farms around the area. There are holiday events like a pumpkin patch and hayride that are fun for kids of all ages. Topaz Farms is also proud to host Farm To Table days where they serve picnics, dinners, and brewery-themed meals featuring produce grown in the area. They also offer live music from local artists where everyone can sing and dance along! Topaz Farms has opened a section of their property to an educational center that allows kids and adults to learn more about the impact of farms on the economy and how to grow and cultivate their food. Located a short distance from Portland and open on both weekdays and the weekend, a visit to Topaz Farms is sure to be a fun-filled day your kids will talk about for years to come!
Alpacas Of Oregon is an award-winning farm that offers all things alpaca-related! Your kids can get up close to these amazing animals and learn how their coats are sheered and used to create soft and warm yarn and clothing. There is a store where you can buy products made from the fibers of the alpacas you meet, which is a neat way to remember your visit and support local farms. You’ll have a blast learning and discovering at Alpacas Of Oregon! They’re located about thirty minutes outside of Portland, and a visit here promised to be one you’ll enjoy.
Visiting a farm is a great way to introduce your kids to new and exciting things, including animals and how their food is grown and harvested. Right outside of Portland, there are many family-owned farms you can visit for an excursion that is both educational and exciting!
