Sure, the calendar still says late February (or is it still January? Or are we on to May already?), but anyone who has lived in the Pacific Northwest for even a year knows that the weather has nothing to do with dates.
The weather does what it wants when it wants, so you should act accordingly. When planning a family outing, that is.
This weekend is the first batch of spring weather in 2025, and it couldn’t have come at a better time as many of us were buried under snow two weeks ago, and just a week ago, many near the coast and valley were hit with a rain and wind storm not usually seen around here. There was even a tornado warning in Clackamas this week, which may or may not be my fault, as I watched a certain tornado-themed movie (well, tornadoes) that afternoon on a rare weekday off from work.
Warmish weather doesn’t necessarily mean dry weather, as we have come to know it in the PNW, so layer up and pack the raincoat—the one you finally bought last year—with a lining that doesn’t glue itself to your skin on warm days with a sprinkler in the sky.
We are still in the final weeks of winter, but that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy a few spring-weather days in the middle. Most of the state should get something close to 60 degrees and sunny, and that will turn colder with rain by Sunday morning, so make sure you plan your adventures for the first day of the weekend unless you prefer to get out when the crowds are thinning out to avoid the outdoors showers they didn’t ask for.
If you have kids still working toward their teen years (and if your oldest is in their teens, it’s not a deal breaker), the Oregon Zoo is always a good choice. Starting this Saturday, the zoo is open daily 9:30-5:30, and they have discount tickets available this weekend for $13 per person. The animals are usually out on mild weather days, and this could be a great chance to see them emerge from their winter homes before the spring crowds converge and the summer weather forces them into hiding.
If you don’t get over to the zoo on Saturday, they are still open on Sunday, and with rain in the forecast, you might have it primarily to yourself. And wet animals are still animals; they just might look a little different, just like the kids when they refuse to keep their hood up and get their heads soaked. Or if they manage to keep their hood on, you find out the tough way that the jacket you got on sale at the warehouse club is not waterproof but water resistant and is now soaking the shirt they didn’t bring a backup for. Good news, the zoo has shirts for sale, but don’t let your kids follow you into the gift shop or you’ll be buying them toys and other things they don’t need. The Holidays were less than two months ago, and many of those kids have birthdays rapidly approaching. Snow cones are cheaper than t-shirts anyway and score you more quickly to expire brownie points. Just don’t forget the baby wipes you didn’t stop buying long after your kids were potty trained, they just never stop coming in handy at a time when napkins don’t work and you can’t get your kids to stop moving to wash their sticky hands (snow cone brownie points won’t last long, keep them moving!)
Been to the zoo recently, or is it just not your thing? Understandable. Not relatable for me, but understandable.
Hood River is a lovely drive on sunny days and offers many fun options for all ages, with plenty of outdoor activities and neat shops to wander for hours. If your kids need to burn off energy, take them over to the children’s park on the east side of town. The play areas on the waterfront look neat but, upon closer inspection, usually aren’t made for lasting entertainment, where the children’s park is a wooden castle with tons of fun play areas. It has a synthetic walking surface so you won’t get sore feet tracking your kids around the park, and they won’t skin their little knees and elbows playing with the ferocity of someone who will never see a slide ever again.
If you don’t live close enough to the zoo or the gorge to consider a day trip there, have you considered the coast? Well, this is the wrong weekend for a trip out there, as they are expecting rain in the 50s, but if you don’t mind a wet walk on the beach, go for it. The coffee and pastries taste just as good in a hood as in flip-flops on dry days. You can drive to the coast, go get coffee, go for a walk, take a break on a bench while the kids shop for crazy expensive kites you will never buy them because they can’t give you one reason they need a premium racing kite that comes with three handles they will never sort properly again, walk the dog, get another coffee, see a movie, get dinner, and be home before 10pm. You will still have Sunday to do chores and make the Sunday afternoon supper before you start watching your favorite cold-weather shows with a cup of coffee or tea, wishing all weekends could be like this.
Even if this isn’t the right weekend for an adventure, don’t lose sleep over it – this is just a preview. Spring isn’t here yet, but it’s on the way. Spring will be here sooner than you think – no matter what that overhyped rodent said in Pennsylvania.
Casey Mabbott is a husband and parent first, and also an experienced and dedicated writer and researcher. Born and raised in the Portland area, when Casey is not spending time with his family gallivanting around Portland and the surrounding areas, he genuinely enjoys helping people (especially families) find the “hidden gems” in the Pacific Northwest. In today’s world of lightning fast information at our fingertips, it’s truly a wonder to stumble across a place, an experience, or an activity you’ve never heard of.