The week of March 27th is spring break for Oregon families, and while that usually feels like a preview of summer, this year probably won’t feel that way – unless you want to do some serious traveling. 

If you haven’t digested the current weather forecast, let me warn you that there is some particularly strange spring break weather headed to Oregon. You can basically throw a dart in any direction, and unless you’re willing to drive more than 3 hours, you are going to hit April showers arriving about a week early. 

The weather at the coast will be in the 40s and rainy from the northernmost point of Astoria to the southernmost part of Brookings. The coast is a beautiful spot to spend a day even in the worst weather, and if you have to choose between staying home or staying at the coast, I would always choose the coast if the option is available. People born and raised in Oregon are more confused by nice weather at the beach than they are when it rains, so no one is going to go into shock if they see rain clouds. Regardless of the time of year, a good rule is always to have the people traveling with you be prepared for unfriendly weather like wind and rain as you get closer to the ocean. 

If you head east to the gorge and stop in Hood River, you’ll dodge the rain after the weekend but will still get chilly weather in the 50s. Hood River is a really neat town with lots to do for all ages, but a good amount of those activities involve the outdoors, so just like the coast, prepare for some rain or at least some cold wind. For most adults in the Pacific Northwest, a 50-degree day in the wind might feel like spring, but your young ones may not feel the same way. I can only speak for our little family, but our kids don’t like the wind very much. And yet they flourish in a rainstorm. Go figure. 

Heading to central Oregon will get you out of the rain, but you’ll likely see snow instead. Sun River is a common spring break destination, but this year it would be like going to Aspen (and not the one in France or California you may have heard about). With fresh snow falling over the weekend, I would head there in warm gear rather than packing a bathing suit and sunscreen. Sunriver is another spot that is always fun regardless of the weather, but if you had your heart set on tennis and swimming, you won’t be getting to do those things this time.

Maybe you were hoping to go to Mount Hood and do some camping? Well, that’s going to look a little different. You’ll be trudging through the snow for starters, and the campgrounds won’t be serviced, so you’ll have to, shall we say, bring home anything and everything you bring with you. And if you decide to go anyway, you’ll want to make the Ranger station nearby your first stop to get permission before you arrive at a campground with your party; they tend to frown on unannounced visitors. 

If you were going to get out of town to get away from the weather, you might as well stay put, but that doesn’t mean you have to do the same old stuff. You can still put together a series of outings nearby to get out of the house without paying for lodging.

For those looking to seek cover and get their outdoor entertainment indoors, or at least mostly, here are some excellent options – 

Bullwinkle’s

Open daily from 12pm-8pm on weekdays and 12pm-11pm on weekends, you can’t miss with this place. This is about as close as you can get to having an indoor amusement park. There is something for the thrill seeker crowd, something for the indoor arcade folks, even a soft play zone for kids 5 and under, and a full-service bowling alley. You can buy an unlimited pass for a couple of hours or choose to pay for each option individually. They have a full restaurant, but they also have a snack bar for any of you that will never leave the theme park without experiencing cheap nachos or a churro. 

North Clackamas Aquatic Park

If you want to go to a water park or the ocean, this is the place for you during the rain. They have most of the attractions you would have seen at a major water park – a wave pool, slides, a rock wall, and tube and board rentals. The only thing missing will be the sunny skies, but you aren’t going to get those around here for your week off. 

If you’re willing to brave the bad weather but still want to get out and have some spring break fun even if there isn’t much sun, here are some places you probably haven’t been to recently and can give your family a good time while revisiting a place from your childhood. Warning – nostalgia hits at the strangest times! 

Enchanted Forest

Oregon’s oldest theme park? No, but you might think so based on the designs of the buildings around you when you are wandering the grounds. Located in Turner between Salem and Albany, it’s the closest thing you’re going to get to Knotts Berry Farm this far north of the LA area. Unique rides, fun attractions for all ages but mainly aimed at the younger kids, there is something even if your memories from the late 1980s or early 1990s are not as fresh as the paint on these storied walls (and yes, these walls do indeed talk). They are open from 1030am-5pm daily and have plenty to keep you busy, you won’t need a multi-day pass, but you will need a trip down memory lane. 

Oaks Park

If Enchanted Forest is the Knott’s Berry Farm of Oregon (spoilers – it’s not), then Oaks Park must be the Disneyland around these parts (also, not true). What it is, is Oregon’s oldest amusement park, originally opening in 1992. This place is good for what it is, which is a permanent fairground with neat attractions. If you go with reasonable expectations, you won’t be disappointed. You want roller coasters? They have roller coasters. You want kiddie rides? They have kiddie rides. You want a roller rink with a DJ? They have that too. This place has it all, and it’s for all ages, all day. Oaks Park is open 12pm-5pm daily, but if you want to stay after the amusement rides close, they do have open skating at their roller rink until 9:30pm on weeknights and until 10:30pm on weekends. You won’t just walk down memory lane; you will skate there.