Terri Ramsey Beavers When the weekend hits, the first thing you and your family want to do is relax. Then you want to have fun! You’ve spent the week working or going to school, and an enjoyable weekend feels well deserved. But after a busy week, it may be hard to come up with the perfect weekend activity. You may be asking yourself, “Are there any fun centers near me?” or “What can we do that we haven’t done already?” You may be too exhausted to find the perfect thing.
Lucky for you, there are tons of fun things to do on the weekends in the Portland, Oregon, area. So many things that there’s a good chance you haven’t even come close to exhausting your options yet. We’ll help you start the search with three fun options to choose from when looking for a fun weekend activity.
Fun Centers
There aren’t many places that have something to do that will satisfy everyone in your family. With technology playing such a big part in our lives, it’s easy for family members to retreat into their own individual hobbies on the weekends. That’s why fun centers are the perfect weekend activity. Fun centers like Bullwinkle’s in Wilsonville are a blast to visit and can provide enough different activities to entertain your family for an entire day.
There’s a reason they’re called fun centers. With so many options to play and do, it’s almost impossible to not have fun. Looking for a group activity? Bullwinkle’s has go-karts, laser tag, and bumper boats, and all are great options to get the whole family together and participate in one activity. Is your family a little more adventurous? On the Soaring Eagle Zipline, you’ll reach speeds of up to 25 miles per hour zipping 800 feet of two-way lines. And the Sky Trail will truly test your courage as you navigate through a 20-foot-high rope trail.
Are there any gamers in your family? If so, they’ll be glad to know that along with all the things mentioned previously, Bullwinkle’s fun center also has an arcade with over 100 games to play! There’s an amazing immersive experience called the XD Dark Ride, where up to eight riders can enter a movie experience with 3-D graphics and intense motions. Experience special effects while using a laser blaster to battle against on-screen enemies and compete against other players.
Take a break from the day at our restaurant where they serve pizza, burgers, fun appetizers, and even beer for the adults. And when you’re ready to get back out there and have some after-dinner fun, gather the family and head over to the bowling alley!
This is really a one-stop shop when it comes to weekend fun. Purchase play passes if you intend on spending the day so that all of your activities are bundled into one discounted price. A day at Bullwinkle’s will leave your family with a fun bonding experience and memories that will last a lifetime.
Hiking
The Pacific Northwest is one of the best regions in which to get out and explore nature. Taking a hike couldn’t be easier with the vast number of parks and forests in the area. With most being free or very low in cost, this is a great way to spend a weekend.
There’s a good chance that some of the best hiking in the Pacific Northwest is only a short drive from where you live. One of the most popular hiking destinations is Mt. Hood National Forest. It’s a great local forest that has a variety of hiking trails to explore. Walk up mountains, through valleys, and past some epic waterfalls while hiking through the area.
Forest Park is another cool local area to take your family on a hike. The scenic views and manageable terrain will give you and your family a welcomed breath of fresh air. Go prepared by packing lots of water, snacks, and even a picnic lunch for everyone to enjoy. Make any spot in your picnic area and bring a camera so you have a way to remember the time.
Extend this into a full weekend activity by spending the night. Mt. Hood has a lot of great camping options. If your family is comfortable enough sleeping outdoors, tent camping sites are the least expensive option. Purchase a few tents and have fun learning to set them up with the family. Pack s’mores ingredients and spend the night by the fire, telling stories and bonding.
If you prefer staying indoors, many campsites have yurt and cabin options, which usually have beds and electricity in them. Though a comfier experience, you’ll still be surrounded by nature and have a great time.
Mini-Golf
Mini-golf is a family-friendly activity that everyone can enjoy and is perfect for nearly all ages. It’s a great way to incorporate everyone from grandparents to children into a weekend activity. There are a variety of options for mini-golf in the area. If you’re looking for a spooky experience, try Glowing Greens in downtown Portland. This glow-in-the-dark experience adds a spooky vibe to your game, and its 3-D decorations will only enhance your experience. But before anything else, make sure that you have with you your golf bag rain cover where you can store your golf-needed pieces of stuff. With a golf bag rain cover, you are sure that your golf kinds of stuff are protected from being wet by the rain.
Want to play a group game where you can order appetizers while you play and maybe even drinks? Try out Topgolf in Hillsboro. Though not exactly mini-golf, this fun game allows you to hit microchipped golf balls onto dartboard-like targets on a huge field. You score points depending on how close you get to each target. It most resembles going to the driving range, but is a lot easier, more relaxed, and family-friendly. At night, the targets light up and really liven up the place.
Lastly, if you’re looking for a classic, all-ages kind of mini-golf, you can head to Bullwinkle’s. We have not one, but two beautifully landscaped mini-golf courses to choose from. Each is filled with varying obstacles, beautiful decor, and 18 classic holes to compete through with your family and friends.