From experimenting with soap bubbles at a science museum to rafting along the Rogue River’s rapids, southern Oregon’s Rogue River region offers travel writers and travel writer bloggers lots of great family-friendly and outdoor adventure story ideas. Not too long ago, my family and I enjoyed several days exploring the kid-friendly side of this diverse area.

Like another lucky writer at the Travel and Words ’13 conference, I was fortunate enough to win a drawing for a research trip hosted by regional marketing tourism groups Travel Medford and Grants Pass Tourism. These friendly folks are great contacts for travel writers looking for new stories ideas as well as writers on assignment that need help crafting an itinerary.

Famed home of the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Ashland also has a lot to offer families. On the outskirts of the city is the innovative ScienceWorks Hands-On Museum, which offers 26,000 sq. ft. of interactive exhibits and science shows for all ages. Just east of Ashland, farm tours and farm stays are available at Willow-Witt Farm. Or find outdoor thrills at Rogue Valley Zipline Adventures. Activities in Ashland proper include Lithia Park, North Mountain Park Nature Center and the Schneider Museum of Art.

The newly relocated Kid-Time Discovery Center in Medford, located next door to the Southern Oregon Historical Society Center, offers children two stories of creative and interactive exhibits. My three-year-old son Finn loved playing in the construction exhibit. Bumper boats, miniature golf, go karts, batting cages, and arcade games are all found at the Rogue Valley Family Fun Center. Other great kid-friendly activities include train rides at the historic Railroad Park and exploring the Bear Creek Nature and Bicycling National Recreational Trail.

In Grants Pass, find green space and construction-themed play equipment at Riverside Park, 60,000 cubic feet of tube slides and ball pits at Club Northwest “KidZone”, build Lego creations at Rebel Bricks, or cruise along the scenic Rogue River with Hellgate Jetboat Excursions. You can also experience the art of glass-blowing up and personal at The Glass Forge.

Less then ten miles north of Grants Pass in the small town of Merlin, Rogue Wilderness Adventures offers travel writers a treasure trove of outdoor stories. For over 40 years, this local company has offered world-class rafting, hiking and fishing getaways along the Rogue River. My husband, our son Finn and I had a wonderful time viewing Oregon wildlife at the Wildlife Images Rehabilitation Center, an impressive clinic, interpretive center and animal-holding facility that tends injured and orphaned animals.

In Oregon’s scenic Rogue River Country, family adventures and stories abound for travel writers, travel writer bloggers and travel photographers.

Both a museum and an enginehouse, the Oregon Rail Heritage Center (ORHC) in Portland, OR offers families of all ages a fun and interactive experience. Watch as the engineers work on the locomotives, tour a vintage 1950s caboose, explore Oregon’s rail history and more. Located in Portland’s Central Eastside neighborhood, the ORHC is operated by the non-profit Oregon Rail Heritage Foundation (ORHF) and staffed by friendly, knowledgeable volunteers.

Before going inside, you and the kids can take a few minutes to explore the train memorabilia in the front yard. To your right you may see a vintage yellow caboose, which you and the kids can self-tour anytime during the center’s hours. Originally built in 1944, the caboose is on loan from the Oregon Pacific Railroad and is still in active use.

If the caboose is out on the rails, ask one of the center’s staff to give you a quick tour of the Mount Hood railcar. Constructed in 1950, the Mount Hood car is a combination sleeping berth, kitchen and lounge area. It’s also one of the cars used in the ORHC’s popular Holiday Express.

Then head inside to see the vintage locomotives. At 19,200 sq. ft., the enginehouse resembles a large hanger and can hold up to four locomotives. There are also bays for equipment, offices, an interpretive center, gift shop and sitting area. The ORHC is home to three steam locomotives, the SP 4449, the SP&S 700 and the OR&N 197. All are owned by the City of Portland. Currently, it also houses two privately-owned diesel engines, the NP 190 and the NP 324, both built in the late 1940s and 1950s.

My favorite engine is the OR&N 197, a steam locomotive built in the early 1900s. Used in the 1905 Lewis & Clark Exposition, the OR&N 197 served as a passenger train along the Union Pacific until it was retired in the 1950s. Hollowed out over the decades, volunteers are now working to rebuild this historic locomotive.

For young children, there’s a toy train set for them to play with at the front of the enginehouse, near the exhibit area. My three-year-old son had a great time playing here while my husband and I took turns exploring the center. Kids four years and older can pick up a Jr. Engineer Facts Sheet for a fun scavenger hunt about the ORHC’s locomotives.

Also, check out the ORHC’s latest exhibit on Oregon’s rail history. Highlights usually include informational signs, photographs, railroad memorabilia and video footage. And look for more additions coming down the line. The foundation is already planning to add a turntable and a second floor interpretive center, giving generations of families a fun and dynamic destination for years to come.

When You Go:
Oregon Rail Heritage Center
2250 SE Water Ave.
503-680-8895

Hours are Thurs.-Sun. 1pm-5pm. Admission is free but donations are greatly appreciated. Guided tours are available on request.

 

 

Families of all ages interested in sledding and snowshoeing in Washington’s Mt Rainier National Park can head to the Snowplay Area at Paradise. Here you and the kids can zip, slide and play in the snow. The Snowplay Area is generally open during weekends and school breaks from mid-December through the end of March and is located on the hill above the Jackson Visitor Center.

On a blustery winter afternoon, my family and I lined up at the top of the runs, watching folks of all ages zooming down the slope in plastic sleds, saucers and inner tubes. (No hard toboggans or runner sleds are allowed for safety reasons.) When it was our turn, my two-year-old son laughed with delight as we sped down several hundred feet in our bright yellow sled.

Prefer snowshoeing? Then strap on your snowshoes and hit the trails or sign up for a two-hour, ranger-guided snowshoe hike at the Jackson Visitors Center. Moderately strenuous, this hike is great for beginners and families with older kids. Snowshoes are available to borrow with a $4 per-pair donation. While only adults and kids eight years and older can sign up, the rangers will allow younger children in front or back carriers to come. Dress them very warmly, rangers advise, for little ones can get very cold because they aren’t moving.

After your sled runs or snowshoeing, stow your gear and head over to the visitor center cafeteria for a hearty lunch and warm beverages.

For more information on visiting Paradise and Longmire, check out Visit Rainier.