# Weekend getaways from Portland with kids Canonical page: https://littlesweekly.com/portland-or/weekend-getaways/ > The best trip within about five hours of Portland for each of the next 6 weekends, chosen for kids under 6. Every event links to the official page we checked it on. After the weekends there are 3 day trips that work any weekend. Last checked: 2026-10-29. ## Weekend of Oct 30–Nov 1 Nothing verified within reach is worth the drive this weekend. ## Weekend of Nov 6–8 Nothing verified within reach is worth the drive this weekend. ## Weekend of Nov 13–15: Seattle (about 3 hr 30 min) WildLanterns at Woodland Park Zoo, 4 to 9pm with last entry at 8:30. Tickets are dated, so pick your night before you drive over. - **WildLanterns**, Fri Nov 13, 4–9pm (last entry 8:30pm), Woodland Park Zoo. Dated tickets; price on the ticket page. Opens 11/13; runs through 01/17. Low Sensory Nights are Nov 15, Dec 1 and Jan 10. Official page: https://zoo.org/wildlanterns/ ## Weekend of Nov 20–22: Seattle (about 3 hr 30 min) Santa is at the Seattle Christmas Market in Fisher Pavilion at Seattle Center. Weekend hours run from 11:30am, so you can go before nap. - **Santa at the Seattle Christmas Market**, Fri Nov 20, Weekdays 4–9pm and weekends 11:30am–9pm through Dec 13; Dec 24 10am–7pm, Seattle Center, Fisher Pavilion. Market ticket required; price on the ticket page. Opens 11/20; runs through 12/24. Official page: https://www.seattlechristmasmarket.com/ ## Weekend of Nov 27–29: Seattle (about 3 hr 30 min) The Winterfest train and village at the Seattle Center Armory is free, 10am to 6pm, and Snowflake Lane runs in Bellevue at 7pm. - **Cookies with Santa on the Christmas Ship**, Fri Nov 27, 2pm sailings, Argosy Cruises Christmas Ship. Cruise ticket; price on the booking page. Opens 11/27; runs through 12/23. Kids on 2pm sailings get cookies with Santa. Every sailing has a choir and Santa reading ’Twas the Night Before Christmas. Official page: https://www.argosycruises.com/christmas-ship-festival/ - **Snowflake Lane**, Fri Nov 27, 7pm (about 25 minutes), Bellevue Way between NE 4th and NE 8th. Free; parking is free in Bellevue Collection garages. Opens 11/27; runs through 12/24. A free holiday show on Bellevue Way every night at 7. On Friday through Sunday, get there about an hour early. Official page: https://bellevuecollection.com/snowflakelane/ - **Winterfest Winter Train and Village**, Fri Nov 27, 10am–6pm, Seattle Center Armory. Free; donations accepted. Opens 11/27; runs through 12/31. A model train and holiday village inside the Armory. Kids can take a turn running the train between 10:30am and 5:30pm. Official page: https://www.seattlecenter.com/events/featured-events/winterfest ## Weekend of Dec 4–6: Seattle (about 3 hr 30 min) Seattle Center's Winterfest Winter Train and Village is free and open 10 a.m.–6 p.m., a daytime outing that fits around naps. - **Winterfest Winter Train and Village**, Fri Dec 4, Sat Dec 5, Sun Dec 6, 10am–6pm, Seattle Center Armory. Free; donations accepted. Opens 11/27; runs through 12/31. A model train and holiday village inside the Armory. Kids can take a turn running the train between 10:30am and 5:30pm. Official page: https://www.seattlecenter.com/events/featured-events/winterfest ## Other family getaways within 5 hours We don't post event listings for these places. Check the official page for hours and what's on. - **Mount Rainier National Park**, Paradise, WA (about 3 hr 30 min from Portland). Paradise is known for its wildflower meadows and gets about 640 inches of snow in an average year. Official page: https://www.nps.gov/mora/ ## Day trips any weekend - **North American Aerospace Museum (formerly Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum)**, McMinnville (about 1 hr from Portland). The Spruce Goose, Howard Hughes’s giant wooden flying boat, is on display here along with hangars full of other planes. Hours: Daily 9am–5pm; closed Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Cost: $26 adults, $14 youth 9–13, under 3 free; the full price list is on the admissions page. Official page: https://www.evergreenmuseum.org/ - **Seaside Aquarium**, Seaside (about 1 hr 45 min from Portland). A small, old aquarium by the beach where kids can feed the harbor seals. Hours: Opens daily at 9am, closing time varies by season; closed Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Cost: Prices are on the aquarium’s admission page. Official page: https://www.seasideaquarium.com/ - **Oregon Coast Aquarium**, Newport (about 3 hr from Portland). Kids can watch the sea otters at feeding time and reach into the touch pool. Hours: Daily 10am–5pm from Labor Day weekend to Memorial Day weekend, 10am–6pm in summer; closes at 3pm Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve, closed Christmas Day. Cost: Weekdays $29.95 adults and $19.95 ages 3–12; Fridays and weekends $34.95 adults and $24.95 ages 3–12; 2 and under free. Official page: https://aquarium.org/visit/hours/ ## FAQ **Where can we go for a weekend from Portland with little kids?** Over the next 6 weekends our picks from Portland are Seattle. Each one is chosen for what's on that weekend, with the dates, times and prices checked on the official pages. **What are good day trips from Portland with kids?** North American Aerospace Museum (formerly Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum) in McMinnville (about 1 hr), Seaside Aquarium in Seaside (about 1 hr 45 min), Oregon Coast Aquarium in Newport (about 3 hr). Hours and prices are on each card, checked on the official pages. **Which cities are within an easy drive of Portland?** Seattle (about 3 hr 30 min). Times are normal driving times without traffic. **What other family getaways are within 5 hours of Portland?** Mount Rainier National Park (about 3 hr 30 min). We don't post event listings for these, so check the official page for what's open before you go. **Why is the same city picked more than once?** Sometimes one city really does have the most going on two weekends in a row, like a holiday lights opening followed by a show. We don't rotate cities just for variety. **Are the times and prices current?** They're what each official page showed on Oct 29, 2026. Tap through to the official page before you go.