Things to Do in Lake Oswego According to a Mom

Looking for things to do in Lake Oswego? Whether you live in Portland and are looking for fun things to do with the kids or you are visiting from out of state, Lake Oswego is a great day trip.

Parks, shops, restaurants. Lake Oswego has it all!

Only 20 minutes from downtown Portland, this city is full of charm and entertainment opportunities. Here are my top things to do in Lake Oswego.

 

George Rogers Park

 

We spend a ton of time in George Rogers Park in the summer. Out of all the things to do in Lake Oswego, this is our favorite one. It’s such a great spot for paddle boarding and for the kids to swim/splash around. 

 

You can even rent a kayak or paddleboard right there, by the water. So easy! 

 

The small beach by the river gets crowded though, so I recommend arriving early to secure your spot. Bring floats, sand toys and snacks so you can stay for a few hours. 

 

Pro -tip- depending on the size of your watercraft, you might need a permit from the city. The permit can be purchased online and it’s valid for the whole season. You can find more information about permits here.

 

The winter can be really beautiful out there too! For starters they have a fantastic playground that caters for a variety of ages. There’s a sandbox, climbing structures and even a covered area in case of unexpected rain.

 

The riverfront is beautiful in all weather and you can spend some time down there throwing rocks at the water or watching boats and birds come by, even when it’s cold.

 

 

Ride the Willamette Shore Trolley

 

Kids will absolutely love this activity. This vintage trolley ride will take you through a tunnel and some of Lake Oswego’s neighborhoods.

 

The Trolley runs on Saturdays and Sundays from Memorial Day thru Labor Day.

 

Special rides are available during the Holidays, but hurry! Tickets sell out pretty fast!

 

There’s also a museum so the kids can learn more about the vintage trolleys.

 

Treat Yourselves

 

Once you go through a few of the things to do in Lake Oswego, you will probably find your kids are going to start screaming “I’m hungry!”, or if your kids are like mine they will do it straight away as you arrive haha. 

 

Good news is there are many kid-friendly options for eating in Lake Oswego.

 

What’s more kid friendly than pasta? If your kids love pasta (and I suspect they do), head over to Grassa. Their pasta dishes are delicious for every age, but the kids’ spaghetti and meatballs has been a real winner with our son for years!

 

If you are looking for a homey meal that will appeal to the whole family, Biscuits Café is another favorite. Their menu variety is really great without being overwhelming. Kids’ portions are fun and sensible in size.

 

After lunch you have some pretty sweet ( pun intended) desert options.

You can head over to Salt and Straw for their unusual and iconic ice cream flavors ( chocolate gooey brownie does the trick for me).

Another options is the absolutely delicious Nola Doughnuts. Your kids ( and you) will love it!

 

Lake Oswego Farmers’ Market

 

Looking for local producers and makers? What better place to find them than at the Farmers’ Market.

 

Farmers’ Markets are pretty magical places to go with kids in my opinion. They can learn more about agriculture and how food is made, can discover new flavors and experiment with their palate.

 

Here you can find live music and a Farm Fresh Program where kids are asked to answer some questions or find out information about the market and they get tokens to spend. My son absolutely loves this!

 

The Market runs from May to early October from 8:30-1:30

Visit Tryon Creek State Park

 

A short car ride from Lake Oswego is Tryon Creek State Park. A beautiful wonderland of greenery and peace. 

 

There are a variety of trail lengths, whatever your kids’ tolerance for walking is, you can find a trail there. There are also horse trails and bicycle paths.

 

The visitor center has a ton of information and even activities for the kids.  If you check in with them in advance, you might even be able to attend one of their free guided walks for kids. The instructors are so knowledgeable and friendly, kids will love it.

 

Looking for more adventures in the PNW? Here’s a post about Things to in Mt Hood with Kids

 

Thinking about visiting Oregon? Why not book your family pictures while you are here? Let’s get started