Technically not a park, and technically not free (although you can absolutely apply for the family access pass which gives you admission all year round for only $15!), the Portland Children's Museum has just completed an amazing outdoor area for kids to run, frolic and get wet in!

Located in Washington Park (sharing a parking lot with the Oregon Zoo), the Portland Children's Museum offers hands on outdoor and indoor exhibits, mainly for the 10 and under set. 

According to their website, "In 1946 visionary Portlander, Dorothea Lensch, founded the  'Junior Museum and Adventure House,' as part of Portland Parks and Recreation. Lensch, who served as Portland’s recreation director from 1937–1972, was particularly dedicated to meeting the needs of Portland’s underserved communities. She developed innovative programs for children with special needs and for economically disadvantaged families, a legacy that lives on in our mission and core values."  While the steep price of $10.75 per person (including adults) doesn't scream helping the "economically disadvantaged" the family access plan and  family access admission ($1) does help.

The museum has rotating exhibits along with static ones such as a clay room, the "twilight forest," a construction area and an area for babies that will keep your little ones entertained.  When we went, they were having a circus themed exhibit, and it was  hit with the kids.  All in all, it's a great way to spend your Saturday. ​

The Tualatin Hills Nature Park (and accompanying nature center)  the jewel of the THPRD's urban park system.  The park is open year round and is full of wildlife (one of the reasons no dogs are allowed).  There are paved, gravel and dirt paths snaking through this 222 acre oasis.  If you wander enough, you may find yourself staring at a pond covered in lily pads, traversing a wooden bridge over stinky skunk cabbage, or emerging suddenly to the Merlo Road/158th Max Station.  

There are two main entrances to the park:   The first is to to take the MAX to the Merlo Road/15th Max Station.  The other is located at 15655 SW Millikan Way, Beaverton, OR 97003. 

The Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge (TRNWR) is a unique feature on the Portland Metro landscape, not the least because it is actually an Oak Savannah full of birds (including several bald eagles!) and other animals you might not expect to see 20 minutes from downtown Portland.    The wide, flat, trails make it perfect for a family, even if one member is in a stroller (there is a slight incline on the way down, but not too steep).   

The park is located at 19255 SW Pacific Highway Sherwood, OR 97140 and is managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services and is currently just over 1,300 acres, with plans to increase it to 3,000 acres.  There are facilities at the nature center, but none on the trail. 

This little park is tucked away in the Cedar Hills neighborhood (technically Portland, but practically speaking: Beaverton) and can be accessed off of SW Foothills Dr. near the Cedar Hills Recreation Center.  This park is also directly adjacent to Foothills Park.  

The area for the park was originally marshland with runoff from Johnson Creek, but was dredged by a developer in in 1965 to create an attractive neighborhood for the newly minted residents of the Cedar Hills neighborhood.  The park was turned over to the Tualatin Hills Parks and Recreation District in 1969 and has been maintained by them ever since. 

On the day we went, there were several families fishing on the piers.  This fisherman, Seth, caught a nice size koi which he then gently released back into the pond with his son.  The lake is also stocked with bass and rainbow trout, which are quite tasty.