Gilbert's Discovery Village

Outing: A. C. Gilbert's Discovery Village in downtown Salem
Cost: $12.50 (with AAA) for one adult and one child. Prices here. 
Travel time: About 45 minutes from NW Portland
Age: Any age child but to take full advantage of the outdoor features probably 4 years old
Reason to go: The huge 'Erector Set' maze and slide structure outside.

Now, don't get me wrong. I'm a huge fan of the Portland Children's Museum. Seriously, go. However, if you have the time, you must check out A. C. Gilbert's Discovery Village sometime. Find a dry day. Plan for the travel time. Load up your at-least-four-year-old. And check this out! It's the Erector Set Tower - a several story wooden and metal structure with stairs, ladders, twists, turns, slides, bridges, and views for miles.  Wow.

 

 

 

All the photos above were taken from the ground. This alone is worth the cost of admission and the long drive. Your kids can climb throughout it to find multiple exits and pathways. It's incredible.

The museum has more to offer though:

Mammoth dig

Many music stations on the decks outside

A huge life-sized cell that the kids can climb through.

Paddlewheeler structure

View leaving one of the exhibit houses

Inside, the features are more like Portland's Museum (just a sampling below).

Shadow room (this is another favorite area for my son)

Grocery

Toddler Room

Trip to China

You could be here for hours just to see everything. It's not an everyday trip but give it a try before the wet season starts. Let me know what you think!