Find fun things to do at home or in the Gorge that are either free or very affordable. Having good times with your kids is important! Laughter and humor are excellent stress relievers, and no prescription is needed.
The memories you make now will last a lifetime.
The memories you make now will last a lifetime.
Free things to do in the Gorge
Bonneville Dam-great fish viewing site! 2 miles west of Bridge of the Gods, off SR 14 in Washington.
Bonneville Fish Hatchery-off 1-84 just west of Cascade Locks, Oregon. The sturgeon are COOL! Say hi to Herman.
The Dalles Dam-ancient petroglyphs, a fun little park where you can feed ducks and see sturgeon.
Dog Mountain-off SR 14 in Washington. Day hike, great views of the Gorge.
Catherine Creek, Lyle, Washington. Excellent hiking site. Spring wildflowers are spectacular.
Children's Park in Hood River, Oregon.
Children's Waterfront Park in Hood River, down on the river.
Sorosis Park in The Dalles, Oregon.
Daubenspeck Park in Bingen, Washington. SKATEPARK NOW OPEN!
Rock Creek Park in Stevenson, Washington.
Goldendale Observatory State Park in Goldendale, Washington. Free.
The Fort Vancouver Regional Library-check for story times for children at your local branch!
Wishram Railroad Park, Wishram, Washington. Check out the huge steam engine there.
Rock Creek Skate Park, Stevenson, Washington. Wear your helmet!
Hood River Skate Park-bring your bike, scooter, helmet, blades or board.
Klickitat Trail for parents in Lyle and Klickitat. Trail heads can be accessed by a short walk from town, and the trail has recently been partially paved for a mile or two near each populated area for easy biking, walking or stroller pushing.
Rowena Overlook/Tom McCall Wildflower Park. Off Old Highway 30, Rowena, Oregon.
Mosier Tunnels, off Old Highway 30, in Mosier, Oregon.
Drive the Fruit Loop through Hood River County. Bring home some yummy fruit to eat.
Home Valley Park, off SR 14 in Home Valley, Washington. Swimming, picnic, small play area.
Whoop-N-Holler Museum, Bickleton, Washington. Small admission charge.
Hood River Aquatic Center $1-a-Swim night-Friday nights 6:30-8:00 pm.
White Salmon Pool Open June through August. Open Swim, Family Swim and lessons provided. Call 493-1419 for more information. Pool can be rented for special events.
Mill-A 4th of July Parade. The best little hometown parade on this side of the Gorge.
Hood River Saturday Market, across from HR Library. Opens 9 am. May to Mid-October.
Gorge Grown Farmer's Market. Thursday evenings at May Street Middle School in Hood River.
Fun Stuff To Do With Your Kids
Make a simple family tree with your children.
Show them pictures of you as a little kid. Children love hearing what you did when you were that age.
Go fishing. Go for a bike ride. Fly a kite in the park.
Hug 'em every day. Always say good night and good morning. Read comic books.
Make comic books.
Visit the giant steam locomotive in Wishram.
Learn some dance steps, like Salsa or boogie-woogie, or a simple waltz. Then dance!
Go out at night and look at the stars and moon.
Watch the clouds. What shapes are they?
Turn the T.V., computer, laptop, iPod, etc. OFF! Put on some music, listen to the sounds of your neighborhood, or just enjoy the silence.
Visit a fire house and look at the fire trucks.(Call ahead)
Have a spontaneous picnic in your yard or living room.
Grab some stale bread and go feed the geese and ducks somewhere. Hood River Marina or Rock Creek are great sites.
Build a fort out of blankets, coffee or end tables and chairs.
Put small items in a small paper bag one at a time. Have your kids reach in and guess only by feeling what the object is.
Go to the library and just look around at the books and movies. Get a free library card and use it!
Teach your kids to play hopscotch. Or jump rope. Or ride a bike. Or swim.
Buy or make a birdfeeder, get some inexpensive bird seed and feed the birds.
Learn to play Slapjack with your kids. Let them win.
Us parrints aren't purrfictt. Let your kids know it's OK to make mistakes. Learn from them.
Give little ones a shallow bowl of water with a little dish soap in it. Put a towel on the floor under the bowl. Help them whip up bubbles with an old fashioned egg beater, then let them play with the suds. NEVER leave them unattended-stay with them!
Grow pumpkins. Grow sunflowers. Grow string beans.
Give them old metal muffin or cake pans, and let them get messy and muddy by making mud pies.
Together, learn to cook a simple meal. Try a new recipe! Help them read the cookbook to you.
Make a bottom drawer in the kitchen cabinets just for them. Fill it with clean used yogurt cups, plastic lids, and other large unbreakable items, and let them stay busy getting into it. Yogurt cups are fun to stack and then knock down.
Build a Lego or wooden block tower as high as you can. Will it reach the ceiling?
Dance to a silly song. Sing to a silly dance.
Teach them to set the table or fold wash cloths and towels. Little ones love to help out-they feel so important!
Eak-spay ig-patin-lay.
Give your kids a backscratch. Draw a letter or number on their back and have them guess it.
Cut apple slices and then use cookie cutters to make fun shapes. Dip them in lemon or pineapple juice so they don't go brown and yukky. Wrap up and send with lunch or snack.
Bonneville Dam-great fish viewing site! 2 miles west of Bridge of the Gods, off SR 14 in Washington.
Bonneville Fish Hatchery-off 1-84 just west of Cascade Locks, Oregon. The sturgeon are COOL! Say hi to Herman.
The Dalles Dam-ancient petroglyphs, a fun little park where you can feed ducks and see sturgeon.
Dog Mountain-off SR 14 in Washington. Day hike, great views of the Gorge.
Catherine Creek, Lyle, Washington. Excellent hiking site. Spring wildflowers are spectacular.
Children's Park in Hood River, Oregon.
Children's Waterfront Park in Hood River, down on the river.
Sorosis Park in The Dalles, Oregon.
Daubenspeck Park in Bingen, Washington. SKATEPARK NOW OPEN!
Rock Creek Park in Stevenson, Washington.
Goldendale Observatory State Park in Goldendale, Washington. Free.
The Fort Vancouver Regional Library-check for story times for children at your local branch!
Wishram Railroad Park, Wishram, Washington. Check out the huge steam engine there.
Rock Creek Skate Park, Stevenson, Washington. Wear your helmet!
Hood River Skate Park-bring your bike, scooter, helmet, blades or board.
Klickitat Trail for parents in Lyle and Klickitat. Trail heads can be accessed by a short walk from town, and the trail has recently been partially paved for a mile or two near each populated area for easy biking, walking or stroller pushing.
Rowena Overlook/Tom McCall Wildflower Park. Off Old Highway 30, Rowena, Oregon.
Mosier Tunnels, off Old Highway 30, in Mosier, Oregon.
Drive the Fruit Loop through Hood River County. Bring home some yummy fruit to eat.
Home Valley Park, off SR 14 in Home Valley, Washington. Swimming, picnic, small play area.
Whoop-N-Holler Museum, Bickleton, Washington. Small admission charge.
Hood River Aquatic Center $1-a-Swim night-Friday nights 6:30-8:00 pm.
White Salmon Pool Open June through August. Open Swim, Family Swim and lessons provided. Call 493-1419 for more information. Pool can be rented for special events.
Mill-A 4th of July Parade. The best little hometown parade on this side of the Gorge.
Hood River Saturday Market, across from HR Library. Opens 9 am. May to Mid-October.
Gorge Grown Farmer's Market. Thursday evenings at May Street Middle School in Hood River.
Fun Stuff To Do With Your Kids
Make a simple family tree with your children.
Show them pictures of you as a little kid. Children love hearing what you did when you were that age.
Go fishing. Go for a bike ride. Fly a kite in the park.
Hug 'em every day. Always say good night and good morning. Read comic books.
Make comic books.
Visit the giant steam locomotive in Wishram.
Learn some dance steps, like Salsa or boogie-woogie, or a simple waltz. Then dance!
Go out at night and look at the stars and moon.
Watch the clouds. What shapes are they?
Turn the T.V., computer, laptop, iPod, etc. OFF! Put on some music, listen to the sounds of your neighborhood, or just enjoy the silence.
Visit a fire house and look at the fire trucks.(Call ahead)
Have a spontaneous picnic in your yard or living room.
Grab some stale bread and go feed the geese and ducks somewhere. Hood River Marina or Rock Creek are great sites.
Build a fort out of blankets, coffee or end tables and chairs.
Put small items in a small paper bag one at a time. Have your kids reach in and guess only by feeling what the object is.
Go to the library and just look around at the books and movies. Get a free library card and use it!
Teach your kids to play hopscotch. Or jump rope. Or ride a bike. Or swim.
Buy or make a birdfeeder, get some inexpensive bird seed and feed the birds.
Learn to play Slapjack with your kids. Let them win.
Us parrints aren't purrfictt. Let your kids know it's OK to make mistakes. Learn from them.
Give little ones a shallow bowl of water with a little dish soap in it. Put a towel on the floor under the bowl. Help them whip up bubbles with an old fashioned egg beater, then let them play with the suds. NEVER leave them unattended-stay with them!
Grow pumpkins. Grow sunflowers. Grow string beans.
Give them old metal muffin or cake pans, and let them get messy and muddy by making mud pies.
Together, learn to cook a simple meal. Try a new recipe! Help them read the cookbook to you.
Make a bottom drawer in the kitchen cabinets just for them. Fill it with clean used yogurt cups, plastic lids, and other large unbreakable items, and let them stay busy getting into it. Yogurt cups are fun to stack and then knock down.
Build a Lego or wooden block tower as high as you can. Will it reach the ceiling?
Dance to a silly song. Sing to a silly dance.
Teach them to set the table or fold wash cloths and towels. Little ones love to help out-they feel so important!
Eak-spay ig-patin-lay.
Give your kids a backscratch. Draw a letter or number on their back and have them guess it.
Cut apple slices and then use cookie cutters to make fun shapes. Dip them in lemon or pineapple juice so they don't go brown and yukky. Wrap up and send with lunch or snack.
