<p>My oldest is going out of town, & she has engaged her sister to house/dog sit.
Which changes my plans since I guess we are now going to Portland for the holiday.
I imagine it will be cold & rainy, so any suggestions for inside things to do?
( even board games to play for three would be appreciated)</p>
<p>She lives in NE but I think it is close to public transportation. ( if we don’t rent a car)</p>
<p>I assume you mean Portland, Oregon?</p>
<p>It will most likely be cold, but it may not be rainy all the time. I am a native Oregonian, and there are lots of clear and cold days in the winter.</p>
<p>Spend some time downtown. There are great shops, the museum is very nice. If you like zoos, go out there, it is decorated beautifully for the holidays.</p>
<p>There are lots of brewpubs and restaurants. The Pittock mansion is nice and has wonderful views. Go to Powell’s bookstore and get lost in there for the day. Check out OMSI if you like science museums. </p>
<p>Oregonians don’t stay inside much; they put on their raincoats and get outside.</p>
<p>[McMenamins</a> - Home Page](<a href=“http://www.mcmenamins.com/]McMenamins”>http://www.mcmenamins.com/)</p>
<p>Can’t visit Portland without hitting a brew-pub…</p>
<p>We did the Zoo Lights show once with lots of kids. It was really fun and I would do it again even without kids. (Though maybe all those lights wouldn’t be the thing for your enviro. sci.-major D…)</p>
<p>[Oregon</a> Zoo | ZooLights](<a href=“Upcoming events | Oregon Zoo”>http://www.oregonzoo.org/Events/ZooLights/)</p>
<p>Well, the last three Christmases in Portland have indeed been cold and rainy. </p>
<p>I recommend making cookies or other tasty things together. Cookies that involve complex decorations or a challenging process are really fun, like the ones where you roll the cookie and then fill it with something.</p>
<p>I’m told this is lovely: [url=<a href=“http://www.thegrotto.org/christmas/]The”>Christmas at The Grotto – The National Sanctuary of Our Sorrowful Mother, The Grotto | Portland, Oregon]The</a> National Sanctuary of Our Sorrowful Mother, The Grotto<a href=“and%20it’s%20even%20in%20NE”>/url</a>.</p>
<p>When you can’t stand your daughter or husband anymore, you can come and meet my dogs. (Send me a PM, I’m actually serious.)</p>
<p>Go to Powell’s and then hang around the house reading each other passages from the books you bought. (This is a favorite at my house.)</p>
<p>Ask your daughter to pick up a copy of the free Willamette Week annual restaurant guide, which came out last week. If you are planning to eat anything at a brew pub (#3), avoid McMenamins! I’m sure there are brew pubs with better food options. When it isn’t raining get out into the parks & neighborhoods–Mississippi St, the Pearl, Alberta, Hawthorne etc. If you need to do Xmas shopping it would be fun to look in these areas. The City has a great set of free neighborhood walking/biking maps. When the rain starts, just duck into the nearest coffee shop.</p>
<p>I forgot about zoo lights that would be fun.
I live in Seattle- so I know about cold & rainy- I was just thinking of something besides slogging around in the rain.
Probably won’t do a brew pub- H doesn’t drink & I can only do gluten free- but I can do wine!
also haven’t been to OMSI & I bet that is something that D2 would like to do.</p>
<p>Love to meet your dogs dmd :)</p>
<p>Ek, McM’s has other refreshments - and movies. Check out the Edgefield.</p>
<p>As far as at-home activities like new games, maybe start a different thread? We have a hard time sometimes getting a smaller group to get off Facebook and interact…maybe other families have a good idea?</p>
<p>fwiw, I’ve always really liked Portland. But then I like rain.</p>