When it's hot out: where do you go?
Temperatures today will range in the mid-90s or so, and that's a HOT summer day for us here in Portland. When it's hot out, where do you go? Do you stay indoors, trap the cool heat and try to work your way through the coolest parts in the house? Do you find a spot in the shade where you can catch some cool breeze? Do you head out in the later afternoon, the hottest part of the day, to find some place air-conditioned? Or, do you head to the neighborhood pool?
photo credit: Sarah Gilbert aka cafemama.com
When it's warm we enjoy Jamison Square, but it gets a lot of direct sun which makes it difficult to bear in the heat of the day.
When it's just mildly too hot out (85 to low 90's) we just play in the backyard which is in the shade after about 3pm. We turned the turtle sandbox into a outdoor pool and have some naked swim time. :)
When it's going to be too hot out, we do outdoor morning activities and stay inside during the afternoon heat. We are some of the lucky few who relish in our AC when it gets too hot in PDX. The coast and eating out is always good too.
Posted by: daddyBen | August 14, 2008 at 02:44 PM
Sigh. Lucky folk with A/C. We are among the many who say blithely the rest of the year "oh, what's the point of getting A/C for just a few days" but this summer it's been far more than a few days. Maybe it's time to revisit the A/C decision!
That said, I've been feeling so guilty this summer, because I can't bear the idea of being out in the heat (I'm a SF transplant, so I tend to wilt when the temps get about 68) so we've been doing a LOT of indoor activities. Add to that a new baby, and it's a wonder we ever leave the house at all. Can't go swimming (because I can't figure out a way to hold one baby and watch the other), can't easily go to the playground (again, issue of having to keep an eye on one kid while possibly stuck to a bench nursing the baby), and hiking and all that sort of thing we enjoyed before the baby came along and before the temperatures rose so high seem so daunting with the new baby. So it's been a lot of coffeeshops and library times and mall wanderings and playdates at friends' houses instead this summer. I'm just grateful that my 3 year old will start preschool in a month; he'll finally get some outside time!
Posted by: Anjani | August 14, 2008 at 05:42 PM
Our friend just introduced us to the water play park at Blue Mountain Lake...loved it! Also, the playgrounds at Wilshire and Grant Parks stay pretty cool and shady on hot days. But when it's just too hot to be out at all, we hit the mall.
Posted by: e. | August 14, 2008 at 07:55 PM
I've been known to make an entire morning outing out of Mall 205 when it's 90 degrees outside. If you're not actually trying to accomplish something, who cares if they spend 20 minutes in the Target toy aisle? I'm a little bummed that my 5 year old is getting a wee bit big for the play area outside the Learning Palace (which has a great train table). We also like the Elephant House Playground at Washington Park.
Posted by: andrea m. | August 14, 2008 at 08:36 PM
Sarah-I dont recognize the pool that your cutie is in-it looks fun-where is it? Thanks
Posted by: heather | August 14, 2008 at 09:09 PM
The pool is at Kenilworth Park in SE, but when is it filled? I keep venturing up with my hot children only to find it empty.
Posted by: eliz | August 14, 2008 at 09:18 PM
Where is Blue Mountain Lake and what is the water play park about?
Posted by: Sarah | August 15, 2008 at 10:43 AM
I wonder if she means Blue Lake Park. As far as I know, Blue Mtn Lake is in NY.
Posted by: anon | August 15, 2008 at 12:14 PM
Eliz-Thanks for the name of the park.I went to the website and this is what was posted.
Park hours: 5:00am-midnight
Wading pool hours: M/W, June 19-Aug 14, 11:00am-2:00pm So crap!Missed out on this one I guess.Hope I can remember next year (but doubt it)
Posted by: heather | August 15, 2008 at 12:41 PM
We live in Kenton and they've been working on installing a new splash park at Kenton park the last few weeks...the sign on the fencing said it would open next summer but yesterday we walked by and they had it all turned on! I think they turned it on because of the heat. My boys stripped down and ran through the sprinklers to cool off before we headed home, it was great! Maybe we'll head over again today to see if we can splash a little.
We love all of the splash parks, wading pools and fountains in town, and I usually just keep a swimsuit and towel in my car or bike trailer so we can splash if we're out and about. We also love Jamison but sometimes it's a bit too crowded, especially now that I've got a busy 1 year old to chase after in addition to the older one to worry about.
Our back yard has been pretty fabulous this summer too--we've got a small wading pool that is popular, as is the sprinkler. Sometimes we'll walk to the coffee shop for an iced coffee and then just come home and play here. I try to keep the activity outside as much as possible since the rest of the year it's not so easy, and it makes for very tired boys at the end of the day!
Posted by: Leah | August 15, 2008 at 01:02 PM
Heather, I just double checked the site for Blue Lake Park and one of us found incorrect information. I hope this is accurate, because it's way better than what you found! There isn't a wading pool, theres a spray park (little kids aren't allowed in the lake at all); the hours are 8 to sunset park, 11 to 7 spray park; there's no date listed for when it closes. All this for the low price of $4 a carful or $7 for a bus!
Posted by: jessieB | August 15, 2008 at 01:10 PM
Heather, I just double checked the site for Blue Lake Park and one of us found incorrect information. I hope this is accurate, because it's way better than what you found! There isn't a wading pool, theres a spray park (little kids aren't allowed in the lake at all); the hours are 8 to sunset park, 11 to 7 spray park; there's no date listed for when it closes. All this for the low price of $4 a carful or $7 for a bus!
Posted by: jessieB | August 15, 2008 at 01:11 PM
Heather, I just double checked the site for Blue Lake Park and one of us found incorrect information. I hope this is accurate, because it's way better than what you found! There isn't a wading pool, theres a spray park (little kids aren't allowed in the lake at all); the hours are 8 to sunset park, 11 to 7 spray park; there's no date listed for when it closes. All this for the low price of $4 a carful or $7 for a bus!
Posted by: jessieB | August 15, 2008 at 01:11 PM
Yes, jessie B. got it. I had the wrong name, (probably because I hail from NY), but it is not a wading pool, but a full splashy fun fountain park that neighbors a shady picnic area on one side, and on the other side there is a little rain garden, a playground and a giant open field. We went for a couple of hours in the afternoon one day, but I could totally see packing a picnic, a bunch of blankets and making a day out of it.
Posted by: e. | August 15, 2008 at 01:26 PM
Beware of Blue Lake!! Went there this morning with the kids, tried to sneak in with my 3 year old only to be chased out, by a kind man who said the reason children under 5 aren't allowed in the water in because of extremely high bacteria levels. In fact he wouldn't dare step in himself! I quickly grabbed my 5 year old out of the water and we went home and showered. BUMMER!! I was hoping to find a safe, CLEAN place close in to swim with the kids. Well, we won't be going back to Blue Lake. Going to try Oxbow this weekend... Anyone know a safe good spot for swimming with little ones within Oxbow?
Posted by: Yvette | August 15, 2008 at 01:52 PM
I think the kind man ... misspoke? Children under five aren't allowed in Blue Lake because of the fear that they will crap while swimming. Blue Lake is fed by groundwater, rather than a running stream, so it isn't flushed the way streamfed lakes are. There was an e-coli outbreak there about 10? 15? years ago, and that is why the rule is in place. I believe it's also why the sprayground exists - before it opened, I would have hated to be the parks employee who had the job of dragging unhappy little kids out of the water.
Posted by: catmom | August 15, 2008 at 02:09 PM
I think the kind man ... misspoke? Children under five aren't allowed in Blue Lake because of the fear that they will crap while swimming. Blue Lake is fed by groundwater, rather than a running stream, so it isn't flushed the way streamfed lakes are. There was an e-coli outbreak there about 10? 15? years ago, and that is why the rule is in place. I believe it's also why the sprayground exists - before it opened, I would have hated to be the parks employee who had the job of dragging unhappy little kids out of the water.
Posted by: catmom | August 15, 2008 at 02:10 PM
i had no idea until recently that vancouver has some great swimming areas. vancouver lake is great. nice big sandy beach with volleyball nets and facilities. klineline pond is smaller but also has a play area. i've never spent much time in vancouver so i was surprised to find these places.
Posted by: melanie | August 15, 2008 at 05:35 PM
To be honest....I grew up around the Sandy river and had a few close calls as a kid, even as a teenager. I wouldn't let my kids do anything but wade with a life jacket on at Oxbow park or anywhere else along the Sandy. It is very unpredictable and cold.
Posted by: anon | August 16, 2008 at 09:21 AM
https://content.nejm.org/cgi/content/full/331/9/579?ck=nck
Posted by: catmom | August 16, 2008 at 02:11 PM
I grew up in Vancouver and I remember swimming at Vancouver lake. Until it got closed from too much sediment/run-off. I know they've also had bacteria problems in the past. It is monitered regularly though, so I guess it depends on how you feel about it. They check it every Monday and post signs if the levels are too high. Klineline has the same story. Had problems in the past but is monitered regularly.
Posted by: beth | August 16, 2008 at 07:09 PM
We have a nice blow up pool (big) in our backyard. Now that the fence is finished, my toddler and I can beat the late day heat there. We also love, love, love Frenchman's Bar (Vancouver, WA) near Vancouver Lake. Playground, BBQs, big sandy beach, the big ships go by, lots of kind folks. No drunkards or weirdo tweakers. Very family friendly. $2 fee. We are there every afternoon post nap from 4-6. Get out your sand toys and go!
Posted by: Mary | August 16, 2008 at 08:50 PM
Happy Valley park, located in the SE area, has a wonderful sprinkler splash park. It was opened last year and also has updated and new bathroom facilities right there. There is a large grass are for the kids and a gazebo they can play in as well. We also enjoy the nature paths that wind around through the trees, there is a sweet pond with ducks and birds back there. You wouldn't know the nature trails were there unless you were familiar with the park. We take our SPF umbrella, pound it into the grass, and picnic.
Posted by: Nikki | August 16, 2008 at 09:37 PM
We're new to the area (and looking for playdates, btw!), but we found a WONDERFUL beach - Kelly Point Park in NoPo. There's sand, there's water, there's berries, there's Shade!!!, there's driftwood to climb on... and it's free. There's also lots of fun/wet doggies, which means you have to "watch your step", but the river is Columbia not Willamette so I assume it's cleaner. There's also a "potty house" which makes it tops in my book over a random stream.
Speaking of random streams, how does one find out if a local watering hole is safe? We see the big kids splashing around downstream from tires and other junk... what OR Dept does one call to find out the quality of non-drinking water?
Posted by: Nif | August 17, 2008 at 09:50 AM
Irvington Park (not the school, the park on Fremont) has a great fountain area and playground. There is a hill with benches around it and is easier to watch two little kids. It's pretty shady and usually clean and friendly. It has an old metal slide that gets hot--watch those bottoms!
Blue Lake Park indeed has the five year old lake limit for the lake--you can check directly with METRO on bacteria levels, they manage it. It's fun swimming and roped off so kids can't get out past the shore too far.
We made the mistake of going to Sauvie Island beach and the sand was too hot to walk on! It was so dirty and trashed and the water was gross. We're sticking to Krueger Farm out there.....
Posted by: anon | August 17, 2008 at 10:01 AM
the columbia river is super polluted. if you go up the washougal a ways it is clean. A little cold for the babies but super fun.
Posted by: beth | August 17, 2008 at 01:06 PM