By Karen Sprinkles
Portland offers a variety of options for a 16th birthday celebration.
With so much to see and do in Portland, Oregon, planning for your 16th birthday will certainly present a wealth of choices. The city's magnificent riverfront setting offers exciting water activities and scenic excursions. Meanwhile, Portland's urban offerings make this city a favorite destination for shopping, museums, science, theater and more.
Throw an Ice-Skating Party
Lloyd Center Ice Rink, located in Oregon's largest mall, features "Rock and Skate" hosted by a live DJ on Friday and Saturday nights from 7:30 to 10 p.m. Meanwhile, the mall's 200 stores provide plenty of birthday shopping opportunities. A food court overlooks the rink and public skating is offered daily for a nominal admission fee.
Lloyd Center Ice Rink
Inside Lloyd Center Mall, Lower Level
N.E. Ninth Avenue at Multnomah Street
Portland, OR 97232
503-288-6073
lloydcenterice.com
Take a Willamette Jetboat Excursions
Portland's scenic waterfront can be explored onboard Willamette Jetboats, offering exciting, two-hour excursions that showcase the area's scenic beauty, tall ships, riverfront homes, landmark bridges and cascading Willamette Falls. One-hour trips are also available in July and August. Custom charters and itinerary trips can be reserved for special occasions.
Willamette Jetboat Excursions
1945 S.E. Water Avenue
OMSI Submarine Dock
Portland, OR 97214
503-231-1532
willamettejet.com
Explore World Forestry Center Discovery Museum
A world of wonder awaits at the World Forestry Center Discovery Museum, where patrons can view a forest from a bird's-eye perspective, test their smoke-jumping skills, crawl beneath the trees to explore hidden forest ecology or ride the class-IV rapids without getting wet. Hands-on interactive exhibits keep the entire family entertained for hours. Located five minutes from downtown Portland, the museum is easily accessed by MAX light rail.
World Forestry Center Discovery Museum
Washington Park
4033 S.W. Canyon Road
Portland, OR 97221
503-228-1367
worldforestry.org
Visit Powell's City of Books
Portland's famous landmark bookstore, Powell's City of Books is among the largest independent bookstores in America. From the moment you enter the enormous facility located in downtown Portland, any 16-year-old will immediately become immersed in the seemingly unending inventory of books that takes up more than an entire city block. You can easily spend hours browsing the many rooms and aisles of books.
Powell's City of Books
1005 W. Burnside
Portland, OR 97209
503-228-4651
powells.com
About the Author:
Karen Sprinkles has been a freelance writer since 1988. She's currently the managing editor of a luxury home magazine and has written for regional newspapers and magazines. Sprinkles received the Award of Excellence from the Hawaii Book Publishers Association for "The Hawaii Home Book," which reached No. 1 on the Hawaii bestsellers list. She earned a bachelor's degree in English from the University of California.
Photo Credits:
birthday cake image by Julia Britvich from
Fotolia.com
