10 Favorite Photo Worthy Adventures In The Portland Area
Updated June, 2024
Summer is a great time for family photos in the Pacific Northwest
Scheduling your family photo session during the summer has many advantages, including dryer weather, no school related activities, and warm long evenings where there’s no need for a coat.
And, sometimes you want to take your family for a fun activity where you can create your own fun photos too! This list is perfect for both photo sessions and personal adventures!
(Don’t forget to read to the end where I’ll give out a great printable PDF that you can use to record your summer adventure bucket list!)
I’d like to share with you 10 of my favorite Summer Photo Session Locations, and they are also great spots to take your own family for a photo worthy adventure!
#1: Visit The Oregon Coast
The Oregon shoreline has an endless list of adventures, and I honestly think that around each turn there are photo worthy spots. I’m always inspired by the reflections in the wet sand when my kids are playing at the beach, as well as by the wind moving through their hair as they explore.
If you’re interested, here are a few posts about Oregon Coast photo sessions:
Two of my favorite beach locations are Cape Kiwanda and Neskowin Beach.
#2: Explore The Rose Test Garden
The Rose Garden in Forest Park is one of our family’s favorite locations to take out of town guests, and it’s great for photo taking too. A leisurely walk through the gardens is best in early morning or late evening for taking photos of the Roses and our families exploring the gardens.
#3: Walk the Urban Riverfront, and Cross One of The Many Famous Portland Bridges
We are so blessed here in Portland to have such diversity in our riverfront parks and bridges, and they are great for exploring on a walk, bike ride, and using them as inspiration to for taking photos.
If you’d like to learn more about the Portland Bridges, and study them with your kids prior to doing some exploring, we love the book Big & Awesome Bridges of Portland & Vancouver.
#4: Visit Cathedral Park & The St. John’s Bridge
One of my favorite Portland locations outside of downtown is Cathedral Park. I love that you can get under the bridge to see beautiful architectural details, while exploring a large tree filled grassy park, as well as access the Willamette River Waterfront.
The unique details of the bridge provide lots of visual interest for photographs and explorers! To see more images I’ve captured of families at Cathedral Park, check out this Blog Post for a featured Family Session.
#5: Go Fruit & Berry Picking on Sauvie Island
Exploring the beautiful Sauvie Island during the summer is a fun retreat from the city, there’s beach and river front access, and the bonus of picking fresh fruit as a fun family activity is something that is always on our summer bucket list.
And bonus, you get to enjoy the yummy fresh fruit after! Did anyone say strawberry shortcake?!?
Here are some of our favorite strawberry farms that we’ve visited from summer’s past.
#6: Hike The Beautiful Hoyt Arboretum
Hoyt Arboretum in Forest Park is one of my favorite locations for family photo sessions, and I love how the park is in the middle of the city, so close to where many of us live. There are various hikes to meet all levels of hiking ability and kids ages.
My kids like to take their own cameras on hikes here to photograph the different trees and plants. To see more images from a family session in Hoyt Arboretum, check out this recent blog post.
#7: Enjoy Delicious Local IceCream
We are so blessed here in Portland with many local Ice Cream shops, including Salt & Staw, Dairy Hill, Tillamook Creamery, and Handel’s Homemade Ice Cream just to name a few.
Going out to explore and sample different ice creams in town is one of our favorite warm weather activities, and taking photos while eating ice cream is one of my favorite things! And, a getting ice cream is a great bonus activity after you wrap up your family photo session!
#8: Explore the Beautiful Grounds and City Views of Pittock Mansion
Pittock Mansion is a beautiful historic site in Portland with a historic home to explore, hikes, lovely manicured grounds, plus an amazing view of downtown Portland, and Mt. Hood on a clear day. This is a great spot to take visitors, and to explore with your own family.
#9: Walk the Streets of the Alberta Arts District
The Alberta Arts District is filled with innumerable colorful wall murals and art installations to explore and photograph. They will inspire your young artists to create their own art at home, and make beautiful backdrops for children’s portraits and family selfies. And, there’s the added bonus of cute shops and treats to enjoy as well!
#10: Visit Urban Parks
Portland is filled with so many urban parks, that we don’t even need to head out of downtown. Some of our favorite parks include Tanner Springs Park in the Pearl District and The Fields Park by the Fremont Bridge. Tanner Springs has a very cool metal geometric installation that can be included very creatively in photographs. And, at The Fields Park we love to get coffee from Ovation Coffee & Tea to enjoy while the kids play on the unique playground with the Fremont Bridge in the background.
Bonus Summer Photo Worthy Adventure
#11: Elk Rock Island
Elk Rock Island in Milwaukie is a very unique and fun outdoor nature area to explore. Kids have fun hiking the trails, looking at the unique natural habitats, finding tidepools, and climbing the rocks. My own girls love to adventure here and I’m always inspired to create photos of them during this time. It would also make a great location for an adventurous family to explore for their family photo session.
