Everyone needs a top 10 list for their blog. I think it’s a blogging rule or something. I’ve never been one to follow the crowd so I’m doing a top 8 list instead. I have to set myself apart somehow you know. This is my first top list and just like my other Ugly Duckling posts, this will be a monthly series as well.
So without further ado, here is my top 8 list of things that I think are the best things for younger (think under age 6 or so) kids in Salem Oregon…in no particular order.
8. A.C. Gilbert Discovery Village. We locals call this the Gilbert House. They changed the name to Discovery Village a few years ago, but old names die hard. With the infamous “bubble room” this is a great place for kids. Trying to find something to keep 3-year-olds occupied during our rainy months can be hard. It runs around $50 for a one-year membership and we were members for several years when our children were small. That $50 will also get you into OMSI in Portland for free. Seriously, $50 for some sanity during winter. It’s a good deal.
7. Tot Indoor Parks. When I first moved to Salem, Oregon there were, and still are, several tot parks that were located in churches. These indoor gyms were a lifesaver in terms of giving kids a great place to run around and play during the rainy months. I was surprised at how much socializing I got to do as a parent too. It was so nice to let my little people play and talk with big people. These operate as co-ops, so parents take turns setting up and cleaning up the gyms. It used to be around $30 for a 9-month membership. There are several around the city.
6. Kroc center. This is just an incredible donation by the Krocs to the city of Salem. Their water park is a great time for kids to just splash and have a good time.
5. Athletic Edge Saturday gym time-while not meant for infant or toddlers, Athletic Edge is a local gymnastics center. Now even if your kids aren’t interested in gymnastics, they have open Saturday gym. This is supervised by you, for your younger kids, so, please supervise them. The kids can jump on the trampolines, and more importantly head into the foam pits. This was a Saturday regular for my kids. I dare you to jump into one of the foam pits and try and get out…then you’ll see why this is great for kids growing bodies. A warning…it does sometimes smell a little sweaty in there…
4. The Carousel. The horses on the carousel were handmade. While my kids are older now and aren’t as excited by the carousel as they used to be, I still think it is a great thing for kids. The wide grins as they picked whether they were going to ride “Jazz” or some other horse that day was worth the small price for a ride. Combine this with a picnic and the nice play structure at Riverfront Park and of course…
3. The Asher Anderson Splash Fountain. Added just this summer to Riverfront Park, this really is a great addition to the park. Kids and squirting water…Need I say more? For parents, there is NO shade by the fountain so keep this in mind if you don’t plan to hop in the fountain yourself. It gets hot in the summer.
2. The Main Branch of the Salem Public Library/The Discovery Room-The Salem Public Library has a discovery room in the library that has a theme that they change monthly. It is typically packed after storytimes, so I would often take the kids in during another time so they could really explore. The kid’s library is upstairs off in a corner. Puppets, telephone booths, and a lego table are just part of the package so some quieter play in-between reading books is possible.
1. Northwest Kids Club-Wanting to have a permanent place for young kids to play, the Kids Club was opened just a couple of years ago. It is centrally located in Salem and meant for kids under the age of 8. For parents looking for a place for kids to go and play and get some of that energy out. This is a good choice.
So if you are considering relocating to the Salem Oregon area and want to get a feel for what we have to offer our young kids, here were some of my favorites.
Lynn Preuss, author of “Eats, Shoots and Leaves” would have a fine time with your #1 choice’s complete bafflement concerning the apostrophe …
On the page that you linked to you can find the plural of toy as “toy’s,” the plural of photo as “Photo’s,” and (next to the helpful reminder that it occurs on January 1) “New Years Day” — perhaps several years start at once that day, but then the apostrophe should still be used, only after the s rather than before . . . .
Naturally, there is no possessive apostrophe in “NW Kids Club” at all.
Recent buyer I tend to skip over grammatical errors and read things as they were intended. If there are a lot of gross typos that is one thing, but the intent of their site is to inform the public about their services. A few typos don’t negate the good service they offer for our young children.
I have caught many a typo in my posts, sometimes months later. It happens.
Good list! I would add that Minto Brown is a great place for little kids. There is a small playground, but even better, there are birds and ducks and raccoons and rabbits and blackberries and wildflowers, all within reach of paved, toddler-friendly paths. It’s a great place to learn about agriculture, see bald eagles, watch boats on the Willamette or just hang out in the shade.
B Kinch,
I will have another post in my series titled best outdoor parks for kids in the area…That’s a whole other post! 🙂
Something to add to the list is a new family-friendly bike ride appropriate for even the training-wheel and tag-along set! Kidical Mass is just in the planning stages, and if readers are interested in helping to organize – or just to participate in – short bike rides of 4 or 5 miles, with stops for ice cream and parks, they should visit the site.
B on B that is an incredible idea. I’ll add it to my best “outdoor” things for kids post I have coming. I did a bike ride with my church when I was a kid where we rode to the local apple orchard, got donuts and cider and rode back. It was a blast.