SALEM IS MOPO FAMILY family-friendly attractions Salem and its surrounding community are a great place to be a kid, rain or shine. While the summer months see visitors flocking to Salem’s Riverfront Park, this 23-acre expanse on the Willamette River is filled with fun things for families to do throughout the year. Along with meandering pathways, a playground and plenty of green space for picnicking, you’ll find the year-round Riverfront Carousel, where kids and adults can take a whimsical ride. The park is also home to the Gilbert House Children’s Museum, an oasis for all ages to discover, learn and play. Inside you’ll find 20-plus interactive exhibits from a veterinary clinic to an engineering studio. The Outdoor Discovery Area spans 20,000 square feet of fun with creative climbing structures, towering slides, plus a paleontology deck for fossil exploration. Let your kids scale to new heights at the popular Rock Boxx climbing gym. This indoor bouldering hub offers youth programs, classes and party-room rentals for all levels. For more energetic options, the Oregon capital delivers. The Salvation Army Kroc Center is a vibrant community hub, offering an aquatic center complete with a kid-friendly splash pool and a slide fashioned to look like a lighthouse. There’s also a rock-climbing wall, along with an arcade and sports courts. Want to add a little spring to your step? Head over to the Get Air Trampoline Park, which features massive stretches of trampolines and a plush foam pit. Have little ones in tow? Fear not — there’s a special kiddie court specifically for humans under 46 inches tall. Like elsewhere in the Willamette Valley, Salem gets plenty of rain, but that doesn’t stop Salem kids from swinging off monkey bars or zipping down slides. Athletic Edge Adventure Park is a great place to play, offering nine-hole mini-golf, oversize games (massive Jenga and a giant Connect 4) and table games ranging from foosball to shuffleboard. However, the star attraction at this lively indoor park is the three-story play structure, complete with a ball pit, slides and even a zip line. Salem’s Awesome Indoor Playground is another fun option, offering multilevel plush areas and multiple colorful slides. While the main playground is designed with kids Ron Cooper Gilbert House Children’s Museum TravelSalem.com 24
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