Paging, among others, Portland Ken

I can help too!
What do you like to do when you travel? 
For example, I like to seek out botanical gardens for an outdoor experience... and love art museums too.

Here's a few things to look up;

Oregon;
Hot springs, waterfalls, Old growth (Valley of the Giants, etc), volcanoes (St Helens), wineries, brewpubs (Edgefield, ex), various festivals (Octoberfests currently), the entire coast has cool stretches (i'm partial to Yachats, but the big waves vs rocks at Shore Acres down south near Coos Bay should be a bucket list thing for everyone).  Hood River Valley (orchards, train), Rockhounding in central Oregon, Fishing, etc...

https://soakoregon.com
https://www.waterfallsnorthwest.com/Oregon/map
https://parks.state.wa.us/245/Mount-St-Helens
https://aquarium.org
https://www.oregonhikers.org/field_guide/Category:Old_Growth_Hikes
https://www.mthoodrr.com/train-rides/the-train-to-christmas-town/
 

If you're there in the winter, and the forecast is for big waves on the coast, take the drive to Shore Acres State Park near Coos Bay (Cape Arago), it's worth it!!!   

A few summer Activities in the region;

Digging precious Opal!!! (I've dug a few pounds worth), here's 2 links, likely more mines open in the area, near Denio NV
https://www.royalpeacock.com
https://www.nevadaopal.com

And a few rockhounding maps for summer travels (always good to check in w/ the Rock / gem shop in Prineville before traveling) 

And who doesn't love Obsidian, Opalite, Cinnabar, and Green Petrified Wood?

And there's Jasper / Agates / Apachie Tears / Petrified Wood (and limb casts) all over the place (I've got more maps if interested)

SIlver Falls State Park- east of Salem.

Maryhill Museum on the Washington side of the River is unusual, eclectic, has great collections and also an outside sculpture garden. Read about it, it's amazing. Also, just looking at Oregon from Washington across the Columbia is quite beautiful. I'm thinking of by the Dalles. Hood River (looking toward the north side of Mount Hood) is lovely as well and it's Apple time. There's a train that runs there this time of year but I have no idea where it starts or ends. 

Maryhill and Pseudo-Stonehenge nearby are a great idea, as is Hood River. 
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maryhill_Stonehenge

Astoria, located at the mouth of the Columbia River, is a pretty easy day trip and has interesting history and good food and beer spots. 

Of course Noodler's list is awesome, especially Valley of the Giants.  Let me know if you want to go there as I know where to find a downloadable BLM map, which believe me, is necessary -- a portion of the route is on gravel road for what seemed like 30 miles -- but maybe it was 30 minutes, LOL. 
 

I love the Trail of Ten Falls at Silver Falls SP -- I've only done the full trail once -- 7.2 miles -- https://stateparks.oregon.gov/index.cfm?do=park.profile&parkId=151

If you like old trains, there's a cool Railroad heritage museum right in inner SE Portland: https://orhf.org/

...and the Oregon Historical Society, across the park blocks from the art museum, is pretty interesting too, and it doesn't take forever to go through it. https://www.ohs.org/

Finally, if you haven't been to the Crystal Ballroom downtown, it's worth the effort to call to see if they are offering tours again. GD played there in 1968.  

https://www.crystalballroompdx.com/1902-cbr-ballroom-history

Have fun!  

Hey Nod.  Glad you are making it out again.

As you probably know, many activities around here are seasonal.   Fall is here and the days are getting shorter and rainy, but there are still plenty of outdoor activities.   Like others have mentioned, Silver Falls is a great idea.  I assume you have also been over to the coast, but if you haven't already been there, Oswald West State Park south of Cannon Beach has nice easy hikes through old growth rainforest down to secluded coves.   Other areas on the north coast that are worth checking out if haven't already been there are Cape Meares near Tillamook and Ft. Stevens near Astoria.  If you want to try your hand at crab fishing, you can rent crab rings at Jetty Fishery on Nehalem Bay in between Wheeler and Rockaway Beach.   They will bait your rings and you crab right off the dock.

Its getting late in the season for the Cascades, but depending on when you get here and the weather, Lost Lake and Trillium Lake have great hikes and killer views of Mt. Hood.  Lost Lake has cabins, so if its not too late, see if you can snag one for an overnight before they close for the season.

For outdoor activities closer to Portland, I would recommend Tryon Creek State Park on the south side of town or a hike to the "Witches House" in Forest Park.   A trip out to a pumpkin patch/corn maze on Sauvie Island is also fun for kids of all ages.  Depending on the weather, Revolution Hall has a great rooftop bar and restaurant.   Another really cool rooftop place is at the McMenamins Hotel Oregon in McMinnville.  Its a bit of a drive, but if you venture out to wine country in Yamhill County, its worth a stop,   I assume you have already been to the Edgefield and Kennedy School, but if you haven't, those are other places to check out.

Of course, check out who is playing.   Twiddle is playing the Wonder Ballroom on October 30 and I am thinking about hitting that.  Go to Jambase or pick up a copy of the local free papers Willamette Week or the Mercury to see what strikes your fancy.  Plenty of GD cover bands. 

Axe throwing is also a favorite family activity.   Just went to the axe throwing range at Laurelwood Brewing on Sandy and that was a hoot. 

I could go on and on about restaurants and brewpubs.   What neighborhood is your son and daughter in law moving to?