Pearl Bakery

Address 102 NW 9th Ave., Portland, OR 97209, Tel 503-827-0910 Call, Hours Weekdays 6am-6pm; Sat 7am-5pm; Sun 8am-2pm

The Pearl bakery is the perfect place to pick up a pastry to start your walk with, or a picnic lunch for later. The Pearl is known as the best bread bakery in Portland, and I have to say that I agree. On a recent trip we picked up Peanut Butter and Jelly for my son, yougurt for my daughter, and chevre, prosciutto, and fig jam sandwiches for the grownups.

Cupcake Jones

Address 307 NW 10th Ave, Portland OR 97209, Tel 503-222-4404 Call, Hours Mon-Sat 10am-8pm; Sun 12n-6pm

Cupcake Jones is the perfect place to complete your picnic basket with dessert. This cupcake bakery sells delicious filled cupcakes (and mini-cupcakes) to take away. Some recent choices included a Mimosa Cupcake: an orange yogurt cake filled with orange champagne pastry cream and iced with champagne buttercream and Downtown Cupcake Brown: devil's food cake filled with chocolate ganache and topped with fudge icing.

Posh Baby

Address 809 NW 11th Avenue, Portland, OR, Tel 503.478.7674 Call, Tip Sells swim diapers for use in the wading pool

Posh Baby sells adorable clothing (much of it designed by the owner) for babies, toddlers and mommas. We loved their fashionable burp cloths when our kids were little (because burp cloths are really mom's accessory, not baby's), and we're hooked on their comfortable and cool looking scrub pants.

Green Frog Toys

Address 1031 NW 11th Ave., Portland, OR 97209, Tel (503) 222-2646 Call, Hours Mon-Sat 10am-7pm, Sun 11am-5pm

This upscale toystore has a great selection of toys from upscale toy-makers and European companies like Haba, Selecta, and Plan Toys. There's also, (as you might expect) a great selection of frog stuffed animals!

Jamison Square

Address 810 NW 11th Ave, Portland, OR 97255, Hours 5am to midnight, Notes Swim diapers available at Posh Baby

Let the kids run and splash in the public wading pool at Jamison Park while you enjoy the sunshine (and your picnic). The wading pool is fed by a waterfall that can be climbed on even by early walkers.

Sip and Kranz

Address 901 NW 10th Ave., Portland, OR 97253, Tel (503) 336-1335 Call,

Located next to the excellent Jamison Square, this restaurant is designed to be the perfect place to stop in for a bite after your children have worn themselves out in the wading pool. The adult menu features fresh salads and sandwiches. This is also one of the easiest places for parents to enjoy one of Portland's excellent Kettleman's bagels or Portland-roasted Stumptown coffee.

Kids get a meal tray with apple slices, milk, goldfish, and a choice of entree (choices include PB&J , Mac and Cheese and other kid favorites.)

What really makes this spot work, though, is the separate children's play are, viewable through a huge glass window. Kids can play with toys while parents finish their meal or enjoy some grownup time.

Hotlips Pizza

Address 721 NW 9th Ave # 150 Portland, OR 97209, Tel (503) 595-2342 Call, Hours Sun-Th 11am-10pm, Fri-Sat 11am-11pm

With a location close to Jamison Park, this is a great place to stop in for a bite after splashing in the wading pool. Pizza is served by the slice, or you can order a whole pie. There is both indoor and outdoor seating.

Oba!

Address 555 NW 12th Ave Portland, OR 97209, Tel 503-228-6161 Call, Hours Bar opens at 4pm, dinner service begins at 5pm. Open 7 Days, Notes Outdoor seating available during summer

End your day with dinner at this delicious latino restaurant. The food is creative and delicious food for adults, and great choices for kids. We love the Crispy Coconut Prawns and the Roasted Butternut Squash Enchiladas. Kids choices include tacos, quesidillas, and coconut jasmine rice with beans (my son's favorite). For babies, you can ask for an order of red quinoa. The atmosphere is nice, but the restaurant is loud enough that kids are not a problem. Highchairs available.

Trimet Free Ride Area

Busses, MAX (the lightrail system) and the Portland streetcar make up Portland's excellent public transit system. It's easy to get to most popular destinations from downtown, and it will save you from packing everyone in and out of the car, navigating, and finding parking at each site.

Public transportation is free in the downtown core, and my toddler loves riding the "train" so much that we find ourselves hopping on and off of MAX on our way to most destinations. MAX stops are conveniently located every few blocks on 10th and 11th and have helpful signs estimating the arrival of the next train