Plan a jaunt to the coast for a whale watch, take the season's first roller-coaster ride at Oaks Park, or cap off the week with some fun for parents, too, at the Spring Beer and Wine Festival, which features live music and free food tastings. Minors are allowed before 9 p.m., so grown-ups can sample some quality adult beverages (responsibly, of course), while the kids snack on chefs' confections and groove to the sounds of a steel-drum band.
Read on for more ideas for a memorable spring break. Keep in mind that advance-registration events may fill up quickly; we've included a number of options that should have space available -- even if you've waited until the eleventh hour. You'll also find an advance look at Easter egg hunts, so you can plan ahead.
OUT AND ABOUT
GameStorm 15: Celebrate everything gaming including board games, role playing, console gaming, LARP and children's games. This annual convention is one of the biggest gaming events in the Pacific Northwest and is sponsored by Oregon Science Fiction Conventions Inc. (osfci.org). Children younger than 15 must have a parent or responsible adult attending the convention; ages 10 and younger must be with a parent or guardian at all times. Various times Fri-Sun, March 22-24. Hilton Vancouver Washington, 301 W. Sixth St.; single-day admission $15-$40; gamestorm.org or 360-993-4500
Cheap Spring Break at Oaks Amusement Park: Buy one ride bracelet, get one free during spring break at the park with printable coupon on website, for use noon-5 p.m. Sat, March 23-Sun, March 31. Also, two skate for $9 with printable coupon during the Spring Break School Out Skate, noon-5 p.m. Mon-Fri, March 25-29. 7805 S.E. Oaks Park Way, oakspark.com or 503-233-5777
Cheap Festival of Illusions: Enjoy nights of live magic performances and trickery at the Lincoln City Cultural Center. Performers include Matt Baker and Steve Hamilton, Hart Keene, Joe Black and Heather Pearl. See website or call for schedule. Mon-Sat, March 25-30. Lincoln City Cultural Center, Historic DeLake School, 540 N.E. 101, Lincoln City; prices vary (see website or call); lincolncity-culturalcenter.org or 541-994-9994
Kids Spring Break Camp: This three-day, hands-on cooking series for ages 7-12 taught by Barb Randall includes tastes of France, Italy and China. 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Mon-Wed, March 25-27. In Good Taste, 6302 S.W. Meadows Road, Lake Oswego; $195 series; registration required; ingoodtastestore.com or 503-248-2015
Cheap Spring Break Around the World: Have a global experience without leaving the city. The World Forestry Center Discovery Museum offers ways to explore different regions of the world with puppetry, tea, origami, live music, Radio Disney (Wednesday only), mask-making and more. Each day offers a different region (see website). Activities generally 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Mon-Fri, March 25-29. World Forestry Center Discovery Museum, 4033 S.W. Canyon Road; activities free with museum admission ($6-$9); worldforestry.org or 503-228-1367
Cheap Spring Beer and Wine Festival: Features more than 40 breweries and cider makers; more than 30 companies representing Oregon and Washington's wine regions including Washington's Columbia River Gorge; plus demonstrations from restaurants; cheesemakers; prizes; live music; and more. Ages 20 and younger permitted until 9 p.m.; children need to be accompanied by an adult. Noon-11 p.m. Fri-Sat, March 29-30. Halls A-B, Oregon Convention Center, 777 N.E. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.; $8 admission, tasting prices vary (see website); free admission for ages 12 and younger with adult; springbeerfest.com
Free International "TableTop" Day: As a host site for this worldwide gaming event to celebrate the anniversary of Wil Wheaton's game-focused YouTube show, Powell's offers a full day of family-friendly tabletop gaming, new game demos, exclusive giveaways, author appearances and other surprises. The event is open to anyone interested in board gaming -- newbies and seasoned pros, youngsters and adults alike. Games geared toward ages 8 and older. 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Sat, March 30. Powell's Books at Cedar Hills Crossing, 3415 S.W. Cedar Hills Blvd., Beaverton; free; Powells.com/tabletop
SPORTS & OUTDOORS
Mt. Hood Meadows Spring Break: Featured activities during Oregon's spring break include a Telemark clinic (March 23), three-day holiday kid camps with Alpine lessons for ages 4-12 and snowboard lessons for ages 7-12. Also the Spring Break Brew Fest (March 23; ages 21 and older), demo day (March 24) and a "Banked Slalom/Slopestyle" event (March 30). Various hours March 23-30; see website for fees, dates and times. Mt. Hood Meadows Ski Resort, Mount Hood; skihood.com
Free Spring Whale Watching Week: People come from all over the United States to learn about the gray whales that migrate past Oregon's coast each year. Volunteers are available at whale-watching sites during Watch Weeks to teach others. See website for volunteer locations. Daily March 23-30. Oregon Coast; oregon.gov/oprd/parks/whalewatchingcenter/Pages/index.aspx
Cheap PDX Bicycle Show: The bicycle show offers Portland's largest display of bicycles, gear and apparel under one roof; seminars and classes by area experts; demos; and performances. Also featured are the BTA Bike Swap area, an indoor pump track, "Try the Ride" demo area, a fashion show and a display by Oregon Handmade Bicycles. It's spring break, so dig those wheels out of the garage and get pedaling. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sat, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sun, March 23-24. Portland Expo Center, 2060 N. Marine Drive; $10 general, ages 12 and younger free with paying adult; $7 vehicle parking; pedalnationevents.com or 503-736-5200
Free Camp Namanu Spring Fling: The camp's open house and egg hunt day offers a chance to make art projects, visit the camp store and hike the trails. Also learn more about summer camp opportunities at the Namanu. 12:30-3 p.m. Sat, March 23. Camp Namanu, 10300 S.E. Camp Namanu Road, Sandy; free; campfirecolumbia.org
Oregon Zoo Spring Break Camps: The zoo offers full-day spring break camps with hands-on learning about our wild friends. Enrollment is limited and may be full as of this printing; see website. 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Mon-Fri, March 25-29. Oregon Zoo, 4001 S.W. Canyon Road; $40 per day; oregonzoo.org or 503-226-1561
Coach Nic's Spring Break Hoop Camp: Kids in grades 1-5 learn proper techniques and skills related to passing, ball-handling and shooting in a fun and nonthreatening environment. 9 a.m.-noon Mon-Thu, March 25-28. Boones Ferry Primary School, 11495 Wilsonville Road, Wilsonville; $65 series; ci.wilsonville.or.us/parksandrec or 503-682-3727
Cheap Spring Break Week Skate: Students are invited to spring break sessions. Noon-5:30 p.m. Mon-Fri, March 25-29. Gresham Skate World, 1220 N.E. Kelly Ave., Gresham; $5.75 per session (see website for discounts); greshamskateworld.com or 503-667-6543
MUSIC
Free Spring Break Show: All ages can bop along to the beat with musician Aaron Nigel Smith. Smith was part of the PBS show "Between the Lions," and his CD "Everyone Loves to Dance" won the Parent's Choice Award. 2 p.m. Sat, March 23. Milwaukie Ledding Library, 10660 S.E. 21st Ave., Milwaukie; free; www.milwaukie.lib.or.us or 503-786-7580
Free The Toy Trains: The rock band aims to get kids dancing in an all-ages concert. 2:30-3:30 p.m. Sat, March 23. Hillsboro Main Library, 2850 N.E. Brookwood Parkway, Hillsboro; free; 503-615-6500
HISTORY
Cheap Spring Break at Oregon History Museum: Family activities throughout the school break include crafts, scavenger hunts, an artifact "show and tell" and living-history stories. Exhibits include "All Aboard: Railroading and Portland's Black Community" and "Tough by Nature, Portraits of Cowgirls and Ranch Women of the American West." Spring break activities 10 a.m.-noon Mon-Fri, March 25-29. Oregon Historical Society, 1200 S.W. Park Ave.; residents of Multnomah County are free, otherwise $11 adults, $5 ages 17 and younger; ohs.org or 503-222-1741
Day Camp for Kids: Life in 1914: Ages 8-12 experience what life was like almost 100 years ago through hands-on activities. Registration and prepayment required. 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Tue or Wed, March 26 or 27. Pittock Mansion, 3229 N.W. Pittock Drive; $25 per session museum members, $35 nonmembers; pittockmansion.org/events/summercamp or 503-823-3623
SCIENCE
Free Mt. Hood Rock Club Gem & Mineral Show: Vendors offer minerals, beads, rocks, jewelry, fossils, equipment and more. Activities include a kids corner with games, door prizes, demonstrations, displays and silent auction. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Fri-Sat, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sun, March 22-24. Kliever National Guard Armory, 10000 N.E. 33rd Drive; free admission; mthoodrockclub.com
Applied Science Spring Break Camp: Children grades K-6 study rocketry, robotics and aviation; create their own robots; shoot rockets; and more during the three-day camp. Registration required. 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Wed-Fri, March 27-29. Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum, 500 N.E. Captain Michael King Smith Way, McMinnville; $68 museum members, $93 nonmembers; evergreenmuseum.org or 503-434-4185
"Ghost Hunters" camp / Arts Camps story. Northwest Children's Theater. THEATER "The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales": Oregon Children's Theatre offers a stage adaptation of the crazy fractured fairy tales by Jon Scieszka. 2 and 5 p.m. Sat, 2 p.m. Sun, through March 24. Portland Center for the Performing Arts, Dolores Winningstad Theatre, 1111 S.W. Broadway; $15-$28; Ticketmaster, 800-745-3000; octc.org or 503-248-4335
Northwest Children's Theater Spring Break Camp: In-house theater camps for ages 4 1/2-14. Both morning and afternoon sessions. Learn about acting from experts and stage your own performances. See website for registration and details. Camps offered various times March 25-29. Northwest Neighborhood Cultural Center, 1819 N.W. Everett St.; $135; nwcts.org/content/spring-break-camps-2013 or 503-222-2190
EGG HUNTS
Cheap Easter Egg-stravaganza: The Easter Bunny visits the museum in a helicopter. Egg hunts, crafts, photos, small petting zoo and more. 8:15-11 a.m. Sat, March 23. Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum, 500 N.E. Captain Michael King Smith Way, McMinnville; $7-$10; evergreenmuseum.org or 503-434-4185
Free Alpenrose Dairy Easter Egg Hunt: In its 51st year, the hunts begin at 10:30 a.m. for ages 3-5; ages 6-8 begin at noon. Prizes include chocolate eggs, toys and other treats; grand prizes are 14 6-foot-tall stuffed Easter bunnies. 10:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Sat, March 30. Alpenrose Dairy, 6149 S.W. Shattuck Road; free; alpenrose.com or 503-221-5000
Free Easter Egg Hunt: Features special eggs with coupons for prizes including stuffed bunnies, chocolate bunnies, and coupons for the school's 11 a.m. pancake breakfast (meal regularly $5). All ages welcome; field will be separated into age groups. 10:30 a.m. Sat, March 30. Carver School, 16077 S.E. Highway 224, Damascus; free
Free Easter Egg Hunt for Acceptance of All Abilities: Autism Empowerment teams up with the Miracle League of Vancouver to host the annual egg hunt open to all individuals on the autism spectrum or with any learning disabilities or special needs, plus siblings and family. Each family receives a free goody bag. Online preregistration required. 1:30-4 p.m. Sat, March 30. McKenzie Stadium, 2218 N.E. 138th Ave., Vancouver; free (donations encouraged but not required); autismempowerment.org/form/62271 or 360-852-8369
Cheap The Great Westside Easter Event: Features lots of candy and kids prizes, plus a firetruck, police cars, pony rides, a petting zoo, inflatable bounce houses, games, arts, crafts and pictures with the Easter Bunny. See website for age brackets and times for egg hunts. 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Sat, March 30. Washington County Fair Complex, 873 N.E. 34th Ave., Hillsboro; free admission (fee for some activities); kuik.com/Article.asp?id=587330 or 503-640-1360
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