My wife and I stopped by during the Eugene Marathon weekend. Being over 30, we understand that…read morebirds are cool. There were 31 birds with their own exhibits. Admission was $16/person, but well worth it for the experience. There are informative displays about each species and also each individual bird.

During our August anniversary trip, my husband and I took some time to visit the Cascades Raptor…read moreCenter in Eugene. As someone who has volunteered at the California Raptor Center in Davis, CA for 3 years (and counting) and is also a primary handler/trainer of two education ambassadors (a Swainson's Hawk and a Peregrine Falcon), as well as an aspiring falconer, I am pretty well-versed in raptors. Therefore, Cascades Raptor Center was a no-brainer stop on our trip. It was a pretty warm day, as OR had just experienced a heat wave. The raptor center overall was very well-kept, with over 30 education ambassadors on display. All the enclosures were very clean and organized. There were various trainers in several enclosures working with their respective birds when we went, and one volunteer even had a peregrine falcon out on glove for the public to enjoy up close and to ask questions about. We actually made it just in time for the last flight show of the season, and boy was it a blast!! Hans the Eurasian-Eagle-Owl was the star of the show, but I thoroughly enjoyed the entire program. As you can see in the photos below, I snapped some lovely shots of the birds with my DSLR. Here I am sharing some of my favorites. The admission fee was worth it, especially as the raptor center mainly functions from donations. We also shopped at the little gift shop after for some mementos to take home. I would love to revisit on our next trip to OR!

Code Ninja was a great experience for my kids. They attended Roblox camp. They loved learning how…read moreto make Obbies, extra features in Roblox and how to get scripts and models from the toolbox . They are left wanting to learn more about coding which is great!

From the owner: We make coding fun! Code Ninjas is the world's largest and fastest-growing kids coding franchise,…read morewith hundreds of locations across the US, Canada and the UK. At Code Ninjas, kids learn to code while building their own video games. With our CREATE program, kids aged 7-14 have a blast creatively building their own video games and developing coding skills on the path from White to Black Belt. Code Ninjas JR builds a foundation of coding and problem-solving skills for kids aged 5-7 through our fun, hands-on and completely visual curriculum. Ready for your kid to gain problem solving, critical thinking, and STEM skills in a fun, safe and inspiring environment? Schedule a free tour today!

Overall a good one time experience for a younger crowd under 9, lots geared towards younger 3-5…read moreyear olds. Pro's: Sesame Street Themed Planetarium show (25 minutes perfect for toddlers) Lots of hands on interactive exhibits to keep little hands busy Extensive parking and friendly staff If you are military affiliated they are affiliated with the Blue Star Museums program during the summer, offering military families free admission.

Best place to bring a 3-9 year old on a Thursday afternoon! Much more mellow and academic…read moreenvironment than the other children's museum at VRC.

We are home visiting my mom and I definitely need something to do with my toddler at times. Though…read moreI grew up here I've never had a kid here so I'm at a disadvantage! But I found Bounce has some open gym times and we jumped on it (oops, didn't actually mean the pun) this weekend. I think they have them regularly on the weekend and are having more during spring break. The place is great. There's a section that has about six trampolines and my kiddo loved that--her first time on a trampoline (and I'm definitely never going to have one of those in my backyard so she can enjoy it at a place like this). There were bars and rings, different heights for different kids, and other equipment for them to enjoy. Upstairs there was some stuff as well, and rumor had it there was a slide up there, but we didn't get up there. They open gym for different age groups; there's a preschool group for kids under 5 and then one for kids up to 12 or so. My daughter was probably the youngest here on this particular day but the other kids were careful of her and kind given she's at a different developmental stage as them. I bought a package of six open gym passes (it's six for the price of five) since they don't expire, so we'll either use them on this visit or carry some over to a future visit. They also have some merchandise, like leotards and stuff. After all, they are a gymnastics school. Kids must have their socks and shoes off when playing but adults can keep their socks on--adults have to be right there with their kids as they play--so there are some cubbies in one of the room to drop your stuff. Don't forget to put your shoes back on if you use the washroom though. The parking situation was confusing--even looking at the sign I still couldn't quite figure it out. Just remember to park in an unmarked space.

I have a toddler and we usually go to another gymnastics place in town for play time, however, I…read morewas recently gifted a pass to try out the open gym time at Bounce. This is a great spot with so much stuff for littles to climb, push, bounce on, etc. and a big plus is that there are lots of trampolines so no turn waiting! The bathrooms are big and clean, and reception was nice when we came in. It's a little more expensive than the other place we frequent but Bounce does have more open gym times available so it's nice to have more options for most days of the week.

Such a nice complex. Our youth in the community are so fortunate and blessed to have this complex…read moreto play sports. Very well maintained, the events are organized and well done. Nice facilities. Spacious parking!

We are so fortunate to have a gym like this available to the public. Rental rates are reasonable,…read morethe place is beautiful, and the staff is friendly. They have been taking COVID seriously and that is greatly appreciated. It's a shame that the field has to be locked away behind a huge fence, but I understand the need.

I have been to two of these events from Creatrix now and I can't wait to do more!!…read more My level of drawing/painting is somewhere in the stick figure range yet somehow I have two awesome paintings hanging in my house done by ME!! It really is such a fun night. Grab some friends, have fun, drink wine, and play with paint. I can't tell you how nice it was to get out of my comfort zone and do something different! Celeste is a fantastic instructor. She is so encouraging and inspiring! She goes at your pace and helps you if you mess up. Can't wait to do the next one. The hubs even wants to come this time!

From the owner: We are a youth and adult art studio, classroom and gallery located in the heart of Downtown Eugene…read more Our classes and workshops help our students improve their skills and connect them to the local art community. This is a space where we guide our students towards discovering their unique vision by building confidence in their artistic skills.  Contact us today! Are you ready to begin your own creative journey or help a child explore their creative options? Let us know what you are looking for and we will find the perfect fit for you. Celeste Jacobi 541-913-2027 celeste@crart.store

Great experience. I kind of wish it was a little bit bigger though…read more The lady at the counter was really helpful and hospitable. I do think they need to update their system since she was having some troubles lol it seems outdated. Super nice lady though.

Went to Crux Rock gym this past Saturday well the family had a great time while we were there…read more However, this changed on the way home due to one of our seven-year-olds breaking out in hives or athletes foot Of course, we all rented shoes, and immediately he started itchiness his feet in the car. When we got home, we noticed his discomfort and took off his socks that he was wearing, and his feet were swollen and hives. Called spoke to an associate who said a manager would give me a call after waiting in three hours I decided to call back they apologized said they would go through protocol with their associates better but that does not fix the hives issue he has today or may be athletes foot. When going to this gym maybe bring your own disinfecting spray as none was available. Great place just disappointed this happened would we go back, I doubt it due to procedures not being properly followed.

My daughter loves "nature" camp. She has gone three summers in a row now. She loves that she gets…read moreto be outside the whole day. They use different parks around Eugene and Springfield. We've been to Hendricks Park, Clearwater Park, and Mt. Pisgah. There are many different themes to pick from and something for everyone. The counselors have fun camp names like Frog, Root, Tadpole, and Hoverfly. They end every week with personalized notes to each camper from the counselors, which is very sweet. The only downfall is that it is pricey. My daughter only does one week each summer. I really appreciate that they have plenty of staff and that they pay them well, but the cost will probably be prohibitive for many. They have scholarships available, but they cannot be applied to multiple weeks. Next year we will try to budget for two weeks of camp because it is such a great experience and something she looks forward to every year.

Amazing staff, super engaging programs- my son can't wait for WE to start every year!read more