What’s to Love: Located out at the Jantzen Beach Supercenter, the CW Parker Carousel provides some ol’ school entertainment for the family. Built in 1921, this beautiful carousel has been through quite a bit in its lifetime including a $500,000 restoration in 1995. It’s obvious that many people take great care in maintaining this wonderful piece of history.
The horses were individually carved out of wood and are all one-of-a-kind. This is one of the most ornate, clean and well-kept carousels you’ll ever see. The entire structure is in near-mint condition and provides a brisk ride that will be quite exhilarating for the younger set.
My son is 5, and he still loves going on this carousel! It’s $2 per ride, and parents who are standing do not have to pay, which is a nice touch. Therefore, if you have a child that’s nervous about riding alone, you’ll be able to stand right next to him or her and provide a spot.
Caveats: I have always thought the Jantzen Beach Supercenter is the strangest spot for such a beautiful carousel. However, I just read that Hayden Island used to have an amusement park that opened in 1928. Thus, at one time, it made sense to have the carousel shipped to the island.
The duration of the ride is pretty decent to me; however, you’ll certainly want to couple this activity with some other “modern activities” (i.e., shopping, bookstore browsing, restaurants, etc.) to make it worth your while. Check-out the Insider Information and Family Tips below.
Website: CW Parker Carousel
Distance from Portland: Within 5 miles of downtown Portland. Here is a Google Map.
Recommended Ages: All ages, but kids 8 and under will probably get the most enjoyment out of the ride. Certainly, the whole family can pile-on for a ride, as long as spinning in a circle a couple hundred times doesn’t make anyone sick.
Parental Stress Factor: Low stress and lots of fun! This is a pretty slow mall most of the time.
Physical Difficulty: N/A
Family Fun Factor: Low to Medium. Of course, if this adventure is coupled with a trip to Barnes and Noble or other shopping stops, the whole family might be up for the trip including teenagers.
Pet Friendly: N/A
Weather Considerations: This is a great rainy day activity!
Insider Info: If you have kids 5 and younger, you’ll find some kiddie rides around the corner from the carousel. These rides take quarters, so if you plan on letting your kids try them out, bring along plenty of quarters. The rollercoaster simulator is $1.00. These are definitely NOT for older kids.
Family Tips: Heading to the carousel isn’t a bad idea for a family outing due to the various shops in the Jantzen Beach area. While I prefer hiking and biking, I have to admit that my 5-year-old son enjoys walking around Home Depot, even though we never buy anything. There is a Target, Starbucks, Barnes and Noble, Best Buy, Home Depot, Old Navy, Mattress World, Toys R Us, Babies R Us, etc. Basically, it has the typical stores of our big-box-culture.
Technorati Tags: carousel, CW Parker, Jantzen Beach, rides, merry-go-round, Supercenter, mall, Hayden Island, kid, family
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Yeah, my family often went there before we moved south to Salem. When I was a little boy (more than 30 years ago), iI used to ride those. Now my children rode them as well. It is neat to have my children do what I used to be when I was their age. Yeah, there are several stores around Janzten Beach included Toy R Us and Barnes and Nobles as kids loves to go to Kids area. YOu can get hot chocolate from Strabuck which is located next to Barnes and Nobles. If you want to have low key activity or stress. It is for you. If you drive from Portland downtown to Janzten Beach, best time is get there from late morning(9:30) to 3 PM. After 3 PM, you will be crazy or cranked in the car in the deadly rush hour!!!!