Child-Friendly Activities + Babysitters: Wander Orford Cliffs

If your family’s the adventurous type, it can be a good idea to bring them to Port Orford—a charming little town by the coastline featuring tons of natural scenery. It’s exactly the right place to be in if you want to introduce your child to nature’s beauty while they’re young.

While it can be a little daunting to plan things your child would enjoy, we have some fun ideas you can consider. If you’re staying at Wander Orford Cliffs, we also rounded up dependable babysitters you can hire for a few hours in case you need it. 

Child-Friendly Activities

Overall, expect your itinerary to be filled with outdoor activities, from taking nature walks to biking. There are plenty of things to see and do in Port Orford, check out these ideas for starters!

Go Hiking at Port Orford Heads Trail

Photo by Ian Poellet from Wikimedia Commons

• Distance from Wander Home: 0.5 miles

• Address: Port Orford Heads St Wayside, Port Orford, OR 97465

• Hours: Open daily from dawn to dusk

• Contact Number: 541-332-6774 ext. 0 

• Website: https://stateparks.oregon.gov/

Contrary to popular belief, Port Orford is home to tons of easy, family-friendly trails. The Port Orford Heads Trail is an excellent example of this.

This 1.2 mile loop trail that takes you through scenic ocean views—perfect for bird watching and short hikes with the whole fam regardless of skill level. 

If your trip happens to fall anywhere from April to October, you can also check out the Port Orford Lifeboat Station Museum. This little museum features a bit of Port Orford’s maritime history, which can be an educational experience for older kids. 

If you find this hike a bit short, there are lots of easy hiking trails around the area. In fact, we rounded up the best ones in this hiking and walking trail guide!

Dogs on leash are allowed. Meanwhile, the museum is open to everyone free of charge from April to October. 

Learn About Dinosaurs at Prehistoric Gardens

Photo by Prehistoric Gardens

• Distance from Wander Home: 12.9 miles

• Address: 36848 Highway 101 South, Port Orford, OR 97465

• Hours: Open daily from 10 AM to 5 PM during spring and fall. Open daily from 9 AM to 6 PM during summer.

• Contact Number: 1-541-332-4463

• Website: http://www.prehistoricgardens.com/ 

This attraction is a crowd favorite among young children. Take a self-guided stroll along the gravel paths of Prehistoric Gardens for a fun educational afternoon that your kids will enjoy!

You’ll find life-size dinosaur models around the area, along with details and fun facts. Here’s one for you: these models are based on actual measurements of mounted fossil skeletons featured in natural history museums across the United States. 

Further, its location is nestled in an actual rainforest rich in biodiversity with centuries-old trees and woodland animal species. Pets aren’t allowed in the area though, so you might want to skip this one if you have furry pals coming with you on your trip. 

Rates are at $12 for adults, $10 for seniors, and $8 for children aged 3 to 12 years old. Meanwhile, admission fees are waived for children aged 2 years old and under. 

Bike Along the Southern Oregon Coast

Photo by Pineapple Express Adventure Rides

• Distance from Wander Home (Pineapple Express Adventure Rides): 0.6 miles

• Address: Pineapple Express Adventure Rides, 832 Oregon Coast Hwy Suite 1, Port Orford, OR 97465

• Hours: Open from Tuesday to Saturday 10 AM to 4 PM

• Contact Number: (541) 655-0233

• Website: https://www.pineappleexpress.bike/ 

One of the best parts of staying at Wander Orford Cliffs is its convenient location, including close proximity to Agate Beach. If you have older kids, taking them out for a scenic bike ride along the coast is an experience that they won’t forget.

In fact, you can rent beach cruiser bikes at Pineapple Express Adventure Rides, which is just a 10-minute walk away from your Wander Orford Cliffs home. Each rental already comes with a helmet and lock, good for laid-back rides by the beach.

They also offer fat bike rentals if you and your kid want to hit the trails. But if you just want to spend the day relaxing on the beach, they also offer kites, skate decks, surf accessories, and more in the shop.

Bike rentals start at $30 per day. Hours may change depending on the weather so be sure to ring them beforehand.

Babysitters

Photo by Kristina Paukshtite from Pexels

There’s nothing wrong with wanting a few hours to yourself or with your partner. Here are your best picks on finding reliable babysitters in Port Orford.

Care.com

Care.com is an online platform where you can find trusted, last-minute babysitters in Port Orford and beyond. If you don’t have an account yet, creating one won’t take more than a few minutes of your time.

From there, you can create a job posting, review profiles, and message potential babysitters who meet your requirements. 

While the platform conducts background checks on all caregivers, you can also request a background check for an additional fee to give yourself that extra peace of mind.

Check out Care.com to book a babysitter.  

Sittercity

Sittercity is another online platform that allows you to connect and message potential babysitters in Port Orford. 

The process is fairly straightforward—just create an account, post a job, then wait for potential babysitters to message you. You can narrow your search down by checking their experience, skills, rates, plus other requirements.

Babysitters can request their own background checks, which is why some sitters have badges featured on their profiles. Otherwise, you have the option of running a background check on your sitter for a separate fee. 

Visit Sittercity.com to book a babysitter.

Have a Great Visit! 

Staying at any Wander home also means that you get to have 24/7 access to Wander Concierge who will take care of your needs. Just send us a text with your request and you’re good to go. We wish you and your family a fantastic stay at Wander Orford Cliffs!