Fun things to do in Albany, Oregon: Portland to Eugene road trip stop

Even if you’ve visited Oregon, you might never have heard of Albany, but that’s not a good reason to overlook this gem. This little town of just 50,000 people packs in a lot of charm. Its historic downtown has beautifully preserved several blocks, and its location in the Willamette Valley means there’s plenty of pretty green space there. Here, I share our favorite things to do in Albany, Oregon.

Located conveniently at the halfway point between Portland and Eugene, Oregon, Albany is a terrific spot to stop on the drive. (We often pause at the Albany historic carousel when driving to my parents’ house in Eugene. The girls are legit obsessed.) Albany is also an hour from Newport, Oregon on the Coast.

So whether this little Oregon town is your main destination or simply a stop on a road trip, read on for fun things to do in Albany.

1. Historic Carousel and Museum

In historic Downtown Albany, Oregon, kids (and adults!) can ride a giraffe, frog and even a mer-pony on a gorgeous handcrafted carousel. This carousel in Oregon uses a motor that is more than 100 years old. The animals themselves are newer: Volunteers have spent more than 160,000 hours carving and painting these handmade creatures.

Edie and Maxine could barely contain their excitement when they saw this historic carousel. They spotted the animals they wanted to ride—ones on the outside that remained stationary, and the two inside rows, which move up and down.

Beyond the fun of riding a carousel, Albany’s Historic Carousel and Museum gives you a sneak peek into the making of this work of art. On a recent day when we visited this Oregon carousel, we watched volunteers work on a cow. When completed, the carousel will hold 52 animals. What’s more, they swap out carousel animals seasonally, including holiday-themed ones! (I, personally, want to go back and ride the Christmas Clydesdale!)

Buy tokens to ride ($2 per person per ride) at the concession stand or gift shop.

2. Talking Water Gardens

Less than 5 minutes off I-5, Talking Water Gardens provides the perfect place to stretch your legs. This park in Albany is made up of walking paths criss-crossing restored wetlands on formerly industrial land. The evenly graded and mostly flat gravel paths make it easy for young walkers, people with mobility limitations and even jogging strollers to maneuver.

Talking Water Gardens is actually a project created by local utility companies to cool down treated water reclaimed from city use. After you wash a load of laundry or take a shower, these companies reclaim the grey water and treat it to remove anything unsafe or unsanitary. They then send that cleaned water to the wetlands in Talking Water Park, where the native plants and waterfalls help it reach a cool enough temperature to be released into the nearby Willamette River.

The reclaimed wetlands also provide habitat for native plants, birds and other animal species. Keep an eye out for turtles, mink and the sweet-singing red winged blackbird. On a recent walk through Talking Water Gardens, I spied a heron stalking frogs and fish for dinner.

Level 10 travel tip: Bring your binoculars. Even if you don’t spot any wildlife, your kids will feel uber cool while scanning the horizon for critters!

3. Feel fancy with a high-class tea

While we were passing through, I knew I needed to find a family friendly restaurant in Albany, Oregon. But I also didn’t want to go the usual hamburger and french fries route. That’s when I found the Ivy Garden Tea Room, which serves high tea, crustless sandwiches and even pots of hot chocolate for little sippers!

Edie and her raised pinkie are so classy

Max and Edie were oh-so-excited. Once they realized that they would get to drink out of dainty tea cups and get their very own pot of hot chocolate, they practically lost their minds.

Each of them ordered a Mad Hatter, the kid-friendly option on the menu. It included a pot of tea or hot chocolate, grilled cheese and peanut butter and jelly sandwiches (with the crusts cut off, naturally) and desserts, including scones and tiny cakes. The super-friendly owner of Ivy Garden Tea Room even cut the peanut butter and jelly sandwiches into a flower shape!

It’s best to make reservations, especially on the weekends, though we arrived early enough on a Saturday to snag a table without a rez. I found this family-friendly restaurant in Albany to be so kind and accommodating to my kids. I not only highly recommend this adorable spot for high tea, I want you and your kids to go because it’s so fun to be fancy!

The Ivy Garden Tea Room is also a little shop, selling hats (perfect for dressing up for high tea!) and teapots. Maxine wanted to buy all the hats!

4. Paint and get messy at Splatter Box

Combine bright paint, black light effects and a 2,500-square-foot studio and you get Splatter Box in Albany. (You’ll also get plenty messy!)

I have been planning a visit to this off-the-wall thing to do in Albany for months. Circumstances, including COVID-19, kept wrecking my plans so we haven’t yet visited it in person. But you can see for yourself how wacky and fun Splatter Box is!

The cost of visiting is $35 per person. The price includes a white t-shirt and paint; you can also get canvases so you can take home your masterpieces. Use syringes, squirt bottles, even water guns to color the huge walls—or each other!

As soon as it’s safe to travel, we’re heading to this unique spot in Albany.

5. Hang out in Bryant Park

Since the weather has gotten better, we’ve been going to Bryant Park in Albany regularly. It’s a natural halfway point between Portland and Eugene, so we meet my parents there. That way we can spend some socially distanced time together outside (where research shows you’re much, much less likely to spread and contract COVID-19). 

At 72 acres, Bryant Park is big—so it makes sense it has so many fun things to do! My kids particularly love wading in the Calapooia River to catch minnows, and Eric plays the disc golf course there. We also kayak here!

This large Albany park also has fishing, basketball courts and a big playground. In short: It’s a great spot to stop on an Oregon road trip. 

I’ll continue to add to this post as we explore more things to do in Albany. Let me know below in the comments if you have suggestions!

PS – If you’re in Albany, you’re only a few minutes from my hometown of Eugene, Oregon! If you go to Track Town, don’t miss my post on my kid-friendly street art walk of Downtown Eugene.