- Kay Gaensler / Foter / CC BY-NC-SA
According to the UK’s “The Times,” 60 percent of parents wish that they had more time away from their kids. In a week’s time, parents report spending less than a single hour of their free time away from the kids. Just because you have kids doesn’t mean that you don’t deserve a life of your own. In fact, parents who take care of their own mental health make better moms and dads. Here’s how to spend date night, or day, out on the town in Portland.
1.Shanghai Tunnels
Zombies, vampires and ghosts, oh my! Never before have things that walk the night been so emblazoned in popular culture. If you can’t get enough of all things creepy, take a walk through the Shanghai Tunnels. These windswept passageways wind under the city of Portland, and they are the perfect way to spend a romantic, if somewhat scary, time out with your partner. Lace up your shoes, grab a hand and get walking.
2.Pub Crawl
Portland is known to have some of the best craft beers in the country. If you enjoy a good pint, or several, take a pub crawl one Friday night. You can stop into any one of the city’s bars, clubs or pubs and grab a drink to share. Thank your bartender, leave a tip, and move on to the next. You can easily make a night of pub crawling; just remember to take a taxi home.
3.Farmer’s Market
Let’s face it: Visiting a farmer’s market is one of the last things kids find exciting. Leave the kids with a sitter and head out for a few hours on a weekend afternoon. Stroll hand-in-hand through one of the many farmers markets in the great city of Portland. Without a doubt, the most popular market is held on the campus of Portland State University. Stifle your fear of crowds and get down there. You won’t find fresher produce anywhere in the world.
4. Catch a concert.
Remember way back when, when you were young and in love? Concerts were a staple in your dating life. Put concerts back on your to-do list with the amazing line-up of shows in the Summer Zoo Concert Series. Cyndi Lauper, The B-52s and Jewel are just some of the amazing artists that take part in the series. You and your partner can enjoy an afternoon or evening of music without worrying about the kids making fun of your tastes.
5.Eat
Whether you want a romantic dinner for two or prefer a backyard BBQ atmosphere, Portland has a restaurant for you. Spend an afternoon deciding among the dozens of eateries available, and spend an evening expanding your stomachs. With so many gastronomic delights afoot in the city, it will be difficult to choose. Make it a date to try a new restaurant at least once a month. You’ll have fun comparing and contrasting the service, atmosphere and food found at each spot.
Never feel guilty for needing some time away from the kids. Too often, parents lose themselves as a couple, only finding time to dedicate to work and the little ones. Everyone needs some down time, and that means entering a kid-free zone. Just make sure that you don’t spend your time talking about braces, grades and Little League.
Author Robin Knight is an avid real estate blogger.