OREGON ZOO TWO DOLLAR TUESDAYS

Don't get us wrong, the zoo is a fantastic place. Viewing the sea lions in the underwater cave is especially inspiring. But at $9.50 a pop for adults and $6.50 for 3 year olds, a trip to the zoo with a kid who may just last an hour before she completely freaks out when the monkey gets it into his pea brain to "demonstrate" by slamming his screaming grimacing shrieking fanged self into the glass can leave you begrudging the fear instinct of your progeny. But Ruth is still 2, so still free, and on the second Tuesday of every month everyone else is only two bucks. For two dollars, the monkey spazz out can turn into a funny story and not a mild resentment of the animal kingdom. Oh, and your kid gets to brush a goat! And, for the record, our Ruthie didn't lose it at the monkey like the other little scardy cats (but she sure talked about it for a while).

WATER POLLUTION CONTROL LABORATORY

We grant you, nobody would expect a lab that tests poopie water to be a particularly pleasant stop on your Sunday family outing. We picked up a walking guide, "Portland Hill Walks," as a way to aquaint ourselves with our new digs and a hike along the Willamette that included the historic Cathedral Park and St. Johns neighborhood included this gem of green architecture houses this pollution control laboratory. All in the shadow of the green suspension bridge that is the namesake of our new hood, the landscape design alone is unique, even visionary. Cathedral Park, adjacent to the lab, is a beautiful spot for a picnic. Trust us, it is worth checking out.