Harris Park — Umatilla County
78689 S Fork Walla Walla River Rd, Milton-Freewater, OR 97862
Sometimes the best thing we can do for our families is simple: get outside, put the phones down, and spend some time together.
You don't always need an expensive vacation or a packed schedule to make a good family memory. Harris Park is a beautiful place where kids, parents, grandparents, and extended family can all enjoy being outdoors together.
Walk along the water and enjoy the scenery. Listen to the creek. Let the kids explore. Find a shady spot and simply sit for a while.
There really is something here for different ages to enjoy. Younger kids can head for the playground and open grassy area, while parents, grandparents and older family members can enjoy the shade, river and scenery nearby.
Bring a ball, pack a picnic, let the kids play, take a walk by the river, or simply find a shady place to sit together. You don't have to plan every minute. Get outside and spend time with your family—that's the memory.
Different generations can enjoy the same day in different ways—and still be together. Those easy outdoor moments give conversations room to happen naturally and give everyone a chance to slow down.
If you're enjoying a campfire where and when park rules and conditions allow, pull up a chair, tell stories, roast something over the fire and laugh together. Sometimes being together is the entertainment.
A Fleming Collective Family Challenge
Pick one day soon and get everybody outside. Bring the little kids. Bring the teenagers. Invite Grandma and Grandpa. Pack lunch. Take pictures. Explore. Sit by the water. Play on the grass.
All ages can enjoy a day like this.
The housework will still be waiting when you get home. Childhood won't. Time with our parents and grandparents won't last forever either. So when you get the chance—go.
Because some of the best family memories aren't made somewhere fancy. They're made outside, together, on an ordinary day that turned out to be pretty special.
The Fleming Collective
Sharing Our Family With Yours
Reader question: What's your family's favorite place to get outside and spend the day together?
Photos: The Fleming Collective at Harris Park, Umatilla County