Photo of a cute, colorful, kidcore mural in Portland

Bright colors. Old-School Charm. Portland is a magical kidcore fantasyland.

Relive the rainbow-themed, beanie babies laden 90s childhood you had or wish you had. While you may not actually be able to jump back in time there are a few places that can help you feel like you have. Take a turn through the classics like candy shop Rocket Fizz (over 200 kinds of candy!) or party supply shop, The Lippman Company where you can find just about any color paper streamers. Major Jojo Siwa vibes. Next up, head to Ice Queen (Popsicles!) or Toast’d (pop tarts!) for a childhood snack and end your day at 90s themed dance club Jones or Ground Kontrol Arcade. For a trip a bit further afield, head to Enchanted Forest and stroll through Storybook Lane with a mixture of preschool kids and college stoners. Long live childhood.

RIP: JJ Jump – we’ll always miss you.

Kidcore is an aesthetic that centers around bright colors, nostalgia for icons from the 90s, and/or kid themes. While its origins can be traced back to the 1990s, it appears the aesthetic is a nostalgia-based creation of the 2010s.

The Throwback Kidcore Tour of Portland

Ice Queen PDX
Ice Cream, Bars & Paletas

Ice Queen PDX

Portland, OR

Ice queen is equal parts kawaii dreams and frozen treat magic. We pride ourselves on providing delicous vegan ice cream, popsicles and paletas that are as pleasing on your eyes as they are on your stomach.

Ice Queen specializes in plant based frozen desserts in Portland, OR. We sell in many local stores and have just opened our own store front where you can find a variety of plant based popsicles!

  • magical
  • sweet
  • fun
  • cute
Rocket Fizz
Candy Shop

Rocket Fizz

Portland

Rocket Fizz is your one-stop-shop for candy, soda, gags, nostalgic gifts and unique items. 2000 kinds of candy, 500 flavors of soda and MORE!!!

  • classic
  • authentic
  • sweet
  • tasty
Enchanted Forest
Theme Park

Enchanted Forest

Turner

Quaint family theme park owned and operated by the Tofte family. The park opened in 1971. It has Storybook Lane, Western Town, Haunted House, Ice mountain Bobsled Roller Coaster, Summer Comedy Theatre, English Village, Big Timber Log Ride, and in 2006, Challenge of Mondor (interactive dark ride).

  • classic
  • magical
  • family-friendly
  • adventurous
Toast'd
Pop Tarts

Toast'd

Portland

Hi šŸ‘‹šŸ¼ My name is Courtney and I’m the owner and baker behind Toast’d. If you have ordered ā€˜tarts you have met me and I have loved talking to every single one of you šŸ’• I’ve been a vegetarian my whole life and for the past 15 years I’ve been vegan. I have always loved to bake (and eat) and don’t think anyone should settle for sub par baked goods just because they’re vegan/plant based šŸ‘ŠšŸ¼ I love making every single ā€˜tart for you guys and am so thankful for you supporting this little pop-tart making baker šŸ’«

  • fun
  • cute
  • popular
  • local
Woonwinkel
Design Studio

Woonwinkel

Portland

Design shop with home goods, furniture and gifts in a sunny scandinavian style. Owned by two women with a passion for independent designers, handcrafted objects and modern color. Named best of Portland.

  • design
  • popular
  • women-owned
  • craft
Ground Kontrol Arcade
Video Arcade

Ground Kontrol Arcade

Portland

Ground Kontrol is the West Coast’s premier classic arcade. We preserve and celebrate video gaming’s ā€œgolden ageā€ by operating over 100 classic video games and 40.5 pinball machines, feature a full-service bar serving from noon until late (usually 2AM), host DJs, comedy shows, high score competitions, game tournaments, and Rock Band karaoke, and are available for public and private event rentals.

  • Classic
  • Retro
  • Fun
  • Loud
Oaks Amusement Park
Theme Park

Oaks Amusement Park

Portland, OR

One of America’s oldest continually operating amusement park, founded in 1905, features thrill rides, family rides, kiddie rides, go carts, miniature golf, midway games, and the largest roller skating rink west of the Mississippi!

  • family
  • outdoors
  • outdoor
  • fun
The Lippman Company
Party Store

The Lippman Company

Portland

The Lippman Co. celebrates over 60 years of helping Portland party! We are a third-generation, single-location, family-owned party supply business with a commitment to finding the best stuff out there—and bringing it to you, our customer.

  • craft
  • party
  • kidcore
  • classic
Oregon Museum of Science & Industry (OMSI)
Science Museum

Oregon Museum of Science & Industry (OMSI)

Portland

The Oregon Museum of Science and Industry is a science and technology museum in Portland, Oregon, United States. It contains three auditoriums, including a large-screen theatre, planetarium, and exhibition halls with a variety of hands-on permanent exhibits focused on natural sciences, industry, and technology.

  • family
  • cool
  • old
  • popular
Jones
Retro Dance Club

Jones

Portland

Jones is Portland’s hottest retro dance club. It’s all 80s/90s/00s, all the time! A vision and dream come true for owner Nikki Jones, Jones Bar is one of Portland’s only female owned nightclubs and is a true reflection of her passion for creating downtown bars with neighborhood vibes. Jones is a sensual journey through three incredible decades; from throwback music by local and national DJ’s, loads of 80s/90s/00s memorabilia, old school arcade games, and the largest Lite-Brite on the west coast, Jones bursts with genuine awesome-ness. Jones, a 6500 square foot club, also has a huge dance floor, plenty of sparkle, disco balls galore, a VIP section with bottle service, friendly staff, and a killer outdoor patio.

  • retro
  • wild
  • lively
  • kidcore

About the Author

Vibemap Team
Vibemap Team

Our editors are on a mission to discover the best city experiences tailored just for you. We curate lists of meaningful places, events, and experiences that match your vibe perfectly. Want to add your own touch to the lists? Share your favorites with us at editors@vibemap.com or use the app to add cool spots near you. Let’s explore together and make every city adventure uniquely yours! šŸš€