Best Indoor Playground - Portland Oregon & Vancouver Washington
by Liz Stevens, Certified Postpartum Doula
Searching for an indoor playground in Portland, Oregon or Vancouver, Washington?
The winter months can be tough with young kids - cold and wet weather can dampen our motivation for outdoor play, even though we know we all benefit when kids get outside. Staying warm at home can result in everyone feeling a little squirrely within the constraints of our home’s four walls.
Hammer and Jack’s Play Room in SE Portland
When it comes to looking for an indoor playground Portland, OR and Vancouver, WA are full of them! We’re lucky to have a host of indoor playgrounds and play spaces for kids, from the infant stage through preschool and even beyond. When the weather is a barrier to getting outdoors, check out these options - whether they’re around the corner or the occasion for a local field trip.
You can fill many, many rainy days checking out all the indoor place spaces in and around Portland, OR. I especially love Hammer and Jack’s Happy Place in SE Portland. The Happy Place is a 750 sq ft playroom that offers connection for folks big and small. They offer the playroom to the public daily plus you can book it for private events and shop for those upcoming birthday party gifts. Check out their calendar.
Here is a full list of my favorite indoor playgrounds in Portland, OR organized by area
From traditional indoor playgrounds, to play spaces and alternative approaches to indoor play, we’re lucky to have a huge range of indoor play centers in the Portland Area - covering pretty much all parts of the city. There’s something for everyone on this list - covering a wide range of ages & interests, we’re really lucky to have such a fabulous choice of indoor playgrounds in Portland!
Southwest Portland
Mittleman Jewish Community Center Indoor Playground
Dig PDX
Northwest Portland
North Portland
City Play for Kids. Images: L. Melendez Stevens
Best indoor playground in Vancouver, WA
I recently went on my own hunt to find my favorite indoor playgrounds in Vancouver, Washington. With my kids in tow we found many beloved places. Rather than a traditional playground, our search led us to a play space that quickly became our favorite: City Play for Kids in Vancouver, WA.
We love it because it provides opportunities for young children to engage in real life play, in a light and airy setting without the distraction of screens and other “noisy” toys.
I was able to connect with one of the owners while I was there. This play space is clearly loved, and I wanted to know more about why they created this beautiful third place for families with young kids. As a parent himself, he shared, he understood that parents need to get out in the day early if they have early-riser children or schedules that are not conducive to later windows for play. Since there were few indoor play spaces in the area, and those that were often didn’t open until mid morning, he and his wife built the space the way they want to play with their own kids!
Other great indoor playgrounds in Vancouver, WA
Vancouver is a popular place for families with small children with a growing number of indoor play places. Add to your list the Vancouver Public Library Kids Zone and Dizzy Castle
LEKA Playland, Tigard
Best indoor playgrounds in Greater Portland, OR Metro Area
Vancouver isn’t the only Portland metro area with great indoor play spaces. While this isn’t an exhaustive list, these are many places where drop-in play is available - some free of charge and some on a per-visit or membership basis. Some you are also set up with work spaces and snacks. You can easily fill your rainy days in these fun communal spaces.
Cedar Hills
Cedar Hills Recreation Center
Happy Baby Play
Beaverton
Kowabunga PDX
Conestoga Recreation and Aquatic Center Indoor Play Park
Gresham
Lake Oswego
Milwaukie, OR
Happy Valley, OR
Sandy, OR
Five Essential Tips for New Parents
We created this guide to help parents simplify their to-do list around preparing for the fourth trimester, because we believe that a supported, restful postpartum experience brings lifelong benefits to parents and their children.
More places to find community in Portland beyond indoor playgrounds & play spaces
Make new friends in the grocery store line, park and more
We are not meant to raise children alone. Finding your people (and your children’s people) makes life as a parent with young children much more fun and encouraging. There are many places, in person and virtual, to find community. You can find your people by simply putting yourself out there (think back to making new friends in college) by talking with other parents in public places such as the grocery store line, the library and the playground.
Parent & Child Class at Cedarwood Waldorf School
Attend a parent & child class together
There are also sweet ways for you and your child to connect and learn in a facilitated social setting. One place I love is the Rosebud Parent/Caregiver and Child Observation classes at Cedarwood Waldorf School. The weekly class focuses on “gentle observation, meaningful conversation, and cultivating our perception of the needs of the young child” in a beautiful, calm setting. Classes are opnt to caregivers and young children six months to five years old.
Connect virtually with other parents from your home
You can also connect with parents virtually which is especially great when you have a newborn and it is hard to leave the house as well as when you have returned to work and you can’t attend an in-person gathering but you can hop on a zoom call during your lunch break. I love the weekly (free!!) virtual Nurturing Circle hosted by Postpartum Doulas Bridgetown Baby every Tuesday at 10:30-12:30 (you can drop in for any amount of time).
Find support for postpartum depression and anxiety
If you are a parent coping with postpartum depression and/or anxiety, I recommend Baby Blues Connection which offers free support groups led by trained facilitators and designed to support people learning to handle stress related to becoming a parent. You are not alone!
Stay up to date with kid-friendly events in Portland
Portland and Vancouver have fun events for the whole family year-round. Don’t forget to check out PDX Parent Magazine to see what is happening in your neighborhood.
It can be a challenge to get everyone’s wiggles out when the weather is daunting - having a few favorite spots (and a few new ones in your back pocket, for adventurous days) can be a motivator, a connection to community, and a source of the shared fun that bonds us to our littles.
Gotta run - time to play!
Information provided in the blog is for educational purposes only and does not substitute for professional medical advice. For more information, please see our disclaimer.
