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Tuck Woodstock
Tuck Woodstock wrote and edited content for Travel Portland from 2014–2020. Read More
Indoor Activities for Kids
These kid-friendly fun zones are terrific indoor destinations.
Tuck Woodstock
Tuck Woodstock wrote and edited content for Travel Portland from 2014–2020. Read More
Don’t let bad weather spoil your fun — whether it’s too wet in the winter, too hot in the summer, or you just feel like going inside and getting cozy, Portland offers a broad array of indoor activities for kiddos (and adults, too). Read on for a slew of suggestions for family-friendly things to do inside, in and around Portland — some of which may be near you right now.
Family-Friendly Indoor Fun in Portland
Find story times, indoor playgrounds, arcades, bowling, skating and much more.
For Littles: Toddlers & Preschoolers
Story Times
To keep the little ones engaged and having fun indoors, visit Sunrise Books, which hosts story times for babies and toddlers. Green Bean Books spices up its weekly story time schedule with special events like “Read to a Therapy Dog” and author visits. Beloved Foster-Powell toy store Hammer and Jacks opens their colorful community event space for weekly story times, music hours and more.
The Multnomah County Library system is the largest in Oregon — and among the largest in the country in terms of annual circulation. It’s no wonder the Multnomah County Central Library offers an array of free story times with numerous focuses such as Spanish, Vietnamese and Russian language books; “Sensory Storytime” (great for neurodivergent children); Native stories; and more.
Kid-Friendly Dining & Regional Attractions
Find eateries the little ones will love and kid-friendly attractions outside the city.
Kid-Friendly Dining
Discover Portland’s top kid-friendly eateries — including breakfast spots, pizzerias and breweries — which offer awesome children’s menus, play areas and more.
Kid-Friendly Regional Attractions
Trips outside the city promise all-ages entertainment. Here are four must-see attractions within two hours of downtown Portland.
Indoor Playgrounds
Within Portland
A favorite with Portland parents, PlayDate PDX offers a massive, three-story indoor playground made for climbing, crawling, sliding and exploring — it’s a perfect place for indoor physical activities for kids, whether it’s a rainy day or a hot one. An expansive seating area allows families to refuel with pizza, wraps and kid-friendly finger foods before diving back in for another round of fun.
For springy fun, visit Northeast Portland’s Children’s Gym during their open gym hours. Welcoming guests 13 and under, this gymnastics-oriented facility features an extensive range of equipment — beams, bars, rings, springboards and trampolines — all protected with cushy mats and thick flooring.
In Southeast Portland’s Foster-Powell neighborhood, Hammer and Jacks offers two kid-friendly attractions in one: an awesome toy store and a 750-square-foot (70 sq m) enclosed playroom. The playroom is an ideal fit for kids aged 1–7, though older siblings and infants are welcome too.
Just Outside the City
Kids can channel their inner kung fu masters at Monkey King Play House, a dynamic, multi-story destination in Southeast Portland that combines space for martial arts lessons, private party rooms and celebrations of Chinese culture. Arrive hungry, because their café offers spring rolls, dumplings, chow mein and other Asian-inspired bites, along with classic kid-friendly faves like pizza, quesadillas and hot dogs.
Only 15 minutes from downtown Portland, DiG PDX dubs itself Oregon’s largest indoor sandbox. Kids aged 0–12 can play in one of the multiple giant sandboxes filled with white sand. Each sandbox has a hand-painted, PDX-themed mural by a local artist, with toy diggers, excavators and kid-friendly tools to dig for fossils or build intricate sandcastles.
Head south for a play date at LEKA Playland. Drawing inspiration from Montessori and Waldorf philosophies, this indoor playground 30 minutes from downtown Portland offers thoughtfully designed play structures and toys (many of them handmade) that are sure to spark your little one’s imagination. The modern vibe and elegant decor will make the grown-ups feel right at home too.
Get Active: Sports & Recreation
Bowling
The modern lanes at KingPins in Southeast Portland allow bowlers to watch sports or music videos on HD televisions in between turns. The 40-lane bowling center also includes a 4,000-square-foot (372 sq m) game room.
Another popular bowling destination in the Central Eastside is Grand Central Bowl, thanks to its giant HD projection screens, balcony game room, and expansive food and drink menu — as a bonus, your order gets delivered right to your seat. And speaking of great eats, Punch Bowl Social offers all sorts of gourmet gastro-diner plates (think Idaho trout and chicken and waffles), as well as bowling, pool, karaoke and a vintage arcade — it’s more than enough entertainment to keep the whole family occupied.
Ice Skating, Roller Skating & Skateboarding
Portland has options for both blades and wheels — find spots to ice skate, roller skate and skateboard.
Rock Climbing
With short walls, thickly padded floors and no tricky belay systems, bouldering gym The Circuit is great for kids. Portland Rock Gym is also kid-friendly (it even hosts its own youth climbing team) and has a café upstairs. The mammoth Movement Portland (formerly Planet Granite) offers 149 climbing routes and an expansive bouldering area.
More Sports
Fútbol fanatics should head to 30,000-square-foot (2,787 sq m) Rose City Futsal to take advantage of its three full-sized soccer courts: two turf and one hard rubber. Before you leave, shop for new shin guards and goalie gloves at the adjoining Far Post Soccer Supply Company, then grab a gourmet burger and microbrew at Clive’s Pub.
Open seven days a week, the Portland Tennis Center at Buckman Field Park offers eight indoor courts. Peaceful St. Johns hosts its own venue, Portland Tennis & Education (formerly St. Johns Racquet Center), which offers three indoor courts, a kid-friendly vibe and plenty of youth classes and activities.
Miniature golf is always a hit with kids, and Portland has a variety of options: Indoor courses include Glowing Greens downtown and Wonderwood Mini Golf in St. Johns. Birdie Time Pub is a sports bar with a nine-hole course — golfers of all ages are welcome until 7 p.m.
More Indoor Options
Too hot? Too cold? Too wet? Find more indoor activities and ways to have a great day indoors.
Indoor Activities in Portland
Don’t let a rainy day (or a hot one!) stop you from having fun in Portland — enjoy museums, movie theaters, arcades, shopping and other indoor activities.
Perfect Itinerary for Portland Indoor Activities
Whether you’re escaping the weather or just feeling “indoorsy,” here’s a guide to enjoying Portland’s dynamic cultural scene while barely setting foot outside.
Arcades, Games, Music & More
Arcades
Find hours of family-friendly, affordable fun at Wunderland, a local chain of great arcades. They have locations spread throughout the Portland region — including spots in Belmont, Milwaukie, Gresham and Beaverton — so one may be near you now.
Though they’re less explicitly kid-focused, Portland has a slew of other places to play, including bar arcades and pinball spots. They all shift to a 21+ focus later in the day, but Ground Kontrol, QuarterWorld, Wedgehead and others offer all-ages play during certain days and hours.
Games
If you’re more of a board game family, Portland has options. A trip to The Paladins League is a no-brainer: This Beaumont neighborhood gem goes out of their way to welcome gamers of all ages, with perks like a selection of games for young kids and programming for families and youths. They also offer a full kitchen, adult beverages, and a dessert menu featuring milkshakes, ice cream sundaes and ice cream floats. Best of all, fees for kids 10 and younger are waived if the adults in the group purchase game passes. Portland also has an abundance of other game stores, many of which offer kid-friendly games, gaming sessions and other events.
Kids’ Musicians & Bands
Portland has a well-earned reputation as a great city for live music, and families can find plenty of opportunities to get in on the fun. Local children’s musicians and bands include Ants Ants Ants, Mr. Ben, Mr. Hoo, Triple Rainbow, Red Yarn and Tallulah’s Daddy, among others — check out their websites and social media accounts to find fun upcoming shows.
More Kid-Friendly Indoor Activities
Find more places where you can stay out of the rain — or beat the heat — with the whole family.
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