Tuck Woodstock

Tuck Woodstock has been writing and editing content for Travel Portland since 2014. Read More

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Parents can nosh on wings and other snacks as kids explore PlayDate PDX’s three-story castle.

Credit: Courtesy of PlayDate PDX

Indoor Children’s Play Areas

These kid-friendly fun zones are terrific rainy day destinations.

Updated Sept. 30, 2020 2 min read

Tuck Woodstock

Tuck Woodstock has been writing and editing content for Travel Portland since 2014. Read More

Don’t let a little rain spoil your family’s day! Little ones love letting their imaginations run wild at these Portland-area play spaces.

Indoor Children’s Play Areas

Play Palaces

A favorite with Portland parents, PlayDate PDX offers a massive, three-story indoor playground made for climbing, crawling, sliding and exploring. 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.

Kids can channel their inner kung fu masters at Monkey King Play House, a dynamic, multi-story destination in East 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, fried rice, pork buns and other Asian-inspired bites, along with classic kid-friendly bites like peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, chicken nuggets and hot dogs.

Conveniently located next to the Oregon Convention Center, the Playground Gym features a climbing wall, gymnastics props and a cork dance floor. The learning-focused facility encourages creativity by designing a space that lets kids tinker with their surroundings — think mats, bars, balls and hoops galore.

Jumps and Flips

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.

Shopping Centers

Portland’s many mall play spaces make it easy to take advantage of the city’s terrific tax-free shopping without leaving out the little ones. Ride the MAX Green Line to the Clackamas Town Center to find a whimsical, outdoor-themed play space outfitted with faux logs, tents and trees to scramble up, over or under. The play area at popular Washington Square is similarly decked out with an imagination-sparking array of plastic animals, rivers and bridges.

More Indoor Kid-Friendly Activities in Portland

Children’s Theater

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Portland Children’s Museum

Dreaming of a family-friendly afternoon full of hands-on learning? Head to the Portland Children’s Museum, in attraction-packed Washington Park.

Kid-Friendly Dining

These family-friendly Portland restaurants combine healthy children’s menus, play areas and fun.

When I Grow Up: Portland Attractions for Career-Oriented Kids

At these family-friendly Portland attractions, kids can walk in the shoes of the heroes they idolize: police officers, firefighters, astronauts, airplane pilots and sailors.

Kid-Friendly Breweries in Portland

In a city with more breweries than anywhere else in the world, parents don't have to choose between their children and enjoying a good pint of beer.

Ice Skating in and Around Portland

Here are your best bets for ice skating in Portland and the region, from year-round indoor rinks to winter-only outdoor options.

Indoor Activities for Children

When Portland's weather prevents kids from running around outside, families can choose from dozens of awesome indoor activities.