Playdate PDX — Photo courtesy of Playdate PDX
The Alphabet district in downtown Portland, OR, is home to a fabulous indoor kids' playplace called Playdate PDX. From outside, there is little sign of the fun times to be had, but step inside and you will be greeted by a castle and whisked away into every kid's dream come true. Kids can run, climb, slide and more inside the 7,500-square-foot castle play structure every day from 9 a.m. until 8 p.m.
Once your child's in the structure, all kinds of fun can be found, including an interactive light floor where kids can play games like Dance Revolution and make musical sounds. There are also lots of slides, including slides with bumps for extra fun.
Kids love the ball room, where they can shoot small plastic balls at each other and the punching bags. They have rings for kids to play on, tubes to roam through and much more.
Playdate PDX's toddler area — Photo courtesy of Playdate PDX
Playdate PDX has a smaller room just for toddlers with small climbing structures, small slides, a chalk board, play table and small, soft furniture. The bathrooms here also have a small children’s toilet.
They often have fun performers come in, such as acrobats, puppets, face painters and jugglers - especially on Friday nights. Their website has an updated calendar with upcoming events. On holidays like Easter, they will have the Easter bunny visit, face painting, egg hunts and more. You can also have a birthday party here in one of the three party rooms available.
Even the parents are happy here. They can have a cup of coffee, latte or even a beer from the café. The cafe also serves food, including lots of healthy options like salads and wraps, as well as paninis, flatbreads and wings. They also have kids' meals available with choices like hot dogs, grilled cheese and peanut butter and jelly.
There is a large sitting area with tons of tables and chairs. From the sitting area, the play area is in full view, making it easy to find your children. Playdate PDX also has free WiFi, so if you need to work while your kids play, you can. They also have TVs.
During the week, children’s admission is $8, and on the weekends, admission is $10. Admission for toddlers is just $4, and parents are free. If you forget to bring socks for your kids, they have them available for purchase for $2.50. Free parking is available in front of and behind the building.
