What’s to Love: JJJump has two locations in the Portland area (Clackamas and Vancouver). This inflatable playland is very similar to Pump-it-Up, but doesn’t feel as corporate to me. We’ve only tried out the Vancouver location, and we had a great time. JJJump offers a good variety of inflatable structures, which will get you and your children bouncing, sliding, climbing, and crawling. My son loves

the slides and climbing structures. Whenever he got tired with one option, he’d just move onto another structure. For the most part, the business was clean and well run. They put a ton of inflatable balls into one of the structures, which was great for shooting baskets and volleying.

Caveats: The amenities are few here, and in this area of Vancouver, your options for eating are mainly fast food. There was a single staff person to monitor the entire place, which was far too low in my opinion. This place got crowded – many kids were not following the rules, and older kids were allowed into the structures during the “under 7″ jumping time.

Website: JJJump

Distance from Portland: Both locations are within 15 miles of downtown Portland.

Recommended Ages: This is a good activity for kids 12 and under. Any older, and they should probably try JJ Extreme (see insider info. below).

Parental Stress Factor: If it’s slow, it’s pretty low stress – many parents just take a seat and talk to other parents. If it’s busy, you’ll want to keep an an eye on your kids. Some kids were just getting trampled in certain sections. Also, my son learned to do forward flips, which made me quite nervous.

Physical Difficulty: Watch out! It’s a bit deceiving running and jumping in these structures – heart rates can sore just after a minute or two, especially if you’re not used to cardiovascular workouts.

Family Fun Factor: High! This is a great place for the family to cut loose and have some serious fun.

Pet Friendly: No pets.

Weather Considerations: A great indoor activity for the rainy days of winter.

Insider Info: Check the website for party packages. A birthday party here would be a blast for kids. Also, for your older kids, you should check-out JJExtreme. This is a bit more adventurous featuring a rock wall, extreme zip swing, bungee basketball, jousting, and a giant slide.

Family Tips: Long sleeve shirts and pants are a good idea, because the slides generate enough speed and friction to cause minor burns/abrasions. Parents, please be responsible and follow the rules. One parent was in the structure with all the balls throwing them at kids like a dodgeball game. It was harmless, but the other kids starting throwing balls at smaller kids who couldn’t defend themselves very well. The seating and food choices are extremely limited here. Bring your own snacks and drinks.

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