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What’s to Love:  On our ever continuing 2011 skatepark tour, we managed to find this gem in Vancouver, WA.  Ripzu has been open about a year and a half, but it seems like a brand new facility to me. Everything is in excellent condition with a superior riding surface and one of the nicest layouts for beginning riders in the Portland area.  

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What’s to Love: When we moved to the Pacific Northwest in 1999, we couldn’t find affordable rent in Portland, so we ended-up in Vancouver. After hanging out in Portland, we realized that it was a much better match for us. Thus, we left Vancouver after about 3-4 months with a pretty unfavorable impression of the area. Indeed, Vancouver (the ‘couv’) takes quite a bit of punishment from Portlanders. However, in terms of outdoor recreation (specifically bicycling on paved-paths), Vancouver has many opportunities that mirror Portland’s excellent reputation as a “biking town.”

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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.

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What’s to Love: The main attraction here – “Jungle Playland” – is free for adults and reasonably priced for kids. It’s the best indoor play structure I’ve seen in the Portland area. Bullwinkle’s Family Fun Center in Wilsonville has a nice structure, but this is as nice and bigger. There is just so much room for kids to move and play within this structure filled with great slides, a twirling tunnel, obstacles, and a plastic-ball plunge “pool.” Personally, I love the climbing nets and the fact that adults can go in the structure (if your back can handle it!) with their kids.