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Kids’ Club Fun & Fitness
By admin | January 19, 2008 Email Post Print Page
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.
The Kids’ Club offers a fun array of programs for kids including swimming, dancing, gymnastics, tumbling, and birthday parties. It has a kindergarten, preschool and after school programs. Please check-out their website for more information about these programs. The entire place was very clean, the employees were helpful and friendly, and lockers were free with and exchange for your car keys. The gymnastic equipment looked really nice.
Caveats: The pool does not have a toddler-safe area or any water features - it’s just a regular swimming pool with some tube-slides. If you have beginning swimmers, I would stick to the Jungle Playland.
We went on a Saturday morning around 10AM, and the parking area was jam packed. I suspect this isn’t the case during the week, but this is a popular destination on a Saturday morning/early afternoon.
The gymnastic equipment and toddler jumping/play area are not accessible to the general public. These areas are reserved for their classes, which did look really great.
Website: Kids’ Club Fun & Fitness
Distance from Portland: Located in Vacouver, WA - it’s about 20 miles from downtown Portland.
Recommended Ages: Their programs cover a wide age range - please talk to them directly about these opportunities. The Jungle Playland is open to all ages, but 8 and younger will enjoy it the most. Parental Stress Factor: Low stres! You may have to follow your kid around until they get the hang of it, but for the most part, it was quite relaxing and fun.
Physical Difficulty: If you start crawling around with your kid, you will get worked! I don’t care what kind of shape you think you’re in - these jungle gyms put you in awkward positions, and work muscles in new and different ways. Be prepared!
Family Fun Factor: High! Kids were very busy here and having fun. If your kids are involved in any of their classes, this would be a great place to spend an afternoon.
Pet Friendly: No pets. Weather Considerations: Great for rainy days! 
Insider Info: Although there are cubbies for shoes, they aren’t big enough for all your gear. I recommend getting a locker for your valuables, which is free with your car keys - don’t worry, you’ll get them back! These lockers are pretty small, but they are big enough for a wallet, camera, a coat, and/or purse.
If you’re planning on entering the Jungle Playland with your kids, make sure you get some knee pads from the front desk. They do cost $1, but it’s a dollar well spent. Climbing in these small tubes is really hard on your knees. Splurge, and you will be comfortable!
Watch your kids in the plastic ball area. Bigger kids often jump into these balls without looking for your toddler who may be partially buried. Also, kids tend to throw these plastic balls at each other, and they can hurt if a kid gets hit in the face. Otherwise, most kids can just roam freely in this structure.
Family Tips: I really liked the “staging area” for getting into the pool. There is plenty of room for kids and both parents in this public area. The lockers are located in this area, family bathrooms, benches, and access to the pool. The design of this area was well thought out.
Technorati Tags: kid’s club fun and fitness, indoor play structures, indoor playgrounds for kids, indoor pool, gymnastics classes, Vancouver, Washington, dancing and movement classes for kids
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Topics: Indoor Activities, Vancouver |