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    Play and Ponder

    4.8 (17 reviews)
    Closed 9:00 am - 6:00 pm

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    Verma S.

    We had the BEST birthday here at Play and Ponder!!! They had the BEST hospitality & provided soo much for us!! I was overwhelmed with love by how they took care of everything. The kids had fun playing & it went extremely well. Thank youu everybody at Play and Ponder, Popfetti PDX, Pastelskies PDX, Baking with Nanaanagela, and Dragon tree Productions for pulling together such a fun party!!!

    First foam pit!

    Update: the balance between the summer camp and visiting families is awkward. It was not the camp counselors' fault at all, they were doing their best, and came up with an activity to keep the "camp kids" entertained and "out of the way" in one area. Before that, a camp kid had chased a toddler making him cry (again camp counselors responded quickly but it just felt like a weird situation and like there wasn't really enough space for the camp and the families that had paid for the day). I felt like I was inconveniencing them by letting my toddler use the foam pit. Also, there wasn't a dinosaur themed Velcro ball throwing game that had newly been placed (maybe for the campers?) and the balls we're choking hazards. I know this, because my 20 month old managed to get one entirely in his mouth while I was right there with him. I get that they are trying different ideas to bring in different clients, but it needs to be better thought out on management's end, especially in such a small space. Leaving my five star review because the play space itself is amazing and everyone was doing their best.

    Future veterinarian
    Jordan C.

    Brought my kids on a Monday morning to run some energy out and give myself a break from entertaining. We were greeted by the owner and it was very apparent they have children of their own, as they've thought of every little detail. They had a place for my oldest to color while I filled out the waivers and paid for their admission, and they brought me a chair to sit if I wanted to- since I was holding my youngest in my arms. It's set up so that you can conveniently see your kids from anywhere in the space, no unnecessary walls dividing rooms like a lot of other places- which make it difficult for parents of multiples. Everything looked and smelled very clean, and they were great about quickly sanitizing anything they saw a kid put in their mouth. The selection of toys is very thoughtfully curated with educational toys and toys that encourage imaginative play. Both my 1 year old and almost 5 year old had plenty of things to keep them entertained. A lot of other indoor playgrounds for this age group, feel really curated for the older toddlers or the babies but this one felt really equally stocked for the different age ranges. I'd say this play space is best for babies and kids 0-7, making it the perfect place to bring your little and their older siblings. The only bummer is that my son said this is his new favorite lol and it's a bit of a drive from the east side. Crossing my fingers they open a second location closer to us eventually, but for now it sounds like we'll be making the drive out to Beaverton frequently.

    My son in kitchen area
    Kirsten C.

    My son loved playing in the kitchen area and climbing the walls. We had a spectacular experience. My 1 year old nephew came as well and had a ton of fun

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    10 months ago

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    Poornima S.

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    1 year ago

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    Poornima S.

    Thank you so much for your kind review! We can't wait to see you soon!

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    2 months ago

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    5 months ago

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    2 months ago

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    1 year ago

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    9 months ago

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    10 months ago

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    9 months ago

    The owner is amazing and so kind. She has so many great ideas and is always thinking about the parents she serves.

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    1 year ago

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    1 year ago

    The place is clean, and the staffs are very nice and helpful. My kids really enjoyed playing there.

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    Poornima S.

    yay! we are so happy to hear that! We would love to see you soon!

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    10 months ago

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    Ask the Community - Play and Ponder

    Review Highlights - Play and Ponder

    My toddler and I had a great time with our friends here and finally a kids place that opens early in the morning at 9am!

    Mentioned in 3 reviews

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    Steve & Kate's Camp - Portland

    Steve & Kate's Camp - Portland

    4.0(18 reviews)
    11.9 miLaurelhurst, Northeast Portland

    Our 11 year old really loves this camp! This was her first year attending any summer camp and we're…read moreglad we chose Steve & Kate's. It's a tad pricey but you basically get what you pay for. It's about 90 bucks a day as far as I can recall but if your employer provides you with a Bright Horizon backup care benefits you can save a ton of money. Steve & Kates's offers a lot of activities for the kids. Kids arrive in the morning and get checked in by super nice staff who appear to remember most kids' names. Your child then gets to pick their preferred lunch. There's usually a daily special and pizza or a sandwich - which is available every day. The food (according to my daughter is so-so). Probably much better than any cafeteria lunch but also not the greatest. If your kid chooses pizza they only get one slice so if you have a pre-teen that eats as much as a grown man it may not be enough food. The good thing is that they do have unlimited sides available which include a salad, fruit and mashed potatoes. The activities are pretty great and your child will basically be able to do whatever they like best. Ranging from robotics to baking bread to making movies, etc. Kids even get to save whatever they have worked on during the day and you as the parent get to watch (or listen) to the content directly from your profile. One thing we really loved about this camp is that attendance is so flexible. No need to commit for an entire month of camp because you can literally pay as you go. Just sign up online, pay for a day and you just show up. Great camp!

    Brought my five year old to this camp. It was the worst…read morepossible experience. My daughter fell down while playing badly. She had burn marks from the sidewalk in her face, permanent scars. She told us she was playing with a friend and fell and couldn't find anyone to help. The friend went around looking for a staff to help. When I reach out to speak with staff about more details about how did that happen. Staff was prohibited to speak with me and my husband. It's negligent. They have way too many kids and few staff not well trained to instruct young kids. I would never bring my kid here again.

    Photos
    Steve & Kate's Camp - Portland
    Steve & Kate's Camp - Portland
    Steve & Kate's Camp - Portland

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    Northwest Childrens Theater & School - Mad Hatter's Tea Party

    Northwest Childrens Theater & School

    4.8(16 reviews)
    9.4 miDowntown, Southwest Portland

    I think I've found my happy place! I attended my first Northwest Children's Theater production…read moretoday, and I loved everything about the experience. The bright and cheery environment, the excellent customer service, and the outstanding production left me feeling elated for hours after leaving the theater. I watched a brilliant jazz musical version of Alice in Wonderland today. What stood out to me most is the production didn't begin and end with a traditional raised and lowered curtain. Patrons experience the magic of theater from the moment they step foot in the building. Actors hand out stickers and welcome folks into the building. There are costumed characters in the lobby, and today, the Mad Hatter did crowd work in the audience for a full 15-20 minutes before the production began. By the time he walked up to the stage, the audience consisting of adults and children alike, were smiling and laughing and fully swept up into a joyous experience. I don't remember the last time I was this happy. The production was everything I'd hoped it would be. The costumes and set design well first-rate, the live music was exceptional, and the performers sold me on the fact that I, too, had found myself in Wonderland. It was truly heartwarming to see the actors mingling with the crowd in the lobby after the performance. To be six years old again, and have a chance to meet the Mad Hatter or Alice in person? It's just too precious! Northwest Children's Theater... I am a fan!

    Daughter attended 2 weeks of summer camp here with a couple of friends and absolutely loved it. It…read morewas very well organized. The teachers were very good with the kids. And they put up a wonderful production at the end. I was worried that parking would be hard at rush hour in downtown. But you can park in the structure attached to their building and they'll validate the parking for you. We'll be returning next year for sure.

    Photos
    Northwest Childrens Theater & School - The Mad Hatter doing crowd work prior to the performance

    The Mad Hatter doing crowd work prior to the performance

    Northwest Childrens Theater & School - Lobby from the second level

    Lobby from the second level

    Northwest Childrens Theater & School - The Mad Hatter doing crowd work prior to the performance

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    The Mad Hatter doing crowd work prior to the performance

    One With Heart - Campers play a game at a pirate-themed Summer Camp

    One With Heart

    4.3(38 reviews)
    12.4 miHawthorne, Sunnyside, Southeast Portland

    As a student, I am thrilled to recommend this school and its staff. I have trained at several…read moreschools over the years and this one stands out for several reasons: 1. It is very welcoming and supportive; the community is strong and friendly. Some schools are very businesslike, or don't encourage students to be friends outside of class; this one is the opposite! 2. The style is very eclectic. You will learn to punch and kick, but you'll also learn to use weapons and to move in several different distinct ways. This style of martial arts has a lot to learn and challenges my mind and body every class. 3. Speaking of challenge, this class is a full body workout. I never step off the mat without getting really sweaty. The teachers make time to encourage you to drink water frequently during class. 4. This school and community are extremely inclusive. There are at least any many women and trans students as men; frequently men are in a drastic minority. There is no "bro"/macho culture here as there is in many other schools. While it is somewhat expensive for the number of classes (2-3/week at least as a beginning adult student) you get access to compared to some other schools, the pricing is not a secret (it is shown on the website and the staff will be happy to talk with you about it), I feel it is worthwhile based on about 10 years of training in other schools (even ones that cost less and had 10 classes a week).

    I have trained at One With Heart since 2019 and the community and the excellent teaching keep me…read morecoming back! I love the workout I get and even if I've had a bad day, I always feel better after class. The school was also a great source of stability and community for me during the pandemic, and I will always appreciate the strength I gained from my teachers and classmates during that time. Highly recommend checking out an intro!

    Photos
    One With Heart - Working knife defense with Silat Suffian Bela Diri USA

    Working knife defense with Silat Suffian Bela Diri USA

    One With Heart - You are strong and powerful! check out our Women's Self-Defense classes.

    You are strong and powerful! check out our Women's Self-Defense classes.

    One With Heart - A camper practices board breaking at Summer Camp in Woodstock Park

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    A camper practices board breaking at Summer Camp in Woodstock Park

    Play and Ponder - indoor_playcenter - Updated August 2026

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