Washington County is THE Place to Play!

In our county, there are so many family-friendly activities and sports designed for kids of all ages, the question is not “What are we going to do?” but, “How can we fit it all in?”

Family Fun Center and Bullwinkle’s Restaurant (pictured) offers six acres of fun in Wilsonville. This amusement park has miniature golf, go-karts, laser tag, bumper boats, a 28-foot rock wall, batting cages, a bungee sling shot, more than 150 arcade games, a cyber coaster, Kidopolis Playland--and a full-service restaurant and snack bar. The facilities are open year-round.

Another big attraction is "Oregon's Largest Jungle Gym" -- Safari Sam's in Sherwood. There's the jungle gym, as well as mini golf and an arcade.

Big Al's in Beaverton is massive, and a few of its contents include: bowling lanes, a 7,000 sq. ft. arcade, pool tables, and a stadium-style sports bar and restaurant with jumbotron and plasma TVs.

John’s Incredible Pizza Company in Beaverton boasts indoor rides (including bumper cars!) as well as a pizza/salad/soup/pasta/dessert buffet with several themed dining rooms, toon time theatre, and lots of arcade games with prizes.

Sky High Sports in Tigard has a slogan: “Are you ready to bounce off the walls?” because inside this venue, the walls are for bouncing. Visitors can drop in and “free-bounce” off the walls (supervision is included) or join in an activity such as trampoline dodgeball.

In Hillsboro, kids can have it all at Out of this World Pizza and Play, where the space-themed atmosphere offers inflatable and rigid structures, as well as miniscooters and a rock-climbing wall. Both the pizza and play are suitable for kids of all ages.

Tualatin Hills Parks and Recreation runs an "indoor playground" at their Cedar Hills Recreation Center, which is during drop-in, parent-supervised  play times. They also operate eight pool locations -- most of which have designated drop-in "family swim" times.

Pump it Up has multiple Washington County locations--two in Beaverton and one in Wilsonville--all with inflatables for hours of fun.

Tigard is home to Inflatable Kingdom, which has both a giant inflatable slide and obstacle course.

Gymboree Play and Music offers art, music and tumbling, with a "free class pass" to drop-in on the fun, at either of the two locations in Washington County: Beaverton and Portland (near Bridgeport Village).

Jackson Bottom Wetlands Preserve in Hillsboro is home to bald eagles, egrets and a host of mammals, and with a keen eye, families may be able to catch a glimpse of these indigenous and migrating creatures in their habitats from one of the walking trails that traverse through the preserve. These creatures become demystified at the Educational Center, which features several hands-on exhibits and a real eagle’s nest rescued from the wild and preserved (and sanitized) for public display.

Hillsboro's Rice NW Museum of Rocks and Minerals is a one-of-a-kind destination offering one of the largest single collections of rocks in the U.S. This collection includes: the largest opal-filled thunderegg (similar to a geode) in the world, meteorites, and dinosaur eggs and fossils--a must-see for young dinosaur enthusiasts!

Be sure to explore the additional family fun centers throughout Washington County, such as: Hot Shots Westside Family Billiards, Laserport, Malibu Raceway and Park Lanes Family Entertainment Center.