play at piper’s playground!

Okay, Olympia readers, I’ve just looked at the forecast. After lots of dry days {glorious, glorious dry days! and in January!}, it’s rain as far as the eye can see.

If you have kids, they may be about to drive you bonkers – if they aren’t already.

Enter Piper’s Playground.

I love that I have heard it described as “‘Friends’ meets Pottery Barn Kids.” It’s a description that’s right on the money. It feels like a place designed for today’s parents and kids. No light blue and mauve color scheme. No clutter.

Dare I say it? It’s cool.

Piper’s Playground is located near the Olympia Airport in Tumwater, and it is the answer to your parental prayers.

It just opened last week, and it received a hearty stamp of approval from little Teensy-Weensy and myself.

They’ve got a big outdoor play structure…but it’s inside.

They’ve got an area for the littles who are maybe just crawling or learning to walk.

This picture shows one of the best things about Piper’s Playground: space for parents to sit. You can sit on your bum while your kids play. You even sit comfortably on leather couches and comfy chairs. Ahhh.

Better yet, I saw tons of moms with their nursing covers {mine was called a “hooter hider”} on everywhere I looked. This place would’ve been a godsend when Teensy-Weensy had just been born and Teensy was itching to do stuff. So many places are just too loud to bring your newborn, or they’re so busy and big and winding that you worry you’ll lose sight of your mobile kid.

Not the case here.

They’ve got tables for snack or lunchtime, or just for getting some work {grading, in my case!} done while your kid is occupied with cool stuff that is different than what’s at your house.

Magic words: free wi-fi, my friends. Free wi-fi.

I was particularly taken with this quiet corner.

As the signs indicate, they have tons of classes, both for you or your kiddo. Stroller Strides, Body Back, French for your kid, theatre for your kid….the list goes on.

They have three birthday party rooms downstairs {and an awesome, budget-friendly party a la carte menu}, plus two classrooms upstairs. These can also be used for larger parties, too.

Teensy-Weensy and I headed over on opening day at lunchtime, straight after preschool pick up. They have locally roasted coffee, all kinds of healthy snacks, a full coffee bar menu, and an impressive panini menu. We had a lunch date. Try the Elvis – almond butter, banana, and nutella – for a decadent treat.

There’s also soup! The folks here have partnered with my favorite local food truck, All Fed Up. I am beyond excited!

There are tons and tons of tables. I particularly have my eyes on these taller ones, because you can see the entire place from this perch.

The prices to get in are really reasonable, and a year’s pass for a family with two kids is less than the new Hand’s On Museum that just has re-opened {also a fun place to go!}.

I cannot wait to meet my friends over some chai tea while our kids have a ball together in a place where I will have no mess to clean up when it’s over. Sigh.

And looky whose office for coaching is upstairs? Ms. Emily, my friend of evolving parents fame! Isn’t her logo gorgeous?

I so loved seeing parents walking up to her, looking so relieved that there was not only fun for their kids at Piper’s Playground, but also potentially something more in it for them.

I believe I heard one mom say something like, “You know, my friends are always trying to give me advice on how to do this and that, but sometimes it would be so nice to hear it from someone else.” I can vouch for Emily and say she really works with parents so that you come up with solutions together, which better guarantees success for your family.

Here’s a shot of her cozy office. I told her I was going to show up with some magazines and just hide out here one day, but I think she’ll be too busy for that!

Make a date with your kids at Piper’s Playground. Remember, the rain starts in tomorrow! Look at our happy faces – it’s definitely got the Fresh Scratch family approval!

**3/12/13 Update: Since originally writing this piece, I’ve taken my almost-eight-year-old to Piper’s. Uh, not her favorite place. She felt too big for it. However, she does still like to tag along to get a sugar-free coconut steamer and hunker-down in a leather chair with a good book while Mom grades papers and little sis burns off all of her energy. Thought this might be helpful info to you!