I’m sure we all have our favorite go-to’s for indoor activities, but does your list of indoor play activities need a refresh? Are you looking for new places that suit all the children in your family? Then check out this list of amazing places in the DFW metroplex to have some indoor fun.
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1. A Play Café
Designed for ages six months to six years, A Play Café in Duncanville not only serves delicious pastries, coffee, and lunch, but has an amazing toddler playground and gross motor structures.
Tip: Check out its website for the class schedule, and enjoy a music class, art class, or story time!
2. bb piñata
A haven of indoor play for Oak Cliff families, bb piñata offers bilingual story time, crafts, and kid’s yoga. Enjoy a cafecito in the parents lounge while kiddos explore the slides, ball pit, soft play, open-ended play, and role play zones.
3. Bolder Adventure Park
There is plenty for the whole family to do at Bolder Adventure Park in Grand Prairie. A $15 beginner pass lets the smallest members tumble through the jungle gym, climb nets, slide, and even launch themselves on the jumping pad, as long as they are with an adult. Ages three and up can also ride in the buddy seat on the bumper cars. Big kids with an intermediate pass will love the tubing slides, laser tag, ropes course, and zip line. Oh, there’s an arcade and mining area, too!
4. Cheeky Monkeys
With various locations throughout Dallas-Fort Worth, Cheeky Monkeys offers lots of options and stations for indoor play and creativity. It has a soft playground for tots, and a clubhouse for big kids. Swing on over to Casa Linda or Highland Village to find the location closest to you.
5. Free Play
Free Play in Dallas and Richardson is a retro arcade where you pay a flat fee to enjoy classic pinball and video games all day long. You can even leave and come back the same day. While this arcade isn’t specifically suited for young toddlers, the staff brought my three year old a step stool so he could reach the controls and play the games, too! There are several locations throughout DFW.
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6. Frisco Public Library
The Frisco Public Library is my favorite FREE go-to when it’s too hot or rainy to be outside. In addition to the life-size tyrannosaurus rex skeleton, there is an awesome toddler play city where kiddos can build, explore a vet clinic, shop for groceries, explore the play kitchen, and try their hands at train conducting.
Next door to the tiny town is a play space for the big kids, as well, complete with robots to program, Lego ramps, microscopes, and more. It is not limited to Frisco residents — all are welcome to come and play!
7. Jungle Land
Jungle Land indoor playground in Prosper is a mix of active play, imaginative learning, and low-stimulation zones for kids up to age eight. Kids play pretend in the child-sized town, compete in the mini arcade, and zip down slides into a ball pit, complete with a giant digital screen with targets for throwing balls. Talk about screen time! The friendly staff keeps the stations clean and tidy, too. Open play hours are available daily.
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8. Kid Mania
Located in Fort Worth and Plano, Kid Mania is worth the drive for Dallas families. It is kid-famous for its “Mania Maze,” a five-level playground complete with climbing nets, bungee walls, slides, caves, tunnels, and more. There is also a toddler-friendly “MiniMania.” You can check out the “Arcadia Mania” to play arcade games and earn prizes.
Bonus: Need to get some work done (or just catch your breath, alone)? Kid Mania has an adults-only observation deck with views of the entire play facility. Use the free Wi-Fi, relax in a massage chair, or watch TV.
9. KidZania
KidZania, located in Frisco, is a larger-than-life indoor city built for kids and run by kids. There are so many places to explore, and children are given KidZania currency to use and earn throughout the city.
While this indoor play place is a bit of a splurge, kids can spend the whole day “working” their way through forty different establishments, such as a hair salon, podcast recording studio, neonatal wing, and even veterinary clinic.
Some of our favorites include the fire department with a real kid-sized fire engine, acting academy, fashion studio, chocolate factory, sports performance center, aviation academy, and surgical room, just to name a few!
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10. National Video Game Museum
Located next door to the Frisco Public Library, the National Video Game Museum (NVGM) is fun for parents, too. Try your hand at all the old favorites while learning about the evolution of video games in the interactive exhibits. There’s a replica of a 1980s bedroom, giant pong, and an excellent arcade on your way out.
11. PeeknPlay
Enjoy the the kid-sized vehicle, tree house, mini bistro, animal hospital, and dress up collection at PeeknPlay in Frisco, Grapevine, and McKinney. These indoor playgrounds spark children’s’ imaginations, and give you a chance to breathe — or play make believe, too, if you can’t resist the miniature ironing board. Brick builders, check out the Lego table and Lego wall!
12. Play Street Museum
Play Street Museum in Lake Highlands is a fun space for young children to feel big. This location is a downtown city-themed world. Sign up online for one of five play sessions offered each day. Check out the other Play Street Museum locations, each with its own theme: Allen (On The Go); Frisco, Fort Worth, and Murphy (Town Square); McKinney (The Farm); Mansfield and Plano (Great Outdoors).
13. Safari Run
Calling all animal lovers! Safari Run in Plano is a safari animal-themed indoor play facility for all ages. Enjoy climbing and playing among large animal sculptures Monday through Friday during open play, as the weekends are reserved for parties. It also has an arcade room and toddler playground. Check out its camps and kids nights out.
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14. Spark!
Geared towards children ages seven and up, this wonderful non-profit in the Cedars neighborhood of Dallas exists to foster creativity and imagination in children from second grade through high school. Known for its Climb, Crawl, Slide structure, Spark! also offers classes, camps, birthday parties, and more. During open play hours, kids can make a craft, do an art project, climb, and play.
15. We Rock the Spectrum
We Rock the Spectrum in Dallas is a safe and inclusive indoor play environment where children of all abilities can play. In addition to its sensory-friendly play gym, children can get creative and make a craft and explore their artistic side.
