Having trouble feeling your fingers on the playground? Doubling up on gloves won’t help (trust us: we’ve tried). When it’s too cold to trek to the neighborhood swing set, don’t fret: there are still plenty of places to burn off some energy indoors. Read on for the best places to play in temperature-controlled environments so your kids can get the wiggles out while you stay warm.
Adventure Park USA
Saddle up, pardner, for this Western-themed park near Frederick, Maryland—about 40 miles outside of DC. Open year-round, rain or shine, you don’t have to pay admission to enter the park itself. Instead, you purchase a Fun Pass with credits that works like a debit card (you can even add credits to your account online for return visits). Too cold to go on the roller coasters, tilt-a-whirl or go-karts? Head indoors where you’ll find a virtual reality game, soft playroom, ropes course, laser tag, arcade, bumper cars, and a rock wall.
11113 West Baldwin Rd. Monrovia, MD301-865-6800Online: adventureparkusa.com
Cost: Pay-per-play
photo: The Wiggle Room via Yelp
The Wiggle Room
When your littles just need to get the wiggles out head to the play place with a not-so-subtle moniker: The Wiggle Room, We love this Bowie, MD outpost for their free classes and their all-day open play (read: no time caps here!). Take a music class, participate in an art lesson or learn to make slime for no additional cost.
2225 Defense Hwy. Crofton, MD 443-584-5905 Online: thewiggleroom.co
Cost: $13/child, $7/additional siblings
Badlands
Calling all nature-lovers! Badlands, a 30,000 square foot facility named after a national park in South Dakota, brings the outside in.Think: mountains, grass, and birch trees–inside, making sweltering temps, snow days, and rainy weather a walk through the, well, park. From an indoor mountain to a workshop dedicated to real life learning, there’s something for every outdoors-y (or indoors-y) kid.
5200 Randolph Rd.Rockville, MD 301-618-0009Online: badlandsplayspace.com
Cost: $20/kids 3 & up, $12.50/under 3, $5/adults
photo: Heather B. via Scramble
Scramble
Scramble’s focus is on unstructured play: physical play (on specially designed equipment) and cognitive play. In unstructured play, kids (not grown-ups) choose what to do and how to do it, they negotiate the rules and agree how the play will proceed. It may take a couple of visits for families to become familiar with the idea of just playing freely, but once the creativity starts flowing, it’s hard to make it stop.
5412 Eisenhower Ave.Alexandria, VA Cost: $5-$20Online: goscramble.com
photo: Ayren Jackson-Cannady
The St. James
The St. James, Springfield, Virginia’s off-the-charts destination for sports, wellness, and more, just opened a new 20,000 square foot active entertainment center for kids, called Super, Awesome, and Amazing. The space is just as amazing as the rest of the St. James. Super, Awesome, and Amazing is essentially a kids version of American Ninja Warrior, complete with Nerf Battle Zone, Trampoline Court, Ninja Warrior Obstacle Course, Ropes Course, Clip ‘n’ Climb and a Virtual Reality Center. Cabin fever doesn’t stand a chance here–your kids can literally climb the walls. You can climb with them…or chillax in the spa/gym/restaurant/basketball court/etc. P.S. Ask about using one of their seven party rooms for your kids next birthday shindig.
6805 Industrial Rd.Springfield, VA Cost: Free-$25 (members); $15-$38 (non-members)Online: thestjames.com
Once Upon a Dream
With two locations serving Northern Virginia, Once Upon a Dream bills itself as “an indoor children’s entertainment center with a focus on imagination, creativity, and development. Peek inside either venue and you will find pretend grocery store, an ice cream cart, a castle, a “treasure chest” (bursting with costume jewelry), a giant pirate ship, and a horse-drawn carriage. Costumes, arts and crafts, giant foam building blocks and LEGOs, and a climbing wall round out the fun. There are also a host of fun classes (cooking, dancing, music, and more) that are often free with $10 admission to open play.
46321 McClellan WaySterling, VA 703-956-9192
527 Maple Ave. E, Suite 200Vienna, VA 703-255-2220Cost: $10/person (free/under nine months; includes 2.5 hours of open play)Online: onceuponadreams.com
National Building Museum
You still haven’t been to this capital gem? Hightail it on Metro to Judiciary Square, and pack a picnic while you’re at it. The National Building Museum has turned itself into one of the city’s go-to spots for young families by featuring two perfectly-appointed play spaces for kids (and the huge, high-ceilinged atrium makes for a delightful place to lunch and frolic). The Building Zone caters to children under six years old and features blocks and LEGOs, costumes, a Book Nook, a new “hardware store”, and a custom-built, life-size “green” house. Make sure to swing by the museum’s gift shop after the play is done to check out the cool toys, stationary and home goods; by some accounts it’s the best museum shop in the city!
401 F St. NWPenn Quarter202-272-2448Online: nbm.orgCost: admission to museum (including Building Zone and Play Work Build): $10/adults; $7/kids 3-17; free/under 2
photo: Meghan Yudes Meyers
Play N’ Learn
With locations in Chantilly, VA and Columbia, MD, this play equipment super store boasts an intimidating 14,000 square feet of combined showroom space filled to the brim with swing sets and jungle gyms, trampolines, and basketball goals. Of course, the play equipment is all for sale, but the stores’ main draw is their free and open play sessions that give kids warehouse-size space to run, jump, and climb. Adults can take a break on the ample patio furniture while the kids have at it!
9033 Red Branch Rd.Columbia, MD
102 Pepsi Pl.Chantilly, VA Online: playnlearn.comCost: $8/child (free/adults and under 12 months; includes 2 hours of open play)
Hidden Oaks Nature Center
(Live) turtles, snakes, and frogs—oh, my! This Fairfax County-funded nature center is filled to the gills with games, puzzles, costumes, and learning tools for younger children. A wooded and well-marked flat trail that circles the building is perfect for the tiniest of hikers. Photo ops about with a sweet butterfly bench outside and toadstool tables and chairs and hollow logs for crawling in the indoor play space.
7701 Royce St.Annandale, VA Online: fairfaxcounty.govCost: Free
Alexandria Soft Playroom at Chinquapin Park
Alexandria’s soft playroom in the Chinquapin Recreation Center is stocked with a ball pit and all sorts of other squishy equipment, including a soft slide, ramps, wedges, arches, cylinders, and cubes. Designed for kids five and under, this is the place to take restless tykes (especially those prone to taking a few tumbles!) on a rainy day.
Chinquapin Park Recreation Center3210 King St.Alexandria, VAOnline: Alexandria.govCost: $5/resident child, $7/non-resident child (includes ½ hour of play)
ImagiNATIONS Activity Center
ImagiNATIONS Activity Center at the National Museum of the American IndianThis wide-open space was designed for kids to not only tucker themselves out, but to also organically explore native culture and lifestyle. Little ones can weave a huge basket, surf a virtual river in a tippy kayak, or hunker-down inside a real teepee. A library and kiddie craft center will keep bookish-types engaged. Even crawling babies can get in on the romping good fun—the museum is mostly carpeted, perfect for cruising on hands and knees. What’s in it for you? The Mitsitam Cafe downstairs in the museum—serving native foods from around the Americas—is well known as one of the best place to eat on the Mall. During play breaks, try the cheesy fry bread or the heirloom bean and corn succotash, and wash it all down with some prickly pear agua fresca.
National Museum of the American IndianFourth St. at Independence Ave. SWNational MallOnline: nmai.si.eduCost: Free
photo: Be With Me – The Playseum
Be With Me – The Playseum
Designed as a scaled-down replica of a real-life town, the Playseum features 12 themed rooms like a grocery store, bakery, pizza parlor, art supply store, and pet store. Children up to age 11 can let their imaginations run free by pretending to be cooks, grocers, doctors, and shopkeepers. Each room also contains a few books relevant to the theme, and you can purchase Playseum money in advance for special themed activities (paint ceramics in the art room, have your nails painted in the salon, or decorate a cupcake in the bakery).
7000 Wisconsin Ave.Bethesda, MD Online: playseum.comCost: $9/person (free/under 11 months)
photo: Chibis Indoor Playground
Chibis Indoor Playground
Now here’s a place that just might be able to contain your little mover and shaker. Featuring a climbing frame and slide, a play kitchen and play living room, a train table, a doll house, a LEGO table, ride-on cars,a soft play room, and a ton of open space for stretching limbs, don’t be surprised if Junior wants to do nothing but hit the hay when they get home. This playspace has partnered with ASAP Sitters to offer designated drop off sessions (so you can run errands…or just take a nap) for kids 18 months to 6 years old.
44675 Cape Ct.Ashburn, VA Online: chibisindoorplayground.comCost: $8-$10
Nook
This family hangout in Arlington, Va. is synonymous with cool, calm, and collected. It bucks the overstimulate-to-wear-’em-out trend (as much as we appreciate those options, too), while still managing to be an engaging experience for little ones. Bonus: The interior at this play space is the perfect backdrop for some killer mama-razzi shots.
Mosaic District2905 District Ave Suite 115Fairfax, VA 22031571-282-3028
Ballston Quarter4238 Wilson Blvd, Suite 1295Arlington, VA571-970-0338Cost: $20/dayOnline: playatnook.com
Kidville
The centerpiece of this kid space is the mega-roster of classes. From a construction-themed art class and hip-hop dance to a railroad-inspired music class and high energy obstacle course fun, there’s something to attract the attentions of every itty bitty in your family. At certain times throughout the week, they transform their gym area into a supervised indoor playspace for littles to run climb and jump around. After kiddo is settled into his class, you can settle into this hot spot’s Sit n’ Snack cafe, where you can grab a snack and check your text messages.
4825 Bethesda Ave.Bethesday, MD Online: kidville.comCost: Varies depending on drop-in/class
photo: Ayren Jackson-Cannady
Elemeno
The main goal at this play place is to spark kids’ (ages 0-6) creativity and play-inspired learning without the over-excitement and stimulation that’s often found at other indoor playgrounds. The creators, who are also parents, achieve their goal with super=curated stations–think: an indoor wooden play structure, an indoor water table, and toys that require interaction and imagination. All activities and classes (i.e. sign language, baby hip hop, friendship workshop) are designed to boost development and social skills.
709 8th St. SECapitol Hill202-763-7629Cost: $59-$189/monthOnline: elemeno.club
—Meghan Yudes Meyers, Katie Brown and Ayren Jackson-Cannady
featured photo: Tiny Town Play Lounge via Yelp
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