Photo:
A boy plays at Outer Space Seattle. Credit: JiaYing Grygiel
While my kids and I regularly suit up in our best rain gear and head outside during the drizzly season, sometimes conditions are so crummy (or dangerous, such as in severe wind conditions or thunderstorms) that we all prefer some playtime indoors. My kids love having access to new toys, and I love avoiding explosions of construction paper confetti and other messes at home.
The pandemic walloped many favorite play spaces, causing them to close permanently. (Sniff!) But not to fear, there’s still plenty of rainy-day fun to be found at indoor play spaces and gyms around Puget Sound.
Before heading out, keep these tips in mind:
- Call ahead. Most of these places are small family businesses. Hours and open status are subject to change. Avoiding disappointment is as easy as checking in (some places require advance reservations as well).
- Be safe. Your help is key to keeping these places open to the community, so please stay home if anyone in your family has even a hint of a sniffle.
- Bring socks. Most indoor play spaces require them (trampoline parks may require that you wear grippy socks they provide), and no one wants a foot fungus. (Ick!)
Seattle- and North Sound–area indoor play spaces
Seattle community center tot gyms, multiple Seattle locations
Drop-in play times at Seattle community centers are a staple in many families’ weeks. Bonus: They’re free! Check the schedule carefully as times vary widely by community center. There are occasionally schedule changes as well (by quarter), so it’s a good idea to recheck the hours of your neighborhood spot every once in a while. Get a free quick card at the desk of your community center and check in when you visit so the city can check usage of this free program.
PlayDate SEA, South Lake Union
Located in bustling South Lake Union, PlayDate SEA is an 8,000-square-foot multilevel play structure featuring slides, tubes, tunnels and balancing challenges. A separate toddler area gives young kids their own space apart from exuberant older children. Parents are welcome to join in on the fun.
Seattle Gymnastics Academy indoor playground, three Seattle locations
Seattle Gymnastics Academy hosts kids ages 2–5 for lunch-hour playtime in Lake City, Ballard and Columbia City (check schedules for each gym). Families will find trampolines, obstacle courses and the awesome Tumbl Trak to burn off pre-naptime energy.
Outer Space Seattle, West Seattle
This fun, space-themed play space opened just a couple of months before the pandemic hit. Ouch. It shifted to different offerings for a while but is back open for open play four mornings and four afternoons a week! Socks are required, and the play equipment is designed for kids ages 3–12, though there is also lots for the toddler set to do.
Mountlake Terrace Recreation Pavilion, Mountlake Terrace
Kids ages 5 and younger (including crawlers) will find a cozy playhouse, a ball pit and slides to enjoy in the pavilion’s Indoor Playground. Bonus points for opening at 7 a.m. for those early-rising toddlers (don’t they know it’s still dark out?).
Arena Sports, Magnuson Park and Mill Creek (also Redmond and Issaquah)
Little ones bouncing off the walls? Take kids ages 18 months–12 years to one of Arena Sports’ Indoor Inflatable Fun Zones for a bounce house instead; the newest facility in Mill Creek (which also offers mini golf, a ropes course and laser tag) has the most extensive hours.
Funtastic Playtorium, Lynnwood (also Bellevue and Tacoma)
These mall-based play areas (open seven days a week for anyone who has a case of the Mondays) are designed for kids ages 1–10 and offer multilevel climbing structures with obstacles and slides. It can be tough to keep your eyes on active kids navigating small spaces, so head to toddler areas with kids ages 3 and younger — this space offers better sightlines.
Pump It Up, Lynnwood (also Kirkland and Tacoma)
While mostly known for its epic parties (private parties are available), Pump It Up has drop-in options for kids who want to party all year. Pre-K and all-ages open jumps take place on weekdays, while family jumps are available on select Friday evenings. Note: Some inflatables have height restrictions, so keep that in mind when bringing young tots.
Elevated Sportz, Bothell
Kids ages 3 and older will love exploring multiple trampoline areas and foam pits (kids must be at least 48" tall for the ninja course). A multilevel play structure, which offers smaller spaces for tiny tots, is suitable for walkers through 8-year-olds. Wi-Fi is available, and limited food options are offered at the café (no outside food is allowed). Tip: Military families enjoy a 15-percent discount on walk-in purchases.
Altitude Trampoline Park, Marysville
Wide open jumping spaces make it easy to keep an eye on kids at this trampoline park. A separate area for younger kids and their caregivers helps prevent any accidental trampling. Tip: If you think you’ll be back, buy a membership. At the time of writing, a monthly pass costs the same as a 90-minute jump session and entitles you to two hours of jumping every day of the month (sounds like a challenge to me …).
Seattle Bouldering Project, Central District and Fremont
While kids can boulder (rock climbing without a rope and harness) on any of the walls at SBP’s Poplar (Central District) location, head downstairs for the most kid-friendly areas. You’ll find rainbow-colored holds, forts and a wooden slide to make the descent more fun. There’s no age limit, although it’s more fun once kids can grab holds to pull themselves up.
Half Moon Bouldering, Greenwood
Go ahead, storm the castle walls! A unique castle-themed climbing area with kid-friendly routes greets families at this bouldering gym. Bonus: It's located right behind beloved toy store Snapdoodle Toys. Note that new policies limit kids to daytime visits during the week (until 4:15 p.m.) and all non-member kids require an advance reservation.
Safari, Tukwila (also Auburn)
This Southcenter Mall favorite added a new outpost at the Auburn Outlet Collection last summer. Kids 52" in height and shorter can enjoy pretend play at a mock doctor’s office or grocery store, clamber to the top of a climbing gym or dive into a ball pit. Parents will find plenty of seating and easy access to the food court when hunger hits.
Defy Seattle (formerly Flying Circus), Tukwila (also Olympia)
This indoor trampoline park offers trampolines, foam pits and "American Ninja Warrior"-style obstacle courses. On weekday mornings, caregivers of kids ages 6 and younger can jump for free with the purchase of a KidJump ticket.
Eastside indoor play spaces
Funtastic Playtorium, Bellevue (also Lynnwood and Tacoma)
These mall-based play areas (open seven days a week for anyone who has a case of the Mondays) are designed for kids ages 1–10 and offer multilevel climbing structures with obstacles and slides. It can be tough to keep your eyes on active kids navigating small spaces, so head to toddler areas with good sightlines for kids ages 3 and younger.
North Kirkland Community Center, Kirkland
Kids ages 9 months–5 years (and their caregivers) can play together at this inexpensive indoor playground. Available one morning per week (currently Wednesday), there are lots of ride-on toys and even busy boxes for babies. If the weather perks up, head to the stellar space-themed playground right outside.
Arena Sports, Redmond and Issaquah (also Mill Creek and Magnuson Park)
Little ones bouncing off the walls? Take kids ages 18 months–12 years to one of Arena Sports Indoor Inflatable Fun Zones for a bounce house instead; the newest facility in Mill Creek (which also offers mini golf, a ropes course and laser tag) has the most extensive hours.
WiggleWorks Kids, Bellevue (also Puyallup)
At one of the area’s original indoor playgrounds, kids can tumble, jump, and climb and swing on play equipment that moves with them. Note that the maximum height requirement of 48" is strictly enforced.
Pump It Up, Kirkland (also Lynnwood and Tacoma)
While mostly known for its epic parties (private parties are still available), Pump It Up has drop-in options for kids who want to party all year. Pre-K and all-ages open jumps take place on weekdays, while family jumps are available on select Friday evenings. Note: Some inflatables have height restrictions, so keep that in mind when bringing young tots.
Kidz Bounce, Preston
While weekends are reserved for parties, weekday drop-in times and unique inflatables (including a carousel-themed bounce house) make this a popular destination for Eastside kids ages 2–10.
Vertex Arena, Redmond
Kids ages 3 and older can bounce around Vertex Arena’s trampoline park. Height and age restrictions apply to some of the more daring components (dodgeball, arrow tag and a ninja course), but with later opening hours, this would make a great option for a few preteens on a weekend night.
South King County and South Sound indoor play spaces
Safari, Auburn (also Tukwila)
This newer outpost of Safari at the Auburn Outlet Collection opened last summer. Kids 52" in height and shorter can enjoy pretend play at a mock doctor’s office or grocery store, clamber to the top of a climbing gym or dive into a ball pit. Parents will find plenty of seating and easy access to the food court when hunger hits.
Kaleidoscope Family Gym, Puyallup
Book a private-play or open-play session at this sensory-friendly gym where capacity is limited to keep chaos to a minimum. Kids will find a play store, climbing wall, hammocks and more waiting to fire their imaginations. Babies as young as 6 months are invited to join in the fun.
The Jungle Gym, Burien
Open-gym attendees ages 6 months–12 years can enjoy traditional gymnastics equipment (a balance beam, trampoline, bars and rings) or branch out to a climbing wall, zip line or cargo net. For an additional $4 drop-off fee, parents of kids ages 3 and older can head out for some quick kid-free errands.
Les Gove Park Gymnasium, Auburn
On Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings, families can enjoy full run of the Les Gove Park gym during inexpensive 90-minute indoor playground sessions.
We Rock the Spectrum Kid’s Gym, Federal Way
This sensory-friendly gym offers multiple swings for balance practice, zip lines, trampolines and climbers that foster play for kids of all abilities.
WiggleWorks Kids, Puyallup (also Bellevue)
At one of the area’s original indoor playgrounds, kids can tumble, jump, and climb and swing on play equipment that moves with them. Note that the minimum height requirement of 48" is strictly enforced.
Treetops Playground at STAR Center, Tacoma
Kids up to age 8 can climb through tunnels and clamber across bridges at the indoor portion of the STAR Center’s Treetops Playground. For an extra challenge, older kids can head to the covered outdoor section (where they’ll need to wear closed-toe shoes). Designed for kids 44" and taller, it resembles a ropes course in the tree canopy. A more traditional playground awaits outside by the ball fields if the play space is at capacity.
Pump It Up, Tacoma (also Kirkland and Lynnwood)
While mostly known for its epic parties (private parties are still available), Pump It Up has drop-in options for kids who want to party all year. Pre-K and all-ages open jumps take place on weekdays, while family jumps are available on select Friday evenings. Note: Some inflatables have minimum height restrictions, so keep that in mind when bringing young tots.
Funtastic Playtorium, Tacoma (also Lynnwood and Bellevue)
These mall-based play areas (open seven days a week for anyone who has a case of the Mondays) are designed for kids ages 1–10 and offer multilevel climbing structures with obstacles and slides. It can be tough to keep your eyes on active kids navigating small spaces, so head to toddler areas with good sightlines for kids ages 3 and younger.
Odyssey 1, Tacoma
The Jungle Gym Park portion of this fun center is huge! Crawl through mazes and zip down slides with the comfort of soft landing surfaces at the bottom. You’ll find a laser tag arena and arcade for older kids as well as enjoy late hours that accommodate playing a little past bedtime.
Catapult Adventure Park, Federal Way
Can’t make it out to Snoqualmie Pass for tubing this winter? Leave the winter gear at home and take a tube down the tall slides at this fun park. There’s plenty of inflatable bouncing fun to be had (and a huge ball pit) for kids of all ages. Since a few attractions are limited to kids 42" and taller, there’s a fairly sizable discount for little ones who don’t meet the minimum height requirement.
Defy Olympia (formerly Boom Shaka), Olympia (also Tukwila)
This indoor trampoline park offers trampolines, foam pits and "American Ninja Warrior"-style obstacle courses. On weekday mornings, caregivers of kids ages 6 and younger can jump for free with the purchase of a KidJump ticket.
Climb Tacoma, Tacoma
This bouldering gym provides kids a room of their own to encourage them to start rock climbing early. You’ll find routes that are set closer together for shorter arms and legs, and there is no minimum age limit to participate. Adult supervision is required with a ratio of no more than two kids per adult.
More ways to play on rainy daysOur region has excellent children’s museums, and while you may not zap quite as many wiggles as at a more active play space, these spots deliver hours of fun. Among our favorites: Pay-what-you-can Children’s Museum of Tacoma, Bellevue’s KidsQuest, Hands On in Olympia and the just-expanded Imagine Children’s Museum in Everett. Visiting other museums — the ones not specifically dedicated to kids — can get pricey for what is likely to be a short stay with the tots in tow. Luckily, we have a guide to visiting family-friendly Seattle-area museums for free. It takes a bit of planning, but it can be done. For spontaneous get-out-of-the-house-right-now moments during the gray season, choose a rain-friendly park or playground. Wear your rain gear and don’t forget to bring a towel for drying off playground equipment. This option will not keep the mess out of your house, but if you need an at-home project, check out our list of 100+ rainy-day arts and crafts ideas. |
Editor’s notes: We’ve been maintaining and updating this indoor play list for more than 10 years. The pandemic necessitated a complete overhaul of it in 2021 and resulted, sadly, in our removing many, many play spaces that have closed permanently. Some photos shown are from the Before Times, and several ParentMap writers and editors have contributed to this article over the years. We’ve updated this article most recently in October 2022.
