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Best Indoor Play Spaces for Kids Around Seattle and Puget Sound

It’s raining! Where to take the tots to get the wiggles out

Published on: February 15, 2024

At this indoor playground, Seattle kids play and get the wiggles out when it's raining, here at Arena Sports' Issaquah Family Entertainment Center
Photo:
Kids play at Arena Sports’ Issaquah Family Entertainment Center. 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 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.

Lucky for us, there are plenty of indoor playgrounds, play spaces and play gyms around Seattle for our rainy-day fun.

Before heading out, keep these tips in mind:

  • Call ahead. Some of these places are small family businesses. Hours and open status are subject to change. Avoiding disappointment is as easy as checking in.
  • 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 the grippy socks they sell), 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 monitor the usage of this free program.

PlayDate SEA, South Lake Union
Located in bustling South Lake Union, PlayDate SEA is a multilevel play structure featuring slides, tubes, tunnels, balancing challenges, two interactive dance floors and a special ball cannon area. A separate toddler area gives young kids their own space apart from exuberant older children. Parents are welcome to join in on the fun.

Kids at the top of the slides at Playdate SEA a Seattle indoor play spaces for kids and families rainy day play
Kids ready to slide at PlayDate SEA

Seattle Gymnastics Academy indoor playground, three Seattle locations
Seattle Gymnastics Academy hosts kids ages 2–5 for lunch-hour playtime in Lake City, Ballard, Burien 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. You can pre-register to guarantee a spot, or feel free to drop in and play as space allows.

Arena Sports, Magnuson Park (Mill Creek and Issaquah)
Little ones bouncing off the walls? Take kids ages 18 months–10 years (12 at the Magnuson location) to one of Arena Sports’ Indoor Inflatable Fun Zones for a bounce house instead. The newest facility, the Issaquah Family Entertainment Center, offers a huge buffet of fun stuff: from inflatables to arcade games to sports simulators.

At indoor playgrounds, Seattle families play on rainy days, including at Arena Sports’ Family Entertainment Center in Issaquah, with inflatables and more
Playing on the inflatables at Arena Sports. Credit: JiaYing Grygiel

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.

A small boy plays in the climbing structure at Safari indoor play space in Seattle’s Southcenter Mall and now open in Auburn Outlet Collection
Playing at Safari at Southcenter Mall. Credit: JiaYing Grygiel

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 sight lines.

View of the climbing play equipment at Funtastic Playtorium an indoor play space near Seattle with locations at Alderwood, Factoria and Tacoma
Funtastic Playtorium

Pump It Up, Lynnwood (also Kirkland)
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.

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 only $3 more than a 90-minute jump session and entitles you to two hours of jumping every day of the month.

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.

A young boy climbs at Seattle Bouldering Project among indoor play spaces for tots and kids during rainy days
Climbing the walls at Seattle Bouldering Project. Credit: Natasha Dillinger

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 policies limit kids to daytime visits during the week (until 4:15 p.m.) and all non-member kids require an advance reservation.

Defy Seattle (formerly Flying Circus), Tukwila (also Tacoma and Silverdale)
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.

Bellevue and Eastside indoor playgrounds

The Ridge Activity Center, Bothell
Our reviewer and her kids loved this newer indoor play gym when they visited after it first opened. It offers a variety of different play opportunities, from an extra-large climbing structure to a sweet — and safe — tot play area that’s just for wee ones younger than age 2. Laser tag will entice the tween-and-older set. Note that The Ridge is owned and operated by Park Ridge Community Church. There is little sign of the play space’s connection to the church, and no affiliation is required: It’s open to the public.

The Ridge Activity Center is an indoor playground where Seattle families flock to on rainy days
The main play structure at The Ridge Activity Center. Credit: JiaYing Grygiel

Elevated Sportz, Bothell
Kids ages 3 and older will love exploring multiple trampoline areas and foam pits (kids must be at least 48 inches 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.

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.

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 inches is strictly enforced.

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 (such as dodgeball 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 playgrounds

The Jungle Gym, Burien
Open-gym attendees ages 7 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.

Safari, Auburn (also Tukwila)
This Southcenter Mall favorite now also has an outpost at the Auburn Outlet Collection. Kids up to 52 inches tall can enjoy a variety of pretend play, 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.

Les Gove Park Gymnasium, Auburn
On Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings, families can enjoy a full run of the Les Gove Park gym during inexpensive 90-minute indoor playground sessions.

Big Air Trampoline Park (formerly Airhouse Adventure Park). Auburn
Families will find the requisite trampoline park favorites at this Auburn air sports playground: launch pads, foam pits, dodgeball courts, climbing walls, even a mechanical bull. Daily deals and special program times such as Cosmic Nights and Toddler Time (Wednesdays and Thursdays for kids ages 6 and younger) add to the accessibility of this area favorite. 

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 at least 42 inches tall, there’s a fairly sizable discount for little ones who don’t meet the minimum height requirement.

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.

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 at least 44 inches tall, 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.

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.

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.

Ash & Elm Play Studio, Black Diamond
This newer indoor play space serves families in the Southeast King County area. Play equipment includes a train table, ball pit and mini play house. The space is designed for children ages 6 and younger, though all are welcome. Book a one-hour open play session, or check out birthday party and private event options. Babies younger than 6 months enter free with a paid sibling. Adult caregivers are also free. Socks are required and outside food is welcome in the designated eating area, though nut products are not permitted.

Defy Olympia (formerly Boom Shaka), Olympia (also Tukwila and Tacoma)
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 days

Our 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 recently 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. Several ParentMap writers and editors have contributed to this article over the years, which we’ve updated most recently in February 2024.

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