It's Raining, It's Pouring: Indoor Activities in Tacoma
/It’s raining, it’s pouring, there’s no time for snoring, she bumped her head…well, let’s just stop there. We all know that rainy days are the worst when you have kids. You get all couped up inside and everyone is stir crazy and it’s just a loooooonnnggg day. These days, I find myself racking my brain on what to do and/or where to go. I started a list on my notes app on my iPhone and usually start there. I thought I’d take it a step further and write a post.
Play Spaces
Morgan Family YMCA Drop-In Toddler Gym: First, a caveat: You need to be a member. During the week (M-F) from 10:30-12pm, the YMCA opens the main GYM to kids to just play. They bring out some toys, but mainly kids just run around, go on the balance beams, jump on the trampoline, or go to the track upstairs and run their little hearts out. It’s a great way to release some steam.
Pros: Lots of room to run, and is “free” for members.
Cons: It can get crowded on rainy days (but what place doesn’t?) and can be germy so be sure to use hand sanitizer. Also, it’s only available in the mornings.
Odyssey 1: My son loves this place. It’s like a glorified McDonald’s play space with ball pits, tunnels, jumping area, balls, and more. One side is the jungle gym play area and the other is an arcade. It’s $7.85 for kids over 2 on the weekdays with no time limit (see more pricing here) and $2.25 for kids under 2 years.
Pros: It’s open all day everyday from 10am to 9/10pm.
Cons: It can get crowded on bad weather days. P.S. We had my son’s fourth birthday here and he loved it.
Defy Tacoma: A big space full of various trampolines!
Pros: This place is great for expending all that energy. All jumping, all the time. It’s also open all day.
Cons: It can be pricey. It’s $11 for kids 6 years old and under for 1 hour. And while you can go anytime, 9-10am is KidJump (6 & under only) and is better for little ones.
Pump it Up: Basically in a warehouse with lots of bouncy house type inflatables. The pricing is $8/kid on weekdays (2 year & under is $6).
Pros: It’s open weekdays all day (mostly, but I highly suggest checking the calendar first).
Cons: It has no windows so you really have no natural light. Also, it depends who is managing the jumping but sometimes they have weird time limits. I haven’t had an issue, but I’ve heard tell.
STAR Center Treetops Playground: This is a nice indoor play space with tunnels, slides, and balls. It’s $7 per child for the day.
Pros: Safe and clean indoor play space for the kids.
Cons: Hours are not the best as they are Mon-Thu 1-4pm, Friday 1-6pm (and also Saturday and Sunday 12-5pm). I don’t know about you, but if you’re doing naps still then it’s not a great timeframe. For us, it’s also a little far away. Oh, and the outdoor space, which is covered (yay), is only for older kids (44” or taller). Honestly, for the price/distance/variety of offerings, I usually end up going elsewhere. BUT, if you’re needing change and want to try something new, it’d a nice space!
Tacoma Mall Play Area: [Closed, I believe] There is a play area in the mall right by the food court. It has those soft structures that are animals, cars, or things from nature usually. I have heard stories about how they don’t clean this area frequently, so proceed with caution. I usually try to avoid it as it can get crowded and I just rather avoid potential unclean places. That aside, we have played here and my son enjoys it for a little while and is totally an option.
Pros: Well, it’s indoors and your kid can definitely release some energy. You can get a Starbucks or Menchies as a treat!
Cons: Potentially unclean, crowded, and quite small.
Museums, Zoos, and Centers
Children’s Museum of Tacoma: I have to say first, it’s not a museum. As a kid, I’m sure that would turn me off. This is a great place for kids to get out some energy, but also be creative and imaginative. I wrote a whole post about this place - read it here!
Pros: Open all day (see cons, though). It provides many different ways to play, learn, and explore.
Cons: The days of operation and hours can be wonky. For instance, members and special needs get special hours and days. The hours change seasonally as well. It can get SUPER crowded and if you’re not a member, you might end up waiting to get in. And in those cases, it’s not the most fun because it’s way too crowded in the play space. Parking is also annoying.
Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium: I know what you’re thinking, “this is supposed to be a rainy day list with indoor things, the zoo is OUTSIDE!” Yes, but hear me out. We do three things on rainy days at the zoo: the carousel, the aquarium, and the goats. There are some covered enclosures, too (say hi to polar bears or the monkeys), if you’re feeling extra adventurous. Generally, I go on light rain days because there is still outdoor involvement.
Pros: Fresh air, animals, rides…the excitement of the zoo.
Cons: You have to walk to the entrance (does the crazy winding path and the crazy amount of stairs from the parking lot to the entrance annoy anyone else (especially if you have a stroller)? And there is still outdoor exposure happening. Oh, and I’m a member so coming/going is totally cool, but if you’re not a member then this might not be worth it. And one last thing, the days open and hours are not always the best. Days open and hours of operation change seasonally. You MUST check the hours before you go. Unfortunately, the rainy season has fewer days open and more limited hours.
Tacoma Nature Center: You might know this play for the playground or small trail, but there is also a visitor center (I guess they call it the Interpretive Center). Inside there are a few animals like turtles and frogs as well a beehive. There are some games, costumes, and a tunnel tree to play around.
Pros: Educational and generally not crowded. And it’s free!
Cons: Not a huge amount of things to do, but I bet you could do about an hour there. Oh, and it only is open until 4pm (but it does open at 9am, which is nice since it seems most everything else is 10am).
Stores, Shops, and Theaters
Curious Bear: I can’t say enough good things about this toy and book store. The staff is always so incredibly nice and helpful, and you feel welcome every time. Even better, they host a range of events - storytime at 11am on Tuesdays and Thursdays, a monthly yoga storytime, and a monthly playdate meet-up (their event calendar is on the website). There are also just toys out for kids to play with like a little kitchen, train table, magnet table, and more. Oh, and here is the post I wrote about them.
Teaching Toys: There are two stores, one in Proctor and the other in Uptown Gig Harbor. There is a train table, a magnet table, a playhouse, and sometimes a few other toys out for kids to play.
Tacoma Library: Our closest library is the Wheelock Library in Proctor. They have a kid’s room with all the children’s books as well as puzzles. Also, there are several storytimes for different age groups: Baby Time, Toddler Storytime, Preschool Storytime, and Family Storytime on Saturdays. Just watch the hours of operation, they are a bit wonky and the hours change on different days.
Petco or Pet Store: Don’t laugh, okay…this totally works. Petco and probably some other pet stores have animals to look at like ferrets, mice, snakes, fish, hamsters, and even more. My kids get a kick out of it. We go to the Petco on 6th just off Pearl.
Barnes and Noble: Sadly, Barnes and Noble and book stores in general, are slowly disappearing. There is one, however, in Lakewood. The kid’s book section is cute and sometimes on Saturdays (I believe) they host a storytime.
Bowling: There are a few places around town like Chalet Bowl in Proctor, Tower Lanes, and Narrows Plaza Bowl. Sometimes they have special ramps for kids that helps them roll the ball down the lane.
Grand Cinema or the Movies: Obviously, you must have a kid of the age that can sit through a movie (usually 4 years and up, I think). The Grand Cinema hosts a free monthly family flick on Saturday morning. It also has weekly Wednesday screenings at 10:30 AM designed for parents with infants, autistic individuals, and guests with other special sensory needs.
Restaurants, Taprooms, and Cafes
McDonalds Play Space: [Pearl Location Play space is closed post-COVID] Don’t be a McDonald’s hater. I know some folks poo-poo the Mc-eee-deees, but kids love it. If it’s the food you frown upon, then don’t get food (although, getting something would seem the mannerly thing to do). They have a decent breakfast line-up, coffee, or a simple ice cream treat. Did you know you can just buy the toy in the Happy Meal, too? It’s like $1, so that’s an option. While the moral obligation of society dictates buying something, it is technically free. We go to the McDonald’s off Pearl and N 21st. P.S. I might use an extra spray of hand-sanitizer afterward. And it can sometimes be cold inside, so bring a jacket along.
Chick-Fil-A Play Space: As I said with McDonald’s, don’t be a Chick-Fil-A hater either. Although, the hate might come from another place than it does from McDonald’s. I get it. I will put aside any political or social whatnots for a moment and say this can be a great place for the kids to get out when the weather is nasty. There are two locations - one by the mall and a new one in Fircrest. In my opinion, the food is good (I enjoy the cool chicken wrap, and they do a good job keeping it clean. However, the play space is a bit smaller than McDonald’s.
Rhein Haus: [Closed Permantely] There is an indoor putt putt course and bocce ball. You have to reserve the bocce ball court, though. Another perk is kids eat free on Tuesdays!
Red Elm: This little cafe is in the hilltop area and has a small area for kids with a little kitchen. I wrote a post about it - read it here!
Antique Sandwich Shop: There are some toys available for kids, although honestly, not all the pieces might be on said toy. I wrote a post about it - read it here!
Lander Coffee: There are a few toys available to play with and a large couch with a table which makes it a pretty spot to hunker down with the kids for a bit.
Honey Kitchn + Coffee: [Closed Permantely] A great spot for coffee, breakfast, and lunch - one of my personal favorites, actually. And there is a little corner with toys and things for drawing.
Beer Star: They have a kid corner with a train table and chalkboards, so parents can grab a drink while the kids play.
Locust Cider: There are retro video games and board games in the backroom for kids to enjoy while parents grab a cider!
Just Outside Tacoma
Wiggle Works: For us, this is a bit of a drive since it’s out at South Hill Mall in Puyallup. We’ve only been once for this reason, but my son had a great time. The rate is reasonable at $8.50 with come/go privileges, and 12 months and under are free. The space felt clean, bright, and happy!
Pros: Clean, bright, and it’s mostly cushion-type play blocks. Great for toddlers!
Cons: Further away and probably not great for older kids.
Discovery Village: [Possibly closed to open play] This is over in Gig Harbor and is an indoor play space with a preschool and other classes. It’s $10/child and is open Monday through Saturday, 10am to 3:00pm. Parking is great, and the place is nice and clean. There is one section that has structures to climb (those soft animals/nature things like at the mall) and another with things to play with, like a train table, kitchen, costumes, etc. It’s not huge, but it would be an hour or two of fun for your kids. There is also a little cafe for a light lunch or snack
Pros: No problems parking, the place is clean and nice.
Cons: Maybe a little small, and further away.
Ocean 5: This is located in Uptown Gig Harbor area. It’s a big place with various activities for all ages. This would be a great option for older kids, but I wouldn’t say it’s good for young kids (I’d think at least 3+ years old). It has an arcade, bowling, laser tag, and a restaurant.
Pros: Lots of different activities!
Cons: Not a great place for young kids, and is further away. I’m sure all the activity’s prices add up price-wise as well.
Safari: Now, this is a far-away option as it’s in Southcenter Mall in Tukwila, but it could be a good halfway point if you’re meeting friends from Seattle. Or, just want to get out for something different. Its play space is similar to Odyessy 1, but there is no arcade section. It’s about $12.99/child, and 12 months and under are free. There is a pricing breakdown on its website. It’s open from 10am to 8:30pm, which is great.
Pros: It will be a great time for kids to crawl, jump, slide, and run around.
Cons: It’s farther away and a wee bit pricey.
Last but not least: My Raising Tacoma’s Birthday Post has a bunch of ideas that would work for indoor playtime as well.