With winter finally here, the weather can be too cold to spend any time outdoors. If it’s too dreary or just too cold to send your kids outside to expend their extra energy, here are seven local places to help entertain your little ones on those bleak winter days.
The Thinkery
1830 Simond Avenue, Austin
512.469.6200
thinkeryaustin.org
Closed on Mondays
The Thinkery – formerly the Austin Children’s Museum – is worth the trip into Austin. Now located in the Mueller Development, this is a place for discovery where children get hands-on experience learning about why and how things work. Exhibits arrange from a Kitchen Lab, where kids learn about chemical reactions and take part in sensory exploration activities, to Spark Shop and Light Lab, where experiments are conducted that can’t be done in most homes. Kids of all ages will love taking part in exploration and experimentation in safe, child-friendly ways.
Mt. Playmore
13609 North IH 35, Austin
512.989.8886
mtplaymore.com
Closed on Tuesdays
At 3,000 square feet, this is the largest indoor playground in Central Texas. This multi-story jungle gym has tons of space to climb, jump and swing to help your kids get all the pent up energy out. Even adults can fit inside and play comfortably along with their kids, so you can get your exercise indoors as well. In addition to the large playscape, a toddler specific area is designated for the smaller kiddos and a restaurant has all your break time junk food needs covered.
Jumpstreet
12617 Ridgeline Blvd, Suite B, Cedar Park
512.506.8583
gotjump.com
Open daily from 10AM to 9PM, Open later until 11PM on Fridays & Saturdays
Are your kids the human equivalent of jumping beans? Take them to Jumpstreet, where they can bounce around on trampoline courts, play trampoline dodgeball and get all their excitement and energy out in a safe (and warm!) space. An arcade area provides activities when the kids finally need a breather, while older kids can try the maze and mechanical bull for added amusement.
Round Rock Library
216 E Main Avenue, Round Rock
512.218.7001
www.roundrocktexas.gov/library
Open daily, check website for times
Share a life-long love of reading with your children. The Round Rock Library has daily children’s programs including story times, craft times and special events. Events for Tweens are held on Thursday afternoons. Check out a full calendar of events at the library’s website.
Foodie Kids Culinary Center
3818 Far West Blvd., Austin
512.346.333
www.foodie-kids.com
Open 10AM to 5:30PM Monday-Saturday
Budding chefs will enjoy hands-on classes making their own pizzas, cookies, snacks and treats. Classes ranging from cake decorating to making your own homemade soup are held regularly while drop-in activities are available daily. Activities are available for kids as young as 2 years old.
Pump It Up
3918 Gattis School Road, Ste. 100, Round Rock
512.252.7019
pumpitupparty.com
Open daily, check website for times
This indoor playroom is full of inflatable bouncy houses, slides and other great attractions to get the imagination going. Your kids will go home exhausted after racing on the inflatable rock wall and playing in the basketball bouncer.
Safari Champ
1400 East Old Settlers Blvd. #200, Round Rock
512.828.0000
www.safarichamp.com
Open daily until 8PM
If you don’t want to drive into Austin, this local indoor jungle gym is a great alternative. Safari Champ has a jungle themed indoor playscape with slides, tunnels, tubes, zip line and more along with a separate toddler area. Safari Champ also offers drop-in day care if you want to leave the kids in a fun, safe environment while finishing your to-do lists.
Alamo Drafthouse Lakeline
14028 N US Highway 183, Bldg F, Austin
512.861.7070
www.drafthouse.com
Open daily, check website for times
The Lakeline Drafthouse hosts baby day showings of all movies on Tuesdays for films starting before 2PM. Infants and small children are welcome to these showings where the lights are up a bit and the sound is lower than the normal cinema showings. It’s a great opportunity to take your littlest ones to see the latest animated film without disturbing other movie goers.
K1 Speed Austin
2500 McHale Court, Austin
512.271.5475
www.k1speed.com
Open daily, check website for times
For your older kids, take advantage of this indoor go-kart racing track in North Austin. Kids must be at least 4’ tall to take part in one of the largest indoor tracks in the nation. Along with testing out the go-carts, K1 Speed Austin is full of racing memorabilia and artwork to check out.