“Mom, what are we doing today?” If you’re anything like me, you dread hearing these words from the kids during summer break. As the days pass, and boredom sets in, us parents, babysitters, and nannies are all on the lookout for fun things to do that are cheap, local, and (most importantly) help us escape the heat.
Enter indoor playgrounds — they bring all the fun of your local park indoors with the addition of air conditioning and other welcomed amenities. Here are 10 of them that will keep your kids — and your sanity — cool in the Los Angeles area.
Lemon Tree Cafe
Address: 621 S. Western Ave., Ste. 111, Los Angeles, CA 90005
Hours: Sunday – Friday, 11 a.m. – 9 p.m. | Saturday, 10:30 a.m. – 9 p.m.
Phone: 213-380-0038
Sit down for leisurely lunch while the kids roam free in this 2,000-square-foot indoor playground, complete with mini-train, carousel, jungle gym, ball pit, books, and more. The menu is full of American classics, like burgers and fries, but it also has a few Korean specialties, like KimBap and fried rice. You’ll notice this place stays open way later than the rest, which makes it a great choice for those uncomfortably hot summer evenings. It’s a great way to wear out the kids before bedtime. This place is designed for kids 10 and under.
Snooknuk Cafe
Address: 506 N. Larchmont Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90004
Hours: Monday – Friday, 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. | Saturday, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Phone: 323-498-5258
Drop in to play or stay for a variety of fun arts, crafts, dance, and drama classes. This playground is best suited for tiny tots under age 5. The train tables, slides, and jungle gyms are just their size. Don’t worry if you get hungry, because the cafe serves up fro yo, paninis, lattes, and other delicious snacks.
Maddie’s Playhouse
Address: 19559 Parthenia St., Northridge, CA 91324
Hours: Tuesday – Thursday, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. | Friday, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Phone: 818-772-7529
Bounce houses, train tables, jungle gyms — what more could a kid (or parent) ask for? And the whole place is organized by age group, so you never have to worry about the toddlers being overrun by the bigger kids or vice versa. This is the only place on our list that has a strict rule about separation of age groups, so if you have children of different ages that both want to play and have fun on their own, this place is great.
Giggles N’ Hugs
Address: 3222 Glendale Galleria Way, Los Angeles, CA 91210
Hours: Monday – Thursday, 10:30 a.m. – 8 p.m. | Friday, 10:30 a.m. – 9 p.m. | Saturday, 10 a.m. – 9 p.m. | Sunday, 10 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Phone: 818-956-4847
Giggles N’ Hugs features high-quality menus made from fresh and local organic foods, nightly entertainment, such as magic shows, concerts, and puppet shows, and all-day activities, like face painting, crafts and karaoke. And all of those are in addition to the amazing play structures. The location at the Glendale Galleria is especially nice, because you can get some shopping done and let the kids play all in one trip. Check their website linked above for a location nearest you.
The Great Escape Club
Address: 3525 Glenhurst Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90039
Hours: Monday – Friday, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Phone: 323-922-6100
It’s no wonder this place was voted by Red Tricycle Los Angeles as one of the best indoor playgrounds in the city. Just one look and you’ll know that you’ve discovered something unique. Everything is focused on imaginative play to help children develop their creativity.
Try making a pretend dinner in the kitchen area or building with foam blocks in the main room. This place is ideal for children ages 6 months to 5 years. Be sure to check their calendar for a list of special events, like themed nights, puppet shows, or sing-a-longs.
Romp
Address: 755 Highland Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90038
Hours: Monday – Thursday, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. | Friday, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Phone: 323-937-7667
Climb up a ladder, slide down a giant twisty slide, and land in a huge ball pit. And then feel free to lather, rinse, and repeat at Romp. Or check out the bounce house, swing set, and play structure that has not one, but two other slides.
Parents, this place has free WiFi, so if you’re looking to get some work done while the littles play, this is the place for you. They also offer a great parking valet service. The only place to park on most days is busy Highland Avenue, and you have to move your car right at 3 p.m. or you’ll get towed. They’ll take your keys and move your car for you, so you don’t have to load the kids up only to unload and come back in again.
The Coop
Address: 11118 Ventura Blvd., Studio City, CA 91604
Hours: Monday – Thursday, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. | Friday, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Phone: 818-760-9613
No sense being cooped up in the house when you can head on over to The Coop! Let your little chicadees run free in a clean, air conditioned environment complete with ball pit, curly slides, ropes course and more. And when we say clea, we mean it. This place has a patent-pending method of cleaning out their ball pit, something that is done everyday at closing. And, if you’ve ever seen a ball pit up close you know how important this is. Adults will love the outdoor garden and cappuccino bar.
Peekaboo Playland
Address: 2030 Colorado Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90041
Hours: Monday – Thursday, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. | Friday, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Phone: 323-255-1400
There’s always something new to discover at Peekaboo Playground. Kids will love exploring the play structure or sliding down the giant inflatable slide. There’s a special play area just for babies, so you can feel confident that the smallest people in your party can play worry-free. Ages 6 months through 8 years old are welcomed.
The Magic Forest
Address: 12512 W. Washington Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90066
Hours: Monday – Friday, 9:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. | Sunday, 2 p.m. – 5 p.m.
Phone: 310-397-9400
This Waldorf-inspired play area boasts wooden toys, scenic murals, and organic foods. Simplicity is the name of the game here. There’s no garish colors or loud music, just well-thought-out play structures for children that help them develop their physical skills all while having fun. It’s a great respite from other indoor playgrounds that might be (as expected) loud and boisterous. Ages 4 and under welcomed. Don’t forget to check out the educational playgroups that are offered for infants and toddlers.
The Awesome Playground
Address: 5158 York Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90042
Hours: Monday – Friday, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Phone: 323-256-2467
How does a 60-foot inflatable obstacle course sound to your kiddos? The Awesome Playground is aptly named, with dozens of fun things to get into for kids 10 and under. Kids will love riding scooters and trikes around the mock race track. Check their calendar for monthly Parents’ Night Out events, where you can drop off your kids for a night of fun, while you and your partner go out for a kid-free evening.
Moms, did we miss any of your favorite indoor playground spots? Tell us in the comments below!
