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Having fun at the Washington State History Museum. Photo: Tonya Strickland
In my corner of the mommy-blogging world, I’ve got a saying about why my kids (ages 8 and 10) and I are usually on the go. And that, my friends, is the time-honored truth: 'Because sometimes you just need to get out of the house.'
With dry skies fading fast, so is our sanity as parents and caregivers when we want to avoid the cold without also tripping over you-know-who’s blocky play-kitchen pizza triangles in the living room — again.
But hey, escaping the house doesn’t always mean braving the great outdoors! I've rounded up awesome indoor destinations perfect for getting kids moving, learning and crafting — all in and around the South Sound. My list is the perfect excuse to explore some indoor fun, no loss of grown-up sanity required.
Indoor play places in Tacoma and South Sound
Tea & Tiaras Princess Party Parlor, Puyallup
Did you know Tea & Tiaras Princess Party Parlor isn’t just a birthday venue? Yep, your littles can now get the royal treatment anytime at the parlor’s new gift shop in Puyallup’s South Mall.
Some stand-out services include the shop’s walk-in menu offering a “Pampered Princess” package for a full kiddo makeover with a princess costume, glitter hairstyle, lots of extras — and, of course, a tiara. Or, for a quick touch of sparkle, an a la carte mini makeover promises individual touches like glitter tattoos and hair tinsel. (The walk-in services can be booked by appointment, too.)
Small packages also sound fun — like the “Special To Me Tea” for one adult and one child featuring a dress-up costume, a tea etiquette lesson, pink lemonade, chocolate croissants and treats. Insider tip: Make sure to check the Tea & Tiaras Facebook page for public events like art days and storytime sessions.
Location: 3500 S. Meridian #984, Puyallup
Cost: Individual services range from $4–$15; the “Pampered Princess” package is $70.
Catapult Adventure Park, multiple locations
Nothing beats kicking up your feet for at least three minutes while the kiddos are busy bouncing before they need something from you. With franchise locations in Puyallup, Federal Way and Lakewood, there are many options for fun at Catapult Adventure Park.
We’ve been to the Lakewood location and it’s already a fast favorite with my 8- and 10-year-old. Their first stop at the Lakewood location was a bounce on the giant Mt. Catapult, an inflated mountain to climb up and down again. Don’t forget to bounce on the top! The kids also told me they love dodging obstacles while running through the ninja course.
The venue is mostly one-story, but there’s an upper seating area in the corner of the Lakewood location and an entire ropes course above the ground-floor attractions. Kids gear up with an attendant for that, and helmets are included. Playing on the company’s purrfectly branded cat theme (Catapult even has a spotted leopard mascot), the upper ropes course offers challenges for maintaining coordination and balance. It’s included with admission.
Lakewood location: 5831 Main St. S.W., Lakewood
Cost: Individual launch times cost $26 for 90 minutes; $33 for two hours; and $40 for all day. Jump times for toddlers under 42 inches tall cost $20 each. Spectator admission is $10.
Federal Way Community Center, Federal Way
The community center boasts a swimming pool, lazy river, two-story water slide and interactive play structure. All the open-play fun, outside of lap swim for fitness or lessons for safety, happens in the rec center’s leisure pool and is dubbed as “open swim.” The lazy river features a 110-foot current channel where jet power creates a moving current — perfect for some chill time between the big slide and splashing.
Location: 876 S. 333rd St., Federal Way
Cost: One-day visitor passes cost $10 for adults; $6 for teens ages 12–17 and seniors ages 62 and older; $5 for youth ages 3–11. Monthly and annual memberships are available.
University Place Pierce County Library, University Place
This South Sound suburban location is one of 20 libraries operated by the Pierce County Library System. It made our list for its open, airy and modern vibes. It offers 15,000 square feet of library space with a double-height reading room washed in natural light located at the library’s center. The University Place Library’s location also makes it noteworthy — it’s nestled in the city’s newer Town Centre mixed development, home to the University Place Civic Building, a lovely community courtyard out front, and promenade-type shops and eateries anchored by Whole Foods Market’s Chambers Bay store.
Make sure to check out the public atrium lobby just outside the library’s main entrance on the ground floor (shared with City Hall on the second and third floors) where there’s a gorgeous glass fish art piece dangling from above. This library also has a great look — fun light fixtures and decorative accents hang from the ceiling. Its cool children's nook offers toys galore and a neat rotating word column where large wooden cylinders spin to reveal surprise illustrations and vocabulary words in framed shapes. The playspace around it boasts bright colors, a cute kids table, taller tables with chessboards printed on top, a wooden dollhouse with accessories, a puzzle bin, science kits to check out and coloring stations. A separate space for teens is located on the opposite end of kiddo stacks.
Location: 3609 Market Pl. W., University Place
Cost: Free
Metropolitan Gymnastics, Kent
Kids can enjoy Metropolitan Gymnastics’ open gym time, when members and non-member kids ages 1–17 are welcome to come and play inside the spacious center. Children age 5 and younger must be accompanied by a parent on the floor. Spaces are limited and pre-registration online is recommended to guarantee a spot. In-person walk-in registration is available, but open spots for walk-ins aren’t guaranteed.
Adults are not allowed on the gym equipment during the kids’ session. But, never fear – an adult open gym is offered for folks age 18 and older as a self-guided workout on the adult tumble tracks, trampoline and foam pits. A coach will also be available for assistance. All skill levels are welcome.
Location: 6822 S. 190th St., Kent
Cost: Open gym pricing for ages 1–17 costs $15 for one hour; $25 for two hours.
Big Air Trampoline Park, Auburn
At Big Air’s Auburn franchise location, kids can literally bounce off the walls at this colorful trampoline park. Between bouncing and climbing, guests can also try out foam-pit jousting, ninja-style obstacle courses, zip lines, slam dunk courts, a ropes course and a toddler zone. Get tickets online and don’t forget to sign the waiver.
Location: 1101 Outlet Collection Wy. #1275, Auburn
Cost: Admission costs $20 for one hour; $30 for two hours; $34 for all day. Admission for ages 2 and younger costs $5 with a paying adult.
Places to paint art and pottery in South Sound
Java & Clay Cafe, Gig Harbor
Java & Clay offers an open space full of natural light, long wooden tables and a relaxed vibe to get creative with your littles. This charming paint-your-own pottery studio, located right on the harbor, offers coffee service to your table in a cozy, welcoming atmosphere.
Whether you're a seasoned artist or just looking for a fun afternoon, Java & Clay offers options for adults and children. The shop is set up to make creating your pottery masterpieces easy-peasy with these steps:
- Pick out your white pottery pieces among the animal figures, piggy banks, plates, cups and more on the shelves (note the marked prices of each, as costs vary).
- Sit down at a table and an attendant will gather your supplies.
- Grab more colors anytime off the shelves. (Insider tip: The paint is actually pigmented glaze, which means your chosen colors will always come out several shades darker than how you applied them after the piece is fired!)
- Paint, paint, paint for as long as you want, then leave your item there and process your order.
- The shop artists fire your artwork in the kiln for you, which you pick up at a later scheduled date.
When we went, I was charmed by the rows of little hand-glazed masterpieces drying on shelves and the assortments of paint brushes, sponges and tools offered. We chose to paint animal figurines — one panda bear and two cats. The whole process was enjoyable, slightly messy and totally engaging.
Location: 3210 Harborview Dr., Gig Harbor
Cost: Pricing varies depending on the pottery piece you choose.
Artsy Fartsy Art Lessons, Kent
Artsy Fartsy Art Lessons offers guests ages 7 and older one-hour lessons to encourage creativity in drawing and painting through multiple classes. You can opt for a one-on-one class or round up a couple of friends and family members for a group class.
Availability is limited, so check the class information section on the website to book a session or sign up for the waitlist.
Location: 19011 68th Ave. S. Suite A108, Kent
Cost: Private lessons are $45 for one hour. For two to four individuals, the cost is $35 per artist for a 75-minute lesson. Supplies are included in the cost.
Awesome places to skate in Tacoma
Alchemy Skateboarding, Tacoma
This nonprofit group offers a 2,000-square-foot indoor skatepark for all ages. Its mission? To show that “skateboarding naturally promotes and teaches confidence, creativity, determination, grit and the importance of fun.” Inside, murals on the walls create an inviting vibe while adjustable ramps allow skaters to switch up the course for an ever-changing layout.
Insider tip: New to skateboarding? Check out the beginner sessions every Saturday from 1–3 p.m. During this slower-paced, laid-back session, an instructor helps the group learn or improve beginner tricks. Sorry, bikes and scooters aren’t allowed here.
Location: 311 S. 7th St., Tacoma
Cost: Drop-in sessions can be booked online and are $5 per rider for two hours every Friday, Saturday and Sunday at various times. The whole park can also be rented during the week for $20 an hour.
Sprinker Recreation Center Ice Arena, Tacoma
If it’s big-coat weather, you might as well go all out and head over to Tacoma’s stand-out ice arena known for its year-round availability of public skate sessions and ice bumper cars! This go-to arena also offers big ol’ group games of broomball, lessons for skating and ice hockey, and a limited number of walkers to help little ones navigate the rink. Insider tip: Come early to rent a walker — I hear those run out fast!
From Nov. 29–Jan. 4, Sprinker’s Ice Lights event takes over the arena, delighting guests with a 20-foot holiday tree, daily activities and snowfall inside the building.
Location: 521 Military Rd. S., Tacoma
Cost: Public skate tickets are sold at the door or online and cost $8.50 for adults; $7.50 for youth ages 6–17; $6.50 for seniors ages 62 and older; and $5.50 for children age 5 and younger. Skate rentals are $3.50 and ice walkers are $5. A 15-minute ice bumper car ride costs $12 per person; advance reservations required.
Best spots to bowl near Tacoma
Tower Lanes Entertainment Center, Tacoma
Open bowling sessions offer a laid-back experience for bowlers of all ages and skill levels with discounted pricing Monday–Friday. Regular fees kick in on the weekends. Shoe rentals are available. The company recommends calling ahead to see if you can snag a lane reservation.
Need a surprise activity for your kiddo-entertainment bag of tricks? It’s not in the name, but Tower Lanes also offers mini golf! Its 18-hole course is all indoors and landscaped with mini waterfalls, fountains and bridges. Talk about whimsical. Group rates are available, and you can even rent the course for larger events.
Location: 6323 Sixth Ave., Tacoma
Cost: Weekday bowling costs $5 to &7 per game, per person. Weekend bowling costs $30–$40 per lane, per hour. Shoe rental is $3 to $5 per person.
Ocean5, Gig Harbor
The first thing you should know about Ocean5 is it’s a gorgeous building. The interior design is upscale, but still manages to be kid-friendly. And good thing, too, because kids sure love it there. We visit here often to bowl, play in the arcade, and even run around and play-zap each other in the two-story laser tag arena.
In total, there are 22 lanes with two types of bowling: classic 10-pin or duckpin (bowling with shorter pins and smaller bowling balls with no finger-holes). As a bonus, private and semi-private suites are available for groups of all sizes. (I had my 40th birthday party in a suite and it was a blast for the kids — and the adults!).
The lanes have automatic kid bumpers that raise for the individuals who opt for it (just ask the attendant to set them up). You can also request they bring out a metal portable bowling ball ramp to help your kiddo aim like a pro.
Two eateries are built into the venue: a restaurant and a coffee shop. While bowling, you can order food right from your lane, with your phone. Plus, you can wear your own shoes (just leave the heels at home, obviously). Check out the event calendar for themed bowl sessions featuring music, black lights (remember to wear white clothes!), and even kid and adult karaoke. Online booking is available — and I highly recommend it, even if you’re trying to squeeze in a same-day sesh.
Location: 5268 Point Fosdick Dr., Gig Harbor
Cost: Reserve a 30-minute round of Laser Challenge for $15 per person, per 30-minute session. Reserve a lane for duckpin bowling or 10-pin bowling for one hour, $50 per lane (includes shoes).
Educational indoor activities in Tacoma and South Sound
Gig Harbor BoatShop, Gig Harbor
The Gig Harbor BoatShop is a staple along the harbor’s working waterfront, operating as a nonprofit organization that works to pass on Gig Harbor’s renowned boat-building history. The group acts out that mission with engaging classes and programs for kids and adults.
Ready to try something new? Kids ages 6–12 can learn how to hammer boat nails, saw and use a spokeshave — all with help from awesome volunteers through project stations set up during the hour-long Young Hands, New Skills program. The group limits participation to six kids per session so volunteers can really get one-on-one.
Meanwhile, the shop’s Family Boat Building program is returning in 2025. Families spend a weekend building their very own 12-foot skiff — no prior experience required (kids 12 and older can join!). At the end of the session, folks get to row their skiff on Gig Harbor Bay and then take it home! Pretty epic, right?
Location: 3805 Harborview Dr., Gig Harbor
Cost: The Young Hands, New Skills workshop costs $20 per child; $18 per child for Gig Harbor BoatShop members.
Washington State History Museum, Tacoma
This five-floor trek through time features life-size artifacts, mini model dioramas, interactive buttons galore and other creative ways to take in state history. Call me crazy, but one of my favorite features is the building’s bona fide coat room! Always a joy not having to lug your rainy day gear around with you.
For the kids, be sure to mix stairs and elevators as you go up, up, up to the fifth floor to climb aboard a wooden wagon led by Oregon Trail pioneer Ezra Meeker’s replica oxen, Dave and Dandy. Around the corner, the museum’s famous train exhibit showcases a city of miniatures in 1950s Tacoma. Fun fact: It’s said to be the largest model railroad on permanent exhibition in the state.
Go on the third Thursday of the month when admission is free; on the first Saturday of the month for Family Saturdays with themed activities; or download these Hands-On History guides for at-home fun. Insider tip: Get free admission for certain museums (including Washington State History Museum) through Pierce County Library.
Location: 1911 Pacific Ave., Tacoma
Cost: Admission costs $14 for adults; $11 for students ages 6–18 and seniors ages 65 and older. Admission is free for Washington State Historical Society members and children ages 5 and younger.
LeMay – America’s Car Museum, Tacoma
With an exterior shaped like the curve in a giant race car hood, America’s Car Museum is fun for more than just slick chrome and cool cars. The Family Zone level near the bottom of the museum sports a tall toy car chute. Kids can climb up to it, race wooden cars down the chute and experiment with adding weights to see how it affects their speed.
Kids will also love Family STEAM Days every third Saturday of each month, where visitors ages 17 and younger get in free. The event includes learning themes in math and science featuring special activities — plus the freedom to explore the regular museum attractions.
Location: 2702 East D St., Tacoma
Cost: Admission costs $24.50 for ages 13–64; $17.50 for youth ages 5–12; and $22.50 for seniors ages 65 and older. Children ages 4 and younger are free.
Harbor History Museum, Gig Harbor
Did you know admission to this museum is free for everyone, not just members? Yes, it’s true! Families looking for neat ways to explore Gig Harbor’s maritime and logging history can hit up the building’s hands-on exhibits free of charge. Notable things to explore are the one-room schoolhouse from 1893 (it’s an original, not a replica) and the 65-foot Shenandoah, a 1925 fishing boat called a purse seiner, back in the museum’s newly enclosed Maritime Gallery.
In the main room, my kids love ringing the bell in the permanent gallery, and watching the video about how the Tacoma Narrows Bridge crashed into the Narrows. See if your kids can find the bridge artifacts on display (hint: there’s even some outside). With a roster of new exhibits, workshops and public events to discover, this museum is full of fun surprises and fascinating stories.
Insider tip: Some of our personal favorites from this museum are the downloads available online before you go. Find them under the “Gig Harbor Through Time” slideshows here.
Location: 4121 Harborview Dr., Gig Harbor
Cost: Free admission; donations accepted.
The Pierce College Science Dome, Lakewood
The whole family will love exploring the night sky and solar system during public shows on Fridays and Saturdays at the Pierce College Science Dome. Check out the 60-minute show (which includes a 30-minute night sky tour and a 30-minute full dome video); or 45-minute children's shows, which are live and interactive shows with hands-on activities designed for ages 3–10.
Location: 9401 Farwest Dr. S.W., Lakewood
Cost: General admission costs $8 for ages 3 and older.
Other rainy-day activities for Tacoma-area families: |
Editor’s note: Kris Collingridge previously reported on Tacoma-area indoor activities in 2017, and the article was updated in 2019. This article was completely revamped in October 2024, with an all-new list of rainy day activities curated by local mom of two, Tonya Strickland, who included her family’s favorite indoor activities.
