Updated on February 18, 2023 but times change so please check the website for the latest information.
South End
SHOP AND PLAY: SOUTH END
IKEA: Kids can explore the supervised playroom, Småland, while their parents shop (for up to one hour). The playroom features a ball pit, slides, books and toys, and a special theater for watching cartoons. Children must be potty-trained. 601 SW 41st St., Renton. 425-656-2980; ikea.com/us/en/store/seattle
Hours: Monday-Saturday 10 am to 7:45 pm, Sunday 10 am to 6:45 pm
Ages: Between 37 (3-foot-1) and 54 inches (4-foot-6) in height
Cost: Free
Food: Yes, at IKEA restaurant
Alcohol: No
Drop-off: Yes
Wi-Fi: Yes
SHOP AND PLAY: SOUTH END
The Outlet Collection, Seattle: This mega-shopping center features an arcade, kiddie rides, carousel, climbing wall and a Pacific Northwest-themed soft play area. 1101 Outlet Collection Way, Auburn. 253-833-9500; outletcollectionseattle.com
Hours: Sunday 11 am to 7 pm, Monday-Thursday 11 am to 8 pm, Friday and Saturday 10 am to 8 pm
Ages: All
Cost: Free
Food: Yes
Alcohol: No
Drop-off: No
Wi-Fi: Yes
SHOP AND PLAY: SOUTH END
Westfield Southcenter Kids’ Play Space: Experience a rainforest-themed play area where kids can climb on soft play structures, explore the colorful space with animal and nature motifs or work on large, interactive puzzles. Two nearby family lounges, equipped with large restrooms, plasma screens, games, comfortable seating and private nursing stalls, offer a quiet respite. 2800 Southcenter Mall, Tukwila (on the first level near Hot Topic). 206-246-0423; westfield.com/southcenter
Hours: Daily 10 am to 9 pm
Ages: All
Cost: Free
Food: Yes
Alcohol: Yes
Drop-off: No
Wi-Fi: Yes
ART AND GAMES: SOUTH END
Tinkertopia: Tacoma’s creative reuse center has everything kids need to flex their creative muscles and save the planet at the same time. Drawing from a huge donated pool of resources, Tinkertopia’s drop-in Open Tinker Art Studio and tinker workshops will give your little ones the space to create. 1914 Pacific Ave., Tacoma. 253-778-6539; tinkertopia.com
Hours: 90 minute daily sessions of 12 pm to 1:30 pm and 3-4:30 pm; Store hours are Monday-Saturday 10 am to 6 pm and Sunday noon to 5 pm
Ages: School ages 6 and up
Cost: $10 for kids, $5 for adult supervisor
Food: No
Alcohol: No
Drop-off: No
Wi-Fi: No
FAMILY FUN CENTERS: SOUTH END
Chuck E. Cheese’s (multiple locations): Games, rides, prizes, food and entertainment. 25817 104th Ave. SE, Kent. 253-813-9000; 4911 Tacoma Mall Blvd., Tacoma. 253-473-3077; chuckecheese.com
Hours: Sunday-Thursday 11 am to 9 pm, Friday 11 am to 10 pm, Saturday 10 am to 10 pm
Ages: All
Cost: Free admission, games prices vary
Food: Yes
Alcohol: No
Drop-off: No
Wi-Fi: No
FAMILY FUN CENTERS: SOUTH END
Family Fun Center: If you’re hankering for a place that will please all the members of your clan, look no further. Older kids will enjoy indoor attractions such as laser tag, a roller coaster simulator, video games and bumper cars. The four-level “Kidopolis” with slides and tunnels is a treat for little ones. 7300 Fun Center Way, Tukwila. 425-228-7300; fun-center.com/public/tukwila
Hours: Daily, varies by month
Ages: All
Cost: Games start at $3
Food: Yes
Alcohol: No
Drop-off: No
Wi-Fi: Yes
FAMILY FUN CENTERS: SOUTH END
Odyssey 1: Check out their jungle gym, laser-tag arena and game center. 2310 W Mildred St, Suite #110, Tacoma. 253-444-6561; odyssey-1.com
Hours: Sunday-Thursday 10 am to 9 pm, Friday and Saturday 10 am to 10 pm
Ages: up to 10 for jungle gym; 7 and older for laser tag
Cost: $7.85 for kids 2 and over on weekdays; $9.45 for kids 2 and older on the weekend; $2.25 for kids under 2 years; free for children under the age of 2 with an admission purchase; parents free
Food: Yes
Alcohol: No
Drop-off: No
Wi-Fi: Yes
MUSEUM/SCIENCE CENTER: SOUTH END
Children’s Museum of Tacoma: The museum’s five playscapes include educational toys and promote creativity by encouraging kids to invent. The “Playful Little Library” allows children to take a book home for free, with the request that they donate a book during their next visit; 1501 Pacific Ave, Suite 202, Tacoma. 253-627-6031; playtacoma.org
Hours: Thursday 1 pm to 5 pm, Friday-Sunday 10 am to 5 pm; Low sensory hours: Thursday 10 am to 1 pm
Ages: 0 to 8 years
Cost: Donation of your choice
Food: Yes
Alcohol: No
Drop-off: No
Wi-Fi: Yes
SPORTY: SOUTH END
Black Hills Gymnastics: Open gym for preschoolers is offered on Friday mornings with supervision from trained staff. 7961 29th Ave. NE, Lacey. 360-413-9855; blackhillsgym.com
Open: Friday 11 am to 12:30 pm, Saturday 7 pm to 10 pm
Ages: 0 to 5 years Fridays, 6 to 17 years Saturdays
Cost: $7-$15
Food: No
Alcohol: No
Drop-off: Yes, for older children
Wi-Fi: No
SPORTY: SOUTH END
Metropolitan Gymnastics: The gym offers open play for all ages on the equipment. 6822 S 190th St., Kent. 425-282-5010; metropolitangym.com
Hours: Wednesday (two hour max) and Saturday (1 hour max)
Ages: All
Cost: $25 on Mondays for two hours and $20 on Saturday for one hour
Food: No
Alcohol: No
Drop-off: No
Wi-Fi: Unknown
SPORTY: SOUTH END
Pump It Up (multiple locations): Little ones can bounce on their many inflatable toys, including an obstacle course and giant slide. 3610 S Pine St., Suite A, Tacoma. 253-754-7971; pumpitupparty.com
Hours: Open Jump: Any day during operating hours; Glow Jump: Any day during operating hours (varying time slots) Monday-Friday 10 am to noon, 2 to 4 pm; Wednesday 10 am to noon, 4 to 6 pm
Ages: All
Cost: $10 on weekdays per child; $12 on weekends per two-hour session
Food: Yes
Alcohol: No
Drop-off: No
Wi-Fi: Yes
SPORTY: SOUTH END
Round1 Bowling and Amusement: Even the smallest kids can get in on the fun with gutter bumpers and ramps that steer the ball straight toward the pins. Along with bowling they include activities such as karaoke, ping pong, darts, arcade games and more! 2351 Southcenter Mall, Tukwila. 206-243-2787; round1usa.com/location/south-center-mall
Hours: Daily 10 am to 2 am
Cost: Prices are by the hour per person (starting at $5 per person)
Food: Yes
Alcohol: Yes
Drop-off: No
Wi-Fi: Yes
SPORTY: SOUTH END
The Jungle Gym: An open gym with a tumble-track trampoline, foam-shape obstacle courses, bars, beams, trapeze, rings, climbing wall, zip line and much more. 816 SW 152nd St Burien. 206-248-3547; junglegymfun.com
Open: Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday 11 am to 12 pm; Friday 2 pm to 3 pm; Saturday and Sunday 12 pm to 1 pm
Ages: 6 months to 12 years
Cost: $15 non-members for 1 hour, $11 members for 1 hour, children under 6 months are free, $4 drop off fee per child
Food: Yes, at Kids Night Out (2nd and last Friday of the month)
Alcohol: No
Drop-off: Yes, for kids over 3 years
Wi-Fi: Yes
SPORTY: SOUTH END
Catapult Adventure Park: Get your bounce on with more than 5,000 square feet of trampolines, plus special features including trampoline-assisted basketball dunking and dodgeball. Trampolines are partitioned off with nets to corral smaller kids and keep them away from bigger ones. 35025 Enchanted Pkwy. S, Federal Way. 253-517-5853 catapultfederalway.com
Hours: Monday-Thursday 10 am to 9 pm, Friday and Saturday 10 am to 10 pm, Sunday noon to 8 pm
Ages: All
Cost: $22 per person for 90 minutes, $27 per person for 2 hours, $14 per toddler under 42″ for 2 hours
Food: Yes
Alcohol: No
Drop-off: No
WiFi: Yes
SWIM: SOUTH END
Weyerhaeuser King County Aquatic Center: Swim in an Olympic-size pool at the aquatic center built for the Seattle Goodwill Games in 1990 and now used extensively for competition. The pool has several afternoon family swims and nighttime public swims. 650 SW Campus Dr., Federal Way. 477-4444; kingcounty.gov/recreation/parks/pools.aspx
Hours: Winter 2023 (Public swim): Monday-Thursday 7:30 pm to 8:30 pm
Ages: All
Cost: $3.25
Food: No
Alcohol: No
Drop-off: No
Wi-Fi: Yes, except Magnuson Community Center
COMMUNITY CENTERS: SOUTH END
In the south end, visit kentwa.gov for information on Kents indoor play spaces, auburnwa.gov to learn about the indoor playground in Auburn, and metroparkstacoma.org/community-centers to find out more about Tacoma community centers.
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