Indoor Play Places Near the Connecticut River Valley

Inclement weather is the arch enemy of parents with active children. It is Murphy's Law that it will only rain or snow on days your children have extra energy to burn. And if you don't act fast, that energy can be used in very bad ways. But don't fret; if you live in the Connecticut River Valley, indoor activity centers abound. You are sure to find a cure for cabin fever.

Stay and Play, LLC (Old Saybrook)

Stay and Play is a wonderful indoor playscape and café for kids under 7 years old. Admission is $8 per child but adults and pre-walkers are free. The staff is friendly and the facility is bright and very clean. Children remove their shoes to enjoy slides, climbing equipment, a rope bridge and an open space for running and jumping. There is a separate gated area for babies equippedwith age-appropriate toys. There are also comfy sofas, coffee for sale in the café and magazines for moms and dads. There is even Wi-Fi for parents who want to use the time to multi-task. In the warmer months they have outdoor waterslides as well. For safety reasons, older siblings are allowed in the café (that is fully stocked with yummy natural and organic snacks) but not on the equipment.

Timbergyms, LLC (Newington)

Located off the Berlin Turnpike in Newington, this play place and retail store is a great destination. Admission is only $5 per child. You can check out their wide selection of indoor and outdoor play equipment while your children test them out in real life! Activities for kids include a pirate ship, tunnel slide, climbers, slides and more. They have picnic tables for snack time (bring your own peanut free snack) and coffee for parents. They carry a wide assortment of Melissa & Doug and Step2 toys.

Flip Flop Gymnastics, LLC (Deep River)

Check out their online schedule for information regarding the days and hours for open gym. You pay only $8.00 per child for use of their state of the art gymnastics equipment. While there is no formal instruction during open gym, there is a qualified gymnastics instructor available to provide assistance and supervision. The facility is extremely clean and orderly with up to date equipment including balance beams, a "runway" style trampoline, a large foam pit and more.

Kid City Museum (Middletown)

For just $8 dollars a person (adults must pay too), you can enjoy unlimited exploration of inventive and creatively themed rooms throughout this wonderful facility. Go fishing at the fishery where kids can sort, catch and transport play fish in new and exciting ways. Go back to the future in a futuristic themed room equipped with a diner that serves dry ice, air-fueled mazes for foam balls and a life sized Lite Brite room. There are plenty of bathrooms (fully equipped with supplies in case of emergency), a friendly staff, a book store and an eating area for your snacks brought from home.

Keep this list of indoor play places handy and you will never be without a solution for cabin fever!