The Yummiest Kids Activities in Indianapolis

Cornerstone Lutheran Church Fishers

★★★★★ 4.9 (7)

"The play area at Cornerstone is the perfect place for your little ones to get their wiggles out! The facility is very clean and enclosed so you can easily keep an eye on your kids while they have fun.There are 2 play areas: one area for 3 and under and the other for 3 to 12. You enter the play facility and sign in and the kids are free to play! Socks are required, but if you forget, there are socks to borrow.This facility is not a drop off! You will need to supervise your angles while they play. Current hours are 8 to 1 and 4 to 7 Monday through Friday, closed Saturday, and noon to 3 Sundays."

Brightly Art Studio

★★★★★ 5 (6)

"Are an adult that likes crafts Do you have a kid that likes crafts Are you a family that likes to sometimes do this together Brightly has moved to a more noticeable location right on Main Street in brownsburg. Their space not only makes you happy to drive by with all the rainbows and happy signs but going in just puts a smile on your face. I have done several of the adult classes that are on some Friday evenings. I have made a Welcome Mat, earrings, watercolors and a alcohol ink vase. They love happy mistakes and encourage free art. Every single item I have made I have worn, given as a gift or displayed. We have also done the Toddler playgroup on Saturday morning. If you have a toddler it is nothing but 45 minutes of fun. All the instructors I have met are pure joy. They also have a small store in the front that is great for gifts."

Senses Playroom Gym

★★★★★ 5 (1)

"This playroom gym is awesome. I think it is such an amazing idea to have sensory play for children, especially younger children, to fuel their imagination and allow them to be children. We visited for the first time last week and we will definitely be back. It is only $6, however, I gave $10 because they are ran solely by volunteers and funding. The place smelled great and it was very clean. Normally in these types of environments they can sometimes get messy/germ filled, I did not feel this way about this playroom at all! This playroom/gym is parent led play time, which allows you to play with your children and have fun. The owner was very friendly. I will definitely recommend this playroom to all the parents I know!"

Line+form Atelier

★★★★★ 5 (2)

"I can not say enough wonderful things about Line+form Atelier! Number one, Fran (the owner) is the most kind hearted person who wants to help people love the process of art no matter their financial situation or artistic ability. They offer a huge variety of classes for all ages. I've taken the resin painting class as well as a nails and crafting class. Our daughter took the Fairy and Unicorn Summer camp this past summer and it was her favorite camp out of 5 summer camps. Line+form will be moving to a new location downtown in September so they'll be more accessible to people from all over the city. Don't let the drive dissuade you though. We live on the north side of Fishers and will definitely be attending many more classes in the future."

Create Art Studio

★★★★★ 5 (1)

"Create Art Studio is an amazing place for any art enthusiasts or people that just want to explore their creativity! I've been to 2 workshops and both have been incredible. The founders Chrissy and Alissa are so nice and welcoming every time! The instructors are also so warm and the vibe of the place is just perfect, of course I have to mention the refreshments are on point too :) 100% recommend taking a class and they have parking!"

The Apple Works

★★★★☆ 3.5 (97) • $$

"We come here at least once yearly to get our apples, pumpkins, and cider! This past weekend we went and were pleasantly surprised at all the new additions and remodels done by the new owner! The shop is bigger and easier to walk through than in the past and more activities for the younger kids to do. One suggestion I have is do not go on the weekends - too busy! Typically, we try and go during the week but were not able to this year. They have food trucks on the weekends though but the lines were really long. I have read some negative reviews on here but unsure if I agree or not. Some are saying that you no longer can bring your dogs but I never did so cannot clarify. Also, we didnt go to the pumpkin patch so unsure if you can pick your own pumpkins or not but know in the past you could so that would be a real bummer if that has changed. I do know that the apples, cider slushies, apple butter, and apple dumplings still have the same great taste as before but they were much more expensive than before. From now on I plan on making my own dumplings."

The Key Escape Rooms

★★★★★ 4.8 (8)

"I took my daughter for her 14th birthday. Here is her review..... I loved it!! It was super fun, creepy, and pretty difficult but in the end we survived with 30 seconds to spare. It was really great, i had a terrific birthday."

Sports Legends Experience

★★★★★ 5 (11)

"This place has so much going on it fun and exciting but it's a great place to learn. When entering the outdoor space there are basketball courts on your left as you move on football-hockey and soccer. And one the right there's tennis-baseball and golf. Across the back is racing with a drag strip and a race track. And you can't forget about the tree it's amazing. The day we were there there were 74 bus loads of kids so needless to said the tree was very popular and with my two year old grandson it was just to much for him. But all around the Sports Legends Experience are tracks for walking - running and a fitness path. There is something for everyone to do. Pavilions and concession and restrooms outside also."

Laser Storm

★★★☆☆ 3.3 (3)

"I have been here a few times for laser tag, and I LOVE IT. First of all, I only go with a group of adults and secondly, I am almost always under the influence of some of the 32oz beers they serve in the bowling alley. This place is a great arena to go with a group of fun loving adults who just want to kick back and shoot their friends with lasers. In the past, I've gone with groups of between 8-12 people, and we always have a great time. This place is connected to a big bowling alley that serves food and alcohol, and the staff usually lets you bring your beers into the waiting rooms at the laser tag hall.It's true that the staff isn't the most professional, but they are teenagers. What I loved about the staff last time I went, is that one of them strapped on a vest and played with us. He was fun, and wanted us to have a good time.Now, I probably would never take any kids here. If you are looking for a fun new experience, and you like 32oz beers, Laser Storm is totally the best place to go in Indy. I'd give it 5 stars because I've always had a blast here, but honestly, this place isn't quite there."

Kids Planet

★★★☆☆ 3.3 (46)

"This venue is a nice option to take kids to play during bad/cold weather. They have a decent parking lot, but it can get packed and you may have to create a spot or park far away from the front door. They have free wifi and a very friendly staff, but I did not see them very much. Save yourself some time and complete your waiver at home, before you get to the venue.They have a sized moderate arcade and a play area. They are priced separately. I took my little there only for play area. You can purchase time on a card to play the arcade games. You win virtual tickets, that are stored on your card, that can be redeemed for prizes....Chuck E Cheese style.In order to play in the play area, you must purchase their non-slip socks. You only have to purchase them once as long as you bring them with you. You pay for 2-hour blocks of time, but they do not really harass people about their times. 2 hours was more than enough for me. The play area has seating along the wall and bar style seating along the play area rail. They had hand sanitizer positioned in a few spots on the bar. The play area has an area for smaller children that has a small ball pit, rocking horses and other equipment. Then to the left of that area is the area for the bigger kids. That area is a HUGE 4-level Jungle gym with some awesome slides, a trampoline, a pit filled with foam blocks, a ball pit with ball cannons.As I parent, I recommend bringing some headphone to listen to music, or a laptop/iPad to play games or do some work while your little(s) are playing. You may also want to bring a phone charger and/or make sure you have a full charge.Upstairs you will find a small snack bar with tables to eat at and a couple of areas sectioned off for birthday parties. It was not a very impressive party area, but would do if you really wanted to hold your party there. The snack bar has cookies, pretzels, candy, chips, water, soft drinks and pizza to name a few of the items. There is no outside food allowed here.The two hours flew by for my little. She had a great time and cannot wait to come back. I do like that accompanying parents do not have to pay to get in. Parents are not allowed to go past the first level of the jungle gym and are required to purchase socks if they do go in the play area. The venue may not be as flashy as other similar places like Smiley's or Skyzone but it is much more economical."

Carter's Play Place

★★★★★ 4.5 (17)

"Hooray! Fun for everyone! It makes my heart smile to see that there are fun places to play that are for kids of all abilities. Carter's Play Place is one of those places. The indoor playground is designed with special needs in mind. First (and most important for me), there is NO music playing! Yes! This means a less stressful atmosphere for kids (and adults) who are easily overwhelmed with lots of noise. They also have a separate "quiet room" for people to hang out if the action gets to be too much. Wide windows invite the natural light in, so the space feels very peaceful, even when it's packed with playing kids.Beyond the aesthetics, there are so many fun toys and equipment to play with! In the middle of the room is a variety of swings. There is even a cool swing that lets you fly through the air like Superman! There's a zipline, a slide, a trampoline, bikes to ride around the room, toddler toys, a train table, and a sensory table. I should mention that all of these fun things are accessible to all kids, special needs or not. The staff here also is very involved with showing kids how to use the playground equipment if they don't already know how, or just assisting them with playing.Just off the main play area is another small room with a pretend kitchen, pretend washing machine, little tables, and pretend cleaning stuff like mops and brooms. There is also an area for babies, with baby toys.They have a full kitchen here, with refrigerator, microwave, sink, and the best part ... free popcorn, bottled water and coffee! So awesome. I also love the fact that they have a relaxing nook area with two comfy couches and pillows, as well as free Wifi. We probably could have stayed all day! We had so much fun."

The Center at Northview

★★★★★ 5 (3)

"Such a fun place to take a toddler and let them run around. I love that it's a free space for the community."

Steps on 65th Movement Studios

★★★★★ 5 (1)

"My daughter has been taking classes here for several weeks and loves it!! The class sizes are small so she's really been able to get comfortable with her instructor and other friends in the class. You can tell they are experienced at working with kids which made my daughter feel comfortable pretty quickly. She asks me at least 5 times a week when she can go back to dance- I think she would go every day if she could! The studio is also really nice, there are several areas for parents to stay and relax while the kids are in class if they choose to stay, and even space for siblings to hang out if they tag along. Highly recommend you check them out for both new and experienced dancers!!"

Smiley

★★★☆☆ 3.4 (89)

"Well this place is great for kids. I brought by 6-year-old son and he had a blast!When you first enter, there's the biggest ball pit I've ever seen with interactive pneumatic tubes, rotating platforms, and a nearby climbing wall and slides. Beyond that, there are more play structures and a basketball area with trampolines. In the back half of the building, there's a rice pit (basically like a sandbox, but with rice instead of sand), a very fun smaller ball pit with interactive screens - throw the balls at the video game projection and blow up the bad guys, a lego area, and a small arcade (additional purchase required).We saw dozens and dozens of kids having the best time of their life. There was a good amount of seating for adults throughout the building, so we always had a place to sit to keep an eye on the kids.There are lots of hand sanitizer stations throughout and we frequently saw workers with vacuums.We played for 3 hours and our kid could have stayed much longer. I would guess older kids might get bored more quickly, but for preschool or early elementary kids, Smiley seems like heaven.You do have to buy the Smiley grippy socks, but that's a standard penalty for play places these days.After you're done playing, hit up Bugambilias a few doors down for amazing Mexican food!"

Broad Ripple Park Family Center

★★★★★ 4.8 (4)

"If you are a longtime resident of Indy, then you likely remember the quaint but fairly welcoming kinda sorta family center that existed in Broad Ripple Park prior to this brand spanking new center that practically redefines what it means to be a family center for Broad Ripple Park. There was nothing particularly wrong with the previous center, though it was small, closed, and pretty much didn't take advantage of the beauty and wonder of this locale. All that changes now. Opened with an official Open House on January 21, 2023, the Broad Ripple Park Family Center is a $19.7 million project situated right along White River that took 18 months to build and instantly adds another layer of activity to Broad Ripple Park. It's located directly across from the Dog Park and along the entrance to the park. The family center offers an indoor walking track, gymnasium, group exercise rooms, multipurpose rooms, children's play area and a group meeting space. For the very first time, Indy Parks has also partnered with a health network. Rather than being overwhelming, this very much strikes me as the partnership between Franciscan and the Irsay YMCA in CityWay. They complement each other nicely and I see great potential for that to be the case here. Indy Parks is partnering with Community Health Network to operate a multi-disciplinary primary care site in the center. There will be pediatricians, family physicians, physical therapy and rehab, X-ray services and a lab. This is almost an exact copy of how the Franciscan site partners at CityWay. As a matter of note (and important), the Broad Ripple Park Alliance did express some reservations about having a more "commercial" effort within the park confines. I understand their concerns, though I do disagree with them. Drop-in Program FeesAdult Open Gym (18+): $3Adult Open Gym Monthly Membership: $15Youth Open Gym (13-17): $1Youth Open Gym (under 12): FreePreschool Partners: $2Kid's Corner (Indoor Playground): $2Indoor Track: FreeFitness Room (16+): $3* (reservations needed)Various Open Gym sessions will be available throughout the week. To be included but not limited to:BasketballPing PongBadmintonVolleyballDodgeballPickleballFutsalGaga BallAs an avid track user who often struggles to find a place during the winter, I love the indoor track, the gym, and the overall atmosphere that is vastly superior to the previous family center and takes great advantage of its presence next to White River. Accessibility considerations are high here (I've yet to check out every space in the family center). Overall, I'm quite pleased and had no difficulty getting everywhere I wanted to go! This is a welcome addition to Broad Ripple Park that should increase park usage and should also weave together family care with family activity. For now, this center ups the game for what an Indy Park can offer."

Dasher's Light Show

★★★★☆ 4 (2)

"Dasher's Light Show is a drive-thru Christmas light experience located in the parking lot of Castleton Square Mall on the Northeast side of Indy. It's located just to the east of AMC Castleton in a large section of the parking lot not being utilized due to the absence of one of the anchor stores. This is the first year for Dasher's Light Show in Indy. It also occurs in four other cities - Humble, Philadelphia, Orlando, and Newark. Prices start at $29.95 for a carload to $49.95 for a VIP deal that includes either a "no line" experience or a second time through on the same night. For $149.95, you can snag a season pass. The experiences includes nearly a million lights. It's preferred that you buy tickets in advance and that guarantees you admission at a certain time. The "show" takes around 20-30 minutes. It is possible, however, to show up and get tickets but you may have to wait. The lights are synced to music that you can pick up on a car radio station. The path itself is easy to follow as you sort of meander through the maze of lights. This is obviously meant to be a nighttime experience to get maximum benefits for the lights. Vehicle height limit is 12'. Essentially, normal cars, trucks, and vans can drive through. As a general rule, admission doesn't work for limos, trailers, buses, or other larger vehicles. It's a fairly tight space and I can definitely appreciate the limitations. It's very nicely choregraphed and fun, though there's little denying it's definitely more geared to families and kids. As I was driving through, I found it to be a very mid-range experience for someone like myself who is single. At times, I felt like I'd have been better driving through a nicely decorated neighborhood - though the addition of the music is a really cool touch. If you've been through the experience at the State Fairgrounds, this is fairly similar. So, if that worked for you then this would likely be an enjoyable experience. While $29.95 seems like a lot, it's really not bad when you consider it's for the whole family (again, for a single person it seemed a touch high). For those who are concerned about social distancing, this is a great way to experience lights. It's also possible to get some great photo ops. Overall, I can't say this completely clicked for me but I think it will be a much more enjoyable experience for families - especially those with children who will love all the lights. I would definitely go back with friends, though I doubt I'd feel the need to experience it again as a single adult."

Jump-n-Joey's

★★★★☆ 3.6 (19)

"Jump in Joeys is a place that my daughters and I went on Saturday in Bloomington Indiana. It was very crowded but it was pretty good it's average I must say they do have about four bouncy house things and it's real easy to lose your kid with so many kids run around all anxieties, through the roof because you can't see home and there's big kids jumping around everywhere a little kid is it and on my daughters group kind of bored we're just doing the bouncy's after about 30 minutes and all the games and things cost extra money so we were already pretty tapped out on money so it's an OK place once you pay your money to get in I wish some of the Games were included with the money just to get in the door. I didn't think all of them should cost extra but it's OK"

Skip + Alex Lange Innovation Center

★★★★★ 5 (1)

"I was under the impression that the Skip + Alex Lange Innovation Center was for Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts only, but no, it's open to the public! On Saturdays, day passes are available to the public, which are $20 and allow you in-and-out access all day.This center is located on the grounds of Camp Belzer, tucked near Ft. Harrison State Park in Lawrence. You'll find lots of fun, family-friendly activities for all ages, including a ropes course, rock climbing and bouldering walls, indoor archery, a makerspace, robotics and technology, and lots more.The ropes course (SkyTrail Air Adventure Course) has 10 different obstacles all connected and suspended 9 feet in the air. Kids must be at least 42 inches tall to go on the course with an adult, and 48 inches or taller to go on the course alone. The ropes course is only open on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.Lange has two rock climbing walls. The main rock climbing wall features seven lanes for climbing, each lane with four paths to the top that increase in difficulty. The north tower rock wall, with three lanes and three options to get to the top, offers a view out into the camp from the windows.They also have a bouldering wall and bouldering cave. The bouldering cave allows kids to climb around and practice different rock climbing holds freely, but each climber must wear a helmet. Assistants stand by, ready to catch or help each kid.There's also a makerspace room, where kids can learn about and try out different technology, including robots and drones. Here, you can fly drones or make robots move on command using a tablet, make robots move along a path using special markers, and lots more. The room also includes space to try out 3D printing and laser-cutting, tinker with toys, and get hands on while learning about technology and science.Some of the activities change out weekly, and that includes some of the sports. When we visited, they had an indoor badminton court set up, but the week before, that area was designated for indoor archery. There was also a basketball shooting area, cornhole and velcro darts.Drop-ins are welcome at Lange Innovation Center, but the center can also be rented for groups, such as Scouts, clubs and schools. So, calling ahead and reserving a time is highly recommended."

The Park at Traders Point Christian Church

★★★★★ 4.7 (28)

"Such an amazing service to the community. Stopped in for the first time a couple weeks ago and had a great experience. Play area was clean and staff was very friendly and welcoming. I appreciated the website that gives you a heads up of how full it is. Wish they opened a little earlier on Saturdays or had one evening they were opened later, but can't argue with free! Very thankful for this place."

A Sewing Studio

★★★★★ 5 (4)

"This is an amazing, magical place! I can not recommend it enough! Your kids will have such a wonderful time learning and creating.Valerie is an incredible teacher. Her ability to connect with her students is a gift!"

The Tie Dye Lab

★★★★★ 4.8 (26) • $$

"Tie dyeing isn't an activity that I'm going to let happen at my house anytime soon, especially with children like mine who are active and have a total disregard for preserving any sense of order and cleanliness. So I'm glad that a place like The Tie Dye Lab exists, because we get to explore a new-to-us artform that is fun as well as functional, and all the mess stays away from my house!We visited during one of The Tie Dye Lab's preschool story times, where kids under the age of 6 can tie dye an item, and also listen to a story, do a craft and eat a snack. This is a really fun introduction to tie dyeing, and the whole experience was relaxed and really fun. A staff member is there the whole time to guide you and help with each step. It's an hour of fun for young kids in a kid-friendly environment. They have a lot of different things that you can tie dye here -- everything from t-shirts to beach towels to bandannas to bags -- but we visited around Christmas time, so we tie dyed a Christmas stocking. It came out so good! It's definitely something we will treasure forever.If you have a young child, I highly recommend visiting during one of their preschool story times. But if you don't have a preschooler, just know that all ages are welcome here, and you don't need a reservation or anything -- they accept walk-ins. This is an awesome place that will help you create something unique and beautiful."

The Music Playhouse

★★★★★ 5 (2)

"Such a sweet spot! They offer music classes for young children that are super special, curated, and intimate. This new location (in the basement of the building) is essentially an open room that is large enough to feel comfy, but small enough that your kid can't run too far away. The cozy carpet almost makes it feel like you're hanging out in a friend's basement. The teachers absolutely love kids and remember every kids' name. It's super impressive. Every minute of the class has a special activity -- different songs, activities, etc. They have drums, scarves, fun lights for a dance party, a lullaby to end with, etc. The teacher we have is super positive and allows kids to truly express themselves and interpret the activities however they want. I've enjoyed meeting the parents here too and all have been super nice. We did a trial with a friend and immediately signed up."