When going to the splash pad and pool doesn’t help you cool off from the hot weather, or a sudden rain shower ruins your outdoor plans, it’s time to have fun indoors. Luckily, there are many indoor activities around Indianapolis to keep your family entertained. Take a break from the heat and unpredictable weather, and enjoy these cool indoor options!
Bowling
Bowling is a great rainy-day activity! Try out duckpin bowling — the same game, but with smaller pins and balls — at Pins Mechanical Co. at the Bottleworks District, or at Atomic Bowl Duckpin in Fountain Square. For an elevated bowling experience with food and other games, visit Punch Bowl Social in downtown Indy and Bowl 32 in Noblesville. Need to bowl at all hours of the day? Beech Grove Bowl is open 24 hours on the weekends! And don’t forget about the Kids Bowl Free program that’s available during the summer. Sign up your kids at kidsbowlfree.com, and they can bowl all summer long at participating locations, which include Pinheads in Brownsburg and Fishers, and at Expo Bowl, Western Bowl and Woodland Bowl in Indianapolis.
Museums
There are lots of museums to explore around Indy! Enjoy hands-on exhibits for all ages at The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis, learn about the state’s history at the Indiana State Museum and the Indiana Historical Society, experience art at Newfields and Eiteljorg Museum, and be surrounded by Indiana’s racing and basketball history at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum and the NCAA Hall of Champions.
Trampoline and Slide Parks
Burn off some energy at one of these indoor activity parks! The new Slick City slide park in Brownsburg is like an indoor water park without the water. Zip, loop and zoom down multiple slides in a huge indoor arena. For kids who love jumping and parkouring, Sky Zone — with two locations in Indy and one in Plainfield — is a great place to play, as is Adrenaline Action Park in Fishers and Urban Air in Noblesville.
Indoor Playgrounds
There’s something for all ages at Smiley Indoor Playground in Castleton, which offers everything from a huge ball pit for little kids to laser tag for the older kids. Toddlers will especially love Busy Bee Play Cafe, with a great indoor play space built just for them, and Dig Dig for Kids in Fishers, with a giant sandbox and lots of sand toys to play with. Or try out one of the free playgrounds around town, like The Park at Traders Point in Whitestown, The Play Area at Cornerstone Lutheran Church Fishers, and The Center at The Well Community Center in Brownsburg.
Nature Centers
No matter the weather, nature centers provide a place to experience a little bit of the outdoors while indoors! Most central Indiana nature centers also offer special activities and events that are perfect for families, such as story time. Check out Cool Creek Park and Nature Center in Carmel, Holliday Park Nature Center and the Zionsville Nature Center for family programming this summer. For bird lovers, The Ornithology and Earth Discovery Center at Eagle Creek is a great place to learn about the feathered friends who call Indiana home, as well view some of them up close!
