The kids are off school for two weeks (or more) for Winter Break!
If you are staying local for winter break, Indianapolis has plenty of activities to keep the whole family busy. Make plans to visit some new places or try out some new activities during your winter break.
15 Kid-Friendly activities to try during winter break:
1. Kick off your shoes, and lace up the ice skates
2. Stay up late to see Christmas Lights
3. Tube down Koteewi Run
Winter is officially here! And that means one thing: snow! Koteewi Run, Central Indiana’s only groomed snow tubing hill, opens Monday, December 26. Looking for more sledding options? Check out 12 of the best places to go sledding in Indianapolis.
4. Make a splash at an indoor pool
Swimming is the perfect activity for any season, especially as a treat in the wintertime. Luckily, the Indy area has many indoor pools and aquatic centers with amenities like zero-depth entry and waterslides.
5. Burn some energy at an indoor playground
Looking for a fun, interactive way to get your kids moving this winter? We’ve rounded up the top 14 indoor playgrounds in Indianapolis.
6. Bundle up for dinner outside in an igloo
What do you do when you want to dine outdoors, but it’s just too darn cold outside? Eat in an outdoor igloo!
7. When in doubt, go to the library
Indianapolis has some fabulous libraries, perfect for finding new books and creating new adventures. Here are a few of our favorite libraries that offer great kids’ zones:
- Central Library – 40 East Saint Clair Street, Indianapolis
- Hancock County Library – 900 W McKenzie Rd, Greenfield
- Michigan Road Branch Library – 6201 Michigan Road, Indianapolis
- Carmel Clay Public Library – 425 E. Main Street in Carmel
8. Get close to nature – indoors
9. Duck, duck … Bowling
Indianapolis is home to many bowling alleys. But Action & Atomic Duckpin Bowling, located in the Indianapolis neighborhood of Fountain Square, is probably the most unusual — and perhaps the oldest — bowling alley you’ll find in the Midwest. Family-friendly and fun for all ages, duckpin bowling uses smaller, lighter balls, so it’s perfect for the smallest bowlers in your bunch.
10. Explore a new museum this winter break
Indianapolis is home to some of the best museums in the country. Have fun exploring, discovering, and being inspired by these great Indianapolis museums!
11. Be a little unique
Want to do something a little different over winter break? We have some ideas for our favorite unique activities around Indianapolis:
- SoChatti Kids Chocolate Class
At Indianapolis’ own SoChatti, you can take your family’s love of chocolate up to the next level with kids’ chocolate classes geared toward little chocolate enthusiasts. - North Mass Boulder
Looking for a place to climb as a family? North Mass Boulder is a new boulder climbing facility in Indianapolis, and it’s also one of the most unique. This bouldering gym offers opportunities to climb, but it’s also a space to eat, meet up with friends, work out and hang out, all in one family-friend space. - Selfie WRLD Selfie Museum
At Selfie WRLD, you’ll find more than 30 photo installations complete with props, great lighting and changing rooms (for outfit changes, if you wish!). It’s a high-end photography studio and museum that is open to the public, where you can immerse yourself in fun, eye-catching, interactive art installations. - Ignite Art Studio and Makerspace in Fishers
Ignite Art Studio and Makerspace in Fishers is like a giant art classroom. It has many tools and materials you might need to create multiple projects, housed in a light and airy space with media specialists to help. It’s a place to create and explore almost anything that you can put your mind to! And it’s Free!
12. Head inside for a round of glow-in-the-dark mini golf
Miniature golf is a classic family activity, but who wants to play when it’s freezing outside? That’s where indoor mini golf comes to the rescue: You get all of the putt-putt fun indoors in a climate-controlled setting!
13. Toboggan Run!
Worth the Trip: Pokagon State Park’s Toboggan Run near Angola, Indiana, has about 90,000 riders every season. With the 30-foot tower and dips and valleys, the total vertical drop is 90 feet over the course of a quarter-mile. The top recorded speed is 42 mph. It’s a 20-30 second thrill ride.
14. Give back to our community by volunteering as a family
While volunteering may not always come to mind first as a family activity, we think it’s one of the better options. What better way to spend quality time as a family than by showing your children how simple acts of kindness can go a long way?
15. Hang at home
When your kids are stuck at home, the hours may seem to drag on forever. To help, we’ve come up with 70 awesome activities for kids to do at home. Most of the ideas on this list are activities you can easily set up with supplies you already have at home.
If you are still stuck on what to do this winter break, head over to the Indy’s Child calendar for all of the family-friendly events going on around Indy!
