Brrr! North Texas has been super cold lately! Thankfully it has warmed up this week, but winter in North Texas can be unpredictable. It can be tough staying cooped up at home, so grab the kids and head out to one of this fun filled locations. Get ready to have some fun in a blissfully climate-controlled setting. Important note: Some pay-to-play centers may not be open on weekends because they host parties, so be sure to check on hours in advance.
Pay-to-play spots
The Coop
This weekday playspace in Frisco features a ball pit, dress-up fun, a dancefloor, toys and books. $10 per child. Free for parents or other caregivers. thecoopfrisco.com.
Mother Emrielle Rumph plays with her baby Mialon Collins at the Fun Zone indoor playground.
/Ben Torres/Special Contributor
Fun Zone
Kids 5 and younger can romp through obstacles in this multilevel play structure. $3 per child per session. Purchase tickets in advance online at www.dallasrectrac.org (select Browse Tickets).
Going Bonkers
This Lewisville attraction features a huge indoor playground, an arcade and food. $3 ages 1-2, $6 ages 3-18, $1 for those 19 and older. goingbonkers.com.
Ninja Kids Club
Obstacles are the main attraction at this Frisco spot. Youngsters 4 to 12 can climb, jump and challenge their sense of balance during open play. $10 for one hour of open play. ninjawarriorkids.com.
A skyline-themed play structure is part of the fun at the Perot Museum of Nature & Science.
/Louis DeLuca/The Dallas Morning News
Perot Museum of Nature & Science
Admission to this fabulous downtown Dallas museum includes the Moody Family Children’s Museum, geared toward ages 5 and younger. There’s a mini playground version of the Dallas skyline, water tables and a play farmers market. General admission is $12 ages 2-17, $19 adults, $13 seniors. perotmuseum.org.
Play Street Museum
The Play Street Museum indoor play center has three locations where accompanying adults can play along or just relax. The latest to open, in McKinney, has a farm theme (a cow and a giant Lite Brite are among the highlights). In Plano, it features an Adirondack-inspired village and campsite with adorable mini versions of a fishing pier, a general store, a camper and more. The original Play Street in Frisco features a teeny town with attractions including a shop, a restaurant and a doctor’s office. $11 per child ages 1 to 8. playstreetmuseum.com.
Safari Run
Climb on a multi-level play structure, check out the arcade and do some sliding at this Plano play center, which is geared toward ages 1 to 10. $10 for an hour per child, $18 per child for two hours. safarirun.com/location/plano.
Children ages 7 through 17 are encouraged to explore and discover on their own in the lower level of Spark! in Dallas.
/Ellen Ritscher Sackett
Spark!
A big structure for climbing, sliding and crawling is part of the fun at this 11,000-square-foot attraction in the sub-basement of South Side on Lamar in Dallas. It’s open to the public on Saturdays. $10. sparkdallas.org.
Free fun
Collin Creek Mall
The play area on the Plano mall’s lower level has lots of soft-surface structures with an outdoor theme for climbing fun. collincreekmall.com.
Dallas Museum of Art
Free general DMA admission is already a good deal, but access to the Center for Creative Connections is an added perk. In addition to an interactive gallery and a spot for art projects, there are two spaces for youngsters. Arturo’s Nest is an oasis for kids 4 and younger with toys, puzzles, books and a big nest for the museum’s children’s mascot Arturo. The Young Learners Gallery for ages 5 to 8 includes activities, artworks and spots for reading. dma.org.
Galleria Dallas
Climb on structures in a rainforest-themed play area on level 3 of the Dallas mall. (The mall’s ice skating rink is another cool option for fun on a hot day.) galleriadallas.com.
Shops at Willow Bend
Soft play pieces with a Plano theme, including mascots from area high schools, are featured on this mall’s lower level. shopwillowbend.com.