After a summer spent outdoors, kids often have a hard time transitioning to a new season that entails being cooped up inside. But Evanston families fear not – there are a variety of indoor play spaces in the area that let kids stay active.
Read more: Best Things to Do with Kids in Evanston
Kids Empire
- Address: 1924 Dempster Street, Evanston
- Cost: $19.90/child, includes 2 free adult entries. Kids Empire socks are mandatory for everyone for $3/pair.
- Best for ages: All ages
Kids Empire is a floor-to-ceiling play haven, complete with climbing walls, giant play structures, ball pits, slides, mazes, obstacle courses, a block area, dance room, and more. Tots will enjoy a separate play space with smaller ball pits, trampolines and bounce rides.
Skyzone Evanston
- Address: 1711 Maple Avenue, Evanston
- Cost: $27.99/90 minutes; $41.99/all day pass. Sky socks are required for $4/pair.
- Best for ages: 2 and up
Here, kiddos can run, jump and play on a unique mix of attractions, including a Warrior Course that sparks friendly competition; springy air courts that give guests an extra boost while shooting baskets or scoring soccer goals and a double mega launch slide that offers an exhilarating ride.
The Exploratorium
- Address: 4701 Oakton Street, Skokie
- Cost: $6 Skokie residents; $7 non-residents (insider tip: purchase a 10 visit pass and save 10%)
- Best for ages: 0-6
Run by the Skokie Park District, this indoor play place will help any kiddo beat cabin fever. Interactive spaces include a giant Lite Brite wall, a costume/dress up area and stage for make believe play, a water station (raincoats provided), train table, tubes, tunnels, and more.
Altitude Trampoline Park
- Address: 7037 Central Ave., Skokie
- Cost: $18.95/60-minute jump, $23.95/90-minute jump; $26.95/120-minute jump. Safety socks are required for $4/pair.
- Best for ages: 2 and up (insider tip: Altitude also offers toddler only times for low key fun. Check their website for dates and times)
Altitude is truly a play haven for children. Kiddos will love jumping into a foam pit, climbing a rock wall, playing dodgeball, dunking basketballs, battling it out on a battle beam and just plain jumping at Altitude. Gymnastics can sharpen their skills by practicing on tumble tracks.
Emily Oaks Nature Center
- Address: 4650 Brummel St., Skokie
- Cost: Free
- Best for ages: up to 5
If you wander inside the Emily Oaks Nature Center, you’ll find The Wander Inn – an arer tucked away and not talked about enough. This interactive play space includes a tree in the middle of the room and a platform with telescopes to look outside. Kids can open and close doors to learn about animal habitats, and push buttons to see what animals eat and hear nature sounds.
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