Indoor Play Places
Did you know Hendricks County has three FREE indoor playgrounds?
- The Center at Northview Christian Church features a large climbing play structure with an adjacent spacious artificial turf and walking track.
- The Treehouse at Plainfield Christian Church offers a large tree-themed multi-level structure that kids love.
- The Hideout, formerly the Well Community Center, includes a big indoor play structure plus extra fun for older children like Pop-A-Shot and air hockey.
Other indoor playground options include Kids Empire, which opened this summer at The Shops at Perry Crossing, with a huge play zone designed for all ages. You can find more indoor options for the kids here.
Get Wild About Nature
There are two free nature centers in Hendricks County, giving residents and visitors an incredible resource to connect with nature. Pecar Park and McCloud Nature Park offer unique nature-themed programs and events, interactive exhibits and house a variety of animals — including turtles and other reptiles to facilitate learning about the natural world.
Pecar Park’s Nature Center just completed an inclusive play area funded by a grant from the Parks Foundation of Hendricks County and introduced a brand-new Glow Lab last year.
Family Fun
The new Pinheads & Alley's Alehouse in Brownsburg, was one of my kids' favorite places to go over the summer with Kids Bowl Free, so I'm sure it will be our go-to this winter as well. With multiple bowling lanes, duckpin bowling and the brand-new arcade, this is a place for the whole family to play.
I also highly recommend exploring virtual reality at Press Play Gaming Lounge in Brownsburg and axe-throwing at LumberjAXE in Plainfield, where kids always throw for $10 or take advantage of their half-off Wednesday deal. Looking for something more artistic? Check out Sweet Mini’s cupcake decorating classes, including a holiday-themed event Dec. 20.
Creative Fun
There are so many great opportunities to make art and memories. In Danville, check out Indiana Farmhouse or Gallery on the Square for unique classes and events. In Plainfield, uPaint Pottery is a walk-in art studio that also hosts themed events.
But if you are looking for a more unique experience for creative output, reserve a glass-blowing class at Hot Blown Glass in Clayton, or at the membership-based Little Sewers Club in Brownsburg, which teaches children sewing and design, led by fashion designer Danisha Brown.
Indoor Slides
It’s hard not to dream of summer when it is so cold out. So, if you are like me and miss not getting to lounge by a pool, don’t forget that the Richard A. Carlucci Recreation and Aquatic Center in Plainfield also features an indoor smaller waterpark with a large water slide, a leisure pool and a zero-depth entry kids area with a water play structure.
Another slide experience for those who want to stay dry can be found at Slick City Action Park, which opened earlier this year in Brownsburg. Slick City is an indoor slide park that offers a wide range of slides and an indoor play structure for kids.
Jump Around
Have you checked out the Flow Space Movement Center in Avon? Kids ages 4 and older will love running around and jumping off things and in this parkour-inspired space. With open-gym times and winter-break camps, this is a unique alternative and a hidden gem in Avon.
Other options for indoor jump and agility spaces include Sky Zone and Urban Air Adventure Park, both in Plainfield, which offer wall-to-wall trampolines, foam pits, obstacle courses and more.
See Holiday Light Displays
Make it a family tradition of bundling up in a car and driving around to admire the twinkling holiday light displays throughout Hendricks County.
Listen to some Christmas music on Hendricks County's very own radio station 98.9 WYRZ, and get some hot chocolate and drive through light displays, including Danville’s Winterland Light Show and free displays at Arbuckle Acres and Hummel parks, the Brownsburg Town Hall and Danville’s historic Courthouse Square.
Explore the Outdoors
If there happens to be snow this winter break, take the opportunity to get bundled up, grab a sled and check out some great sledding hills, including the ones at W.S. Gibbs Memorial Park and Washington Township Park.
Or enjoy walks in a winter wonderland at some of the great parks around the county. There is something about walking on snow-covered trails and the way the trees look when blanketed with snow that adds so much beauty to our landscapes.