It's no secret that this part of Massachusetts can have four seasons in one day. You could simply dig out the rain gear and go play outside... or make lemonade and seek out some serious fun at the North Shore and Merrimack Valley's greatest destinations! Beat the New England weather by checking out these indoor, kid-friendly destinations. Check back as we continue to add more great spots to this list!
Beanstalk Adventure Ropes Course – Reading
Beanstalk is open for both walk-ins and online reservations. Expect zig-zag beams, cargo nets, angled rope ladders, crisscross walks, and zip lines. For young adventurers less than 48 inches tall there is BeanSprout, a kids-only ropes course with platforms less than 3 feet from the ground.
Children's Piazza – Peabody
Walk in or reserve open playtime at Children's Piazza, a beautiful "play cafe" featuring lots of climbing areas, chalkboards to scribble on, toys, and much more. It's also booking birthday parties. There's even a coffee shop that serves homemade cookies, fruit smoothies, and coffee for an afternoon family snack or pick-me-up.
Vinkari Safari – Woburn
Designed for kids ages 6 months old to 7 years old, Vinkari Safari is a favorite among local families for its big space filled with interesting toys, climbing structures, and ride-on to keep children entertained for hours on end. Reservations are not necessary for open play.
Cedarland aMAZEment Action Play Center – Haverhill
There are tons of fun to be had here, including a triple wave slide, sports court, multi-level tube slide, a giant sand room, treehouse, and arcade. All that playing is sure to work up an appetite, so you can enjoy a bite to eat at the convenient on-site snack bar; options include kid-friendly favorites such as pizza, chicken nuggets, hot dogs, and juice. Parents are admitted free.
Waterpark of New England- Danvers
Open year round and conveniently located in Danvers, Massachusetts, Water Park of New England provides everything you need for an adventure filled day. There are plenty of slides and attractions to keep the good times rolling all day. For tons of fun, there’s the Dip-In Theater and Parrot’s Perch Play Area. These include jungle gyms, water cannons, kiddie slides, and water-dumping buckets.
Itsy Bitsy Zone- Salisbury
Itsy Bitzy Zone is an indoor playground designed for infants, toddlers, and preschoolers with their caregivers that offers music classes, birthday parties, and special events. (socks required)
Launch Trampoline Park- Methuen
As the leading full-service family entertainment franchise, Launch Entertainment is flipping the switch on indoor recreation with a diversified attraction mix, immersive dining experience, and expansive customer demographic designed to drive repeat customers and maximize the guest experience.
Chuck E. Cheese- Methuen
All of our Chuck E. Cheese’s fun centers are being transformed with bright, modern renovations featuring vivid colors and contemporary artwork, creating an inviting and exciting environment for today’s families. All of our locations regularly receive new and refreshed games, making the gameplay experience different almost every time you visit.* Our world-class technical team strive for 99% uptime on all games.
Gametime Lanes- Amesbury & North Shore Mall
Enjoy comfortable seating and modern décor while using the best state of the art scoring system on the market. Enjoy a cocktail on the lanes or watch the game on a 70” TV by the fireplace in our quaint sports lounge. Play video and redemption games in our expansive game room featuring one of the hottest VR games (Virtual Rabbids).
Aloha Mini Golf- Peabody
We have 18 Holes. Invite your friend for a friendly bet. We have scorecards and pencils. Maybe you and your friend can bet on food. The winner gets a free meal paid by the person who loses the game. Competitiveness is always a good thing when done positively. We hope you come and have an awesome time!
Savy Little Playhouse- South Hamilton
As a local family owned business, we wanted to create a space for kids to enjoy all year long. Our playhouse is meticulously maintained, providing a safe hygenic space for children to explore, learn and play at their own pace. Our modern design allows parents to relax in a comfortable environment while the children explore the playhouse village, featuring a general store, repair shop, our signature ball pit and more!
Kid Z Wishing Well- Andover
Discover a world of imagination and wonder at our boutique-style indoor playground, where eco-friendly play meets Montessori-inspired toys. Our carefully designed space is a haven for children to explore, learn, and create unforgettable memories.
Merrimack Valley Family Fun Center- Tewksbury
With many new and improved features in place, you and your family are sure to enjoy every visit. Outside, come visit “Kong”, our life-sized gorilla perched high above the mini golf course, which is complete with waterfalls, geysers, and tropical trees. Have the kids test their climbing and balance skills on “The Vines”, our ropes challenge course. Inside, challenge your friends to a game of laser tag in our 6,000 sq. ft multi-level arena or play for a great prize in our remodeled arcade. Catch a game on the big screen in our sports cafe, and grab a bite and a cold beer or glass of wine while the kids play in the arena or arcade. Finish it off with a delicious Richardson’s Ice Cream.
Metro Rock Newburyport- Newburyport
are passionate about making our gym an accessible, inclusive space for all, and offer financial assistance membership.
If you know of any other indoor play spaces on the North Shore or in the Merrimack Valley email us at cheryllachendro@macaronikid.com.
