Here you’ll find a growing list of Raleigh indoor Play Areas in Raleigh, North Carolina & surrounding towns including: Fuquay-Varina, Garner, Clayton, Cary, Wake Forest, and Apex.
This list of indoor play areas is for families visiting the Raleigh area and those local Raleigh area parents who are seeking a break from all the amazing outdoor parks and playgrounds.
15 Indoor Play Areas in The Raleigh Area
Piney Town Playhouse
I wrote a review of Piney Town Playhouse. If you’re headed to Fuquay-Varina you’ll find this indoor play center in an unassuming plaza. What this center lacks in size, it makes up for in imagination-centered play. There are several themed play options and a perfect sized play set for climbing and sliding.
PLUS: If you are visiting with babies, there is a gated area where the crawlers and toddlers can hang out and safely play.
Little Doodles Play Cafe
Little Doddles Play Cafe has a few location options to choose from: Raleigh, Wakefield (Raleigh), and Wendell. Little Doddles has an area for children to play and an area for adults to play pretend on a laptop or sip a beverage. The play area isn’t large but it’s sufficient for the little ones.
Bumble Brews Play Cafe
Bumble Brews Play Cafe has locations in Raleigh and Cary. According to the website the play center is most appropriate for ages 0-6 and others, however other ages may be welcome too. Open play is available weekdays and weekends.
Planning a Party? Party spaces are available for reservation.
The Cub House Play Cafe
If you are searching for unlimited play at a local indoor playground for children 6 and under, check out The Cub House Play Cafe. There are spaces for children to play and explore and an infant area.
Note: The Cub House Play Cafe has hours after 5 PM on Friday and weekend hours!
Angel Island Fun Park
Angel Island Fun Park has locations in Cary and Durham. The Durham location is “suitable for ages 1-12”; the Cary location is for children under eight (8) years old. My children enjoy the huge ball pit at the Cary location and find that when we visit on week days before noon, is isn’t too busy/crowded.
Notasium
Notasium is a play space for children where music education is the center of the enjoyment. Children can enjoy bounce houses, guitar slide, large floor piano, and more! If you are looking for a flexibility, Notasium may be your place as “reservations are not required” and “walk-ins are always welcome for Open Play!”.
Note: While many play centers prefer grippy socks, this play space prefers children wear ‘non-grippy socks’.
Marbles Museum
How did a museum get on the Raleigh indoor play spaces list? Well, Marbles doesn’t feel like your grandma’s traditional museum. It’s a two-story hub of indoor and outdoor play spaces that children can indulge in for hours. Indoors there are art spaces, imaginative play areas, water play, block building, crafting, board games, toddler-only play spaces, sports courts (soccer) and more. It’s called a museum but your child will not know think so. If you live in the Raleigh-area, a membership may be worth the investment for your family. The members-only hour for less crowed play is great!
Note: Purchasing tickets in advance is highly recommended.
The Tumble Gym
You can tumble at one of three Tumble Gym locations in Raleigh (Lake Strickland and Wake Forest. They also offer gymnastics classes.
Over The Moon Play Space
If you are looking for a space themed indoor playground, look no further! One The Moon is an indoor stem oasis for children.
Happy Feet Planet
Happy Feet Planet is probably one of my favorite indoor playgrounds. It’s clean, bright lit, and it’s well-designed for children and adults. Children can enjoy the different play areas and it’s not so big that parents aren’t able to see what’s happening. The slide and the ball pit are the stars of the show but there are multiple activities for toddlers and older children.
The Wonder Lab
The Wonder Lab is an indoor-play space in Durham that offers play-based learning with options for climbing, exploring, and sensory/tactile play.
Note: Weekly STEM classes are offered for children.
Rainbow Play of NC Party Room
It’s a store that sells children’s play sets but it’s also an indoor playground – brilliant! Visit this indoor play area on sunny days or rainy days and if you enjoy the play room, you know where to find your very own backyard playset.
Greystone Recreation Center
The Scoop at Willow Oak Farms
It’s a farm. It’s an ice cream shop. It’s an indoor and outdoor play area. We The Scoop on a few occasions and the indoor play area is most appropriate for young children and is a setting for imaginative play; the play set for swinging and climbing is for the outside play area. This establishment feels like visiting a friends house that has a lovely farm and enjoys making great homemade ice cream.
Alara + Zane {NOW CLOSED}
If the parking in North Hills doesn’t scare you, you may enjoy a visit to the indoor play spaces of Alara + Zane. It’s storefront is an adorable retail space but just beyond the clothing there is a play-area. It’s not large but it works well for meeting other families and planning sweet play dates.
Hopefully this growing list of Raleigh indoor play centers can help you keep the children in your world active no matter what the weather is like outside.
Are There More Raleigh Indoor Play Centers?
If you know of a Raleigh indoor play space that isn’t listed, leave a comment below.
