During the winter, it's nice to stay inside at home and far away from the cold. But some days, you and your kids might be looking for ways to spend the day indoors, outside your home. There are plenty of indoor play and education centers to entertain your children and keep them busy around the city. Our team at Apple Subaru has created a helpful list of where you can go in the town when you take your kids to Lancaster, Pennsylvania, for a day of indoor fun.
Go 'N Bananas
Take your children to Go 'N Bananas, a family fun center with something to do for kids, teens, and adults. There's plenty to keep you busy throughout the day here, including an XD Dark Ride. This attraction immerses you in a 7D experience where you feel your seat shake, feel the wind on your face, and hear all types of sounds that go along with the Dark Ride's laser battle game as you try to defeat the enemy. The ride isn't scary, so it's suitable for all ages, but the room is dark and can be loud to some children.
Some fun things you can do here include:
- Laser tag.
- Toddler zone.
- Rope course.
- Game zone.
- Mini bowling.
Use the family fun center's website to purchase tickets or plan an event, like your child's birthday party. Ticket prices for the day can vary depending on the type of pass you want. You also have the option of only paying to use an attraction or two. For planning an event, you can fill out a form online about your party's details and then speak with the center's Group Sales team to help figure out the logistics.
- Hours:
- Monday through Friday: noon to 8 p.m.
- Saturday: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
- Sunday: noon to 7 p.m.
- Location: 1170 Garfield Ave., Lancaster.
Lancaster Science Factory
Visit Lancaster Science Factory, an interactive science center for preschool to eighth-grade children. Here, there are 75 hands-on exhibits. Encourage your kid's interest in science with the facility's STEM education programs and various workshops. Please bring your child to explore the factory as a family, or you can sign them up for winter day camps. At the camps, your kids can spend half the day learning and having fun with STEM activities, like Toy Destruction and Winter STEM Olympics.
While you're here, experience some of these fun exhibit topics:
- Fluid Dynamics.
- Light and Vision.
- Mechanics and Motion.
- Acoustics and Sound.
- Math and Logic.
You can purchase your tickets in person at the Lancaster Science Factory. If you're a member, you can get in for free. Otherwise, admission is a small fee for those three years and older and free for children two years and younger. You also can host your kid's birthday party or sign them up for an overnight adventure. Overnight adventures are ideal for large groups like Girl Scouts or Boy Scouts. Children can explore the Science Factory at night, have a pizza party for dinner, and have breakfast in the morning.
- Hours:
- Monday: Closed.
- Tuesday through Saturday: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Sunday: noon to 5 p.m.
- Location: 454 New Holland Ave., Lancaster.
Tiny Town
Tiny Town is an excellent spot for kids to explore because it's a unique indoor play place with 11 magnificent playhouses and all the houses' accessories. The goal of Tiny Town is to help encourage a child's imagination and curiosity through playing with various objects. For caregivers and parents, there's a spot where you can purchase coffee and sit down with a clear view of your kids playing. Here, you can host your kid's birthday party and check the facility's online event calendar for special activities to take your children to throughout the year.
Your kids will love getting to play in some of these playhouse themes:
- Garden Tea Party.
- Uncle Brent's Garage.
- The Castle.
- Foster's Fire Station.
- Grandma's House.
The play center requires you to make reservations and purchase your tickets online using its website. To save wait time and maximize playtime, sign the waiver online. Additionally, the play center offers child care every first Friday of the month.
- Hours:
- Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday:
- 9 a.m. to noon.
- 1 to 4 p.m.
- Tuesday:
- 9 a.m. to noon.
- 1 to 4 p.m.
- 5 to 7 p.m.
- Thursday:
- 9 a.m. to noon.
- 1 to 7 p.m.
- Sunday:
- Closed.
- Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday:
- Location: 533 Janet Ave., Lancaster.
Busy Bodies Play Cafe
Let your kids explore Busy Bodies Play Cafe, a child-centered to encourage creativity and curiosity with age-appropriate developmental toys. This play center is best for children younger than 6. Here, kids experience new ideas and concepts through play-based learning. They can learn essential skills like literacy and numeracy while playing here. Additionally, they can learn how to socialize with other children through parallel play. Both children and adults must wear socks throughout the allotted playtime. If you forget to bring socks, purchase pairs at the front desk.
There are many fun programs for your kids to do here, which are:
- Open-play sessions.
- Drop-in play sessions.
- Enrichment classes.
Be sure to use the Busy Bodies Play Cafe's website to sign a waiver for your children before they can play.
- Hours:
- Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday: 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Wednesday: 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.
- Saturday and Sunday: Closed for private parties.
- Location: 35 S. Willowdale Drive, Store 1815, Lancaster.
So there you have it, our team's top choices for where you can take your children in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, for a day of indoor fun. What do you think of our list? Did we miss one of your kid's favorite places to play inside the city? Contact us and tell us about it.
Visit our dealership in York, Pennsylvania, before heading out for the day with your children. You can speak with our team of sales experts about your dream vehicle. Or browse our inventory of new cars and used vehicles. No matter what you're looking for, we want to help get you the best deal so you feel satisfied when leaving our showroom.
Image by Kelli McClintock is licensed with Unsplash License
