Best Places for Indoor Fun in Wichita, KS

Best Indoor Places Wichita

And a huge thank you to Blast Off Bay for partnering with us to bring this guide to our community and share our favorite things to do indoors.

Looking for things to do indoors in Wichita? While Wichita has a fantastic zoo, parks that can’t be beat, botanical gardens, and various other outdoor attractions, it also has weather that can change on a dime. For those days when the weather tries to put a kink in your plans to get out of the house, we have your list of go to places for some indoor activities in Wichita!

Now let’s check out more of our favorite things to do indoors in Wichita!Indoor Play GuideBlast Off Bay: Wichita Area’s Indoor Water Park

Blast Off Bay is the ultimate staycation destination for Kansas! Stay in the attached hotel and play all day in the water park on the Supernova Surf Machine, blast down the Big Dipper and all 11 slides, or relax in the hot tub, lazy river, or swim-up bar! With dedicated areas for toddlers, older kids, teens, and adults, there’s intergalactic fun for the whole family! Restaurant service includes gourmet pizza, hamburgers, chicken sandwiches, slushes, snacks, and beers and mixed drinks for parents! Stays at the hotel include access to the attached Genesis Health Clubs with top-of-the-line fitness equipment, steam rooms, fitness classes, and luxury amenities! Located in Goddard, just a short drive from the Wichita Airport, Tanganyika Wildlife Park, and downtown Wichita, Blast Off Bay is THE Staycation location for families in Kansas!


Exploration Place

Exploration Place offers excitement for the entire family.  Honestly, there is so much to see and do at Exploration Place that we often pack a lunch and make it an all-day outing! With ongoing exhibits, traveling displays, the dome theater and more, you can’t beat EP for indoor fun with the kids.

Indoor Activities and Things to Do Wichita
Exploration Place

Strike Out with Bowling

Bowling is an easy and entertaining way to occupy a few hours indoors when the the outdoors are not so inviting.  Wichita offers several options when bowling is your activity of choice.  

Check out our guide here for the 7 Best Places to Go Bowling with Kids in Wichita!


Take in a Show or A Game

Wichita offers some awesome athletic teams, movie theaters, and event venues. From current movies at one of the Warren Theaters or a classic at The Orpheum you are sure to find something to keep even the youngest movie enthusiast entertained.

If your family is in need of some live action entertainment grab some tickets and root for your favorite hometown team or take in a show. Intrust Bank Arena is home to the Wichita Thunder of the ECHL and the Wichita Force an indoor football team, plus they host various other shows such as Sesame Street Live to Monster Jam.  For those budding thespians Wichita Children’s Theater and Dance Center offers participatory shows for children 2 to 8 as well as traditional shows for all ages.


Jump Around 

When you are trying to get the wiggles out of cooped up little people why not take to the air. The trampoline parks in Wichita  – AviateUrban Air Trampoline Park, each of which cater to both toddlers and big kids, are open daily. 

Jumpy Jump Land with it’s three locations is sure to squash any lingering feelings of cabin fever.  Open jump hours vary each week by location, but for only $5 per child, mom, you jump for free.

Urban AirTrampline Floor

Get Your Read On

Wichita has eight public library locations that offer not only fantastic story times, but also various other kid friendly programs such as make and take crafts, parties, and family movie nights.  

Wichita Public Libraries are not the only story time game in town.  Be sure to check out our complete list of local story times.  This is certainly one of our favorite things to do indoors!

And don’t miss our favorite books stores in Wichita!

Indoor Wichita
The Chihuly Bridge at Wichita Art Museum

Museums in Wichita

The newly rennovated PLAY space at the Wichita Art Museum includes a Book Book, Toddler Space, and Art Lab that big kids will love.

Wichita Art Museum is now FREE every day! Their newly updated PLAY space for families is perfect for kids of all ages.

The Wichita-Sedgwick County Historical Museum has just what you are looking for.  The Child’s World exhibit will open today’s tech savvy young people to the toys of generations past.  

For the little adventures spend a few hours walking among some mummies and hanging out with a T-Rex at the Museum of World Treasures.  The museum is open daily and offers family nights the first Tuesday of the month. 

Botanica’s gardens are great when the weather cooperates, but when it doesn’t you can still enjoy their indoor treehouse & children’s library (with storytimes)!

Click here for an entire list of the Top 20 Museums to Visit in Wichita!


Get Your (Arcade) Game On

Introduce your kids to the glory of 80s arcade games and pinball machines! The Arcade in Old Town lets kids 8 and under play all day for $8 – ages 9-adult play for $10. For more modern games, head to Dave & Buster’s.

Located in Towne East, SCHEELS department store has tons of fun to offer the whole family! Check out the giant aquarium, arcade, candy store, and indoor play place!

Our comprehensive list of arcades in Wichita can be found here.


Get Artsy

Head to one of these local spots to paint pottery & ceramics – some will even let you make your own! The Wichita Art Museum now has an open Art Lab for make & take crafts, and it’s totally free.


Go Skating

Another favorite thing to do indoors (especially with bigger kids)? Go roller skating at Carousel or brave the ice at Wichita Ice Center!

Ice skating at Wichita Ice Center

Let’s Get Physical


PBS Kansas Cochener-Garvey Children’s Education & Discovery Center

If you and your family are in need of burning off some physical energy Wichita has several options. For the littler crowd and for Mommy and Me classes, MyGym offers open gym hours weekly and the Practice and Play class is suitable for children of all ages. 

Carousel Skate feels like a throw back to days of our youth parents, but their frequent special events keep roller skating relevant for our little people – and their new indoor playground is amazing!

The Greater Wichita YMCAs offers exciting ways to exhaust children of all ages. Don’t have a membership to the Y don’t worry they offer an $18 family day pass. 

Nerf Warz is Wichita’s largest foam dart arena – perfect for parties or a family night out. 

The PBS Kansas Children’s Education & Discovery Center helps children develop skills in science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics, so they can discover their own possibilities. It’s targeted for children 2-10 years old – but we guarantee the whole family will enjoy this FREE center that is open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays.

Urban Air Ropes Course

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Samantha Jacob
Samantha is a Kansas girl through and through. Born and raised in a rural community near Topeka, KS, she moved to Wichita in 2002 to attend WSU. Obtaining her graduate degree from the Wichita State School of Social Work, she loves her job as a pediatric medical social worker. Samantha calls East Wichita home with her husband, two beautiful children, and dog. Having lived in Wichita for over a decade she has enjoyed rediscovering Wichita through the eyes of her children. When time allows Samantha enjoys spending time with friends, trying new restaurants, and re-watching episodes of the West Wing.

5 COMMENTS

  1. I like to take my artsy 9 and 11yos to Evan’s Ceramics. They have an area to paint your ceramics with all the paints and supplies provided for a reasonable cost. And they do the clean up! Then you can leave them for firing and pick up later.

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