Fun Indoor Activities for Kids in the Tri-State When the Temperature Drops
Whether you like it or not, it's that time of the year when the temperature drops in the Tri-State and the days of sending the kids outside to burn up all that youthful energy are put on the back burner until Spring. Sure, you could keep them occupied by plopping them in front of a TV or putting a tablet in their hand and letting them binge Disney+, or one of the other countless streaming services, but after a while they're going to get antsy and need somewhere to go where they be entertained in some other way. Fortunately, there are several great places and activities to keep them occupied, and to keep you from losing your mind.
Trampoline Parks
From a standard floor of trampolines, to dodge ball, a foam block pit, basketball goals where you can live out your NBA Slam Dunk Contest dreams, and in some cases an obstacle course, trampoline parks in the Tri-State are a great way to let the kids (and you) release some energy.
Miniature Golf
You don't have to be Tiger Woods to enjoy a game of miniature golf. While most of the courses in the area are outdoors, we do have a couple in Evansville that offer a course in the comfort of a climate-controlled setting.
Go See a Movie
Sometimes you don't feel like doing anything that requires much movement, you just want to sit back and get lost in a story. With a movie theater on nearly every side of town and beyond, a family trip to the movies just to get out of the house is likely just a few minutes away.
Check the Showplace Cinemas, AMC 16, and Malco Theater websites for times and tickets.
Children's Museum of Evansville
If the kids have a ton of pent up energy from being in the house all day during the Fall and Winter months, take them on a trip to the Children's Museum of Evansville (cMoe) and let them climb, play, and exercise their minds on the variety of hands-on exhibits. They'll have so much fun, they won't realize they're learning! (I won't tell, if you won't.)
Check their website for hours of operation, rates, and upcoming special events.
Bowling
The best thing about bowling is you don't have to be in peak physical condition to do it, and with bumper bowling, the kids don't have to worry about those darn gutter balls on every roll.
Check out each alley's website for hours of operation and rates:
- AMF Arc Lanes
- Franklin Lanes
- Diamond Lanes
- River City Recreation
- Showplace Family Entertainment Center - Newburgh
- Posey Lanes - Mt. Vernon
- Echo Lanes - Henderson (no website or Facebook available)
- Diamond Lanes South & Midtown - Owensboro
- Bowlodrome - Owensboro
The Library
Your local library is so much more than books these days. Many offer music and movies for check out as well as regular activities for kids.
Check out the sites below for hours of operation and upcoming activities.
Evansville Museum
The Evansville Museum isn't just old paintings hanging on the walls and artifacts from civilizations gone by you can't touch. There are hands on exhibits, the Koch Immersive Theater, and the Train Museum right next door.
Check their website for hours of operation and pricing.
Fired Up Art Studio
Painting on canvas is great, but if you're looking to change things up a bit, take a trip to Fired Up Art Studio. There you and the kids can let you imaginations run wild painting on a variety of different pottery.
Check their website for hours of operation and pricing.
Nature Preserves
Obviously, when you're talking about nature, you mean outside. However, the few preserves we have around the Tri-State indoor activities year-round in their nature centers including animal encounters, where kids and parents alike can learn more about the creatures that live in those woods and others in our area.
Ice Skating
It may seem counter-intuitive to seek out an indoor activity that requires cold temperatures when it's cold outside, but a few trips around the rink will get your blood pumping enough to make you forget you're sliding around on frozen water.
Check out the links below for open skate times at the rink closest to you.
Roller Skating / Roller Blading
If you prefer the stability of four wheels over gliding across a sheet of ice on a thin strip of metal, there a couple of options for that in the Tri-State as well.
Indoor Inflatable Park
Who doesn't love a bounce house? While you'll certainly find one at the couple of indoor inflatable parks in Evansville, you'll also find a huge slides, obstacle courses, and more to let your kids wear themselves out.
Arcades
For the video game fan, a trip to the arcade at is a must. From new games, to old school classics, and even virtual reality, there are plenty of options to choose from to fit your preference or if you're looking to try something new.
Escape Rooms
One of the newer trends across the country over the past few years has found a few homes in the Tri-State. If you're the thinking type and don't mind being locked in a room with your family for an hour, give one of these escape room experiences a try. I've tried one and there is something exciting about working the clues and racing against time to solve the puzzle.
Family Game or Movie Night
Sometimes the best indoor activities don't require leaving the house. Break out a few board games and gather around the table for a little friendly competition among the family. If somebody ruins game night because they're far too competitive, swing by a Redbox, grab a Blu-Ray or DVD, pop some popcorn, and enjoy a movie.
Check the Redbox website to find a location near you.
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