It can be so fun to take your grandchildren out to play, but the chilly (and often rainy) weather can leave you scrambling to come up with ways to keep the kids occupied. Help your grandkids exert their seemingly endless energy by taking them on an indoor adventure. Whether you are looking to expose them to books, science, art, or simply a new place to play indoors and use their imagination, you will find it in one of these perfect Birmingham
spots!
Activate Games
1425 Montgomery Hwy #173,
Vestavia Hills | Mon–Thurs:
Noon–10 p.m., Fri–Sun: 10 a.m.–11
p.m. | $21.99–$25.99/person/game
If you have older grandkids, consider this adrenaline-pumping dynamic game that involves problem-solving, jumping, and climbing, all while using interactive technology.
Alabama Sports Hall of Fame
2150 Richard Arrington Jr Blvd
N, Birmingham | Mon–Fri: 9 a.m.
–5 p.m., Sat–Sun: Closed | $3–5
Introduce your grandkids to the legendary athletes throughout history at one of the largest sports halls of fame.
Altitude
8581 Helena Rd, Pelham | Mon–
Thurs: 10 a.m.–8 p.m., Fri: 10
a.m.–10 p.m., Sat: 9 a.m.–10 p.m.,
Sun: 11 a.m.–8 p.m. | $5.95–$32.95
Jump into the fun as you watch (or participate as) your grandkids dodge, dunk, and dive into epic sports battles. If you have grandbabies six and under, try the “Junior Jumpers Jam” on a weekday morning.
ArtVenture at Birmingham Museum of Art
2000 Reverend Abraham Woods
Jr Blvd, Birmingham | Mon:
Closed, Tues–Sat: 10 a.m.–4:30
p.m., Sun: Noon–4:30 p.m. | Free
Visit the Birmingham Museum of Art’s interactive gallery with hands-on activities that help toddlers to tweens to creatively express themselves. It boasts 15+ hands-on learning stations, an interactive weaving wall, a stop‑ motion technology station, and a makerspace.
K1 Speed
5960 Greenwood Pkwy, Bessemer
| Mon–Thurs: Noon–10 p.m.,
Fri: Noon–Midnight, 10 a.m.–
Midnight, Sun: 10 a.m.–10 p.m. |
$26.95+
Go head-to-head with your grandkids as you zoom around the track at this indoor kart racing speedway.
Bowlero Riverview
2908 Riverview Rd, Birmingham
| Hours and prices vary daily
(Hours range from 11–1 a.m.)
Your grandkids will find this bowling experience is just up their alley! With 40 bowling lanes and an arcade, there is plenty of fun to be had at Bowlero. Not to mention, half price arcade games on Wednesdays!
High Point Climbing and Fitness
4766 US-280, Birmingham |
Mon, Wed, Fri: 6 a.m.–10 p.m.,
Tues, Thurs, Sat: 10 a.m.–10
p.m., Sun: 10 a.m.–8 p.m. |
Adult: $24–$31, Child: $22–$29
If you’re tired of your grandkids climbing your couch, try this family friendly climbing gym! It even has a kid-specific climbing area.
Hooligan’s Arcade
519 1st St SW, Alabaster |
Tue–Thur: 3–8 p.m., Fri: 3 p.m.–
Midnight, Sat: 10–Midnight,
Sun: 11 a.m.–7 p.m. | Prices vary
Hooligan’s is the ultimate arcade experience, from Dolly Parton, Jurassic Park, and Spiderman pinball machines to almost every kind of arcade game you could imagine. Show off your Pac Man skills!
Hoover Met
5508 Stadium Trace Pkwy, Hoover
| Mon–Thurs: 6 a.m.–9 p.m., Fri:
6 a.m.–7 p.m., Sat–Sun: Closed
(Subject to change) | Free–$5
The Hoover Met has an open gym with a walking track, a kid-friendly indoor climbing area, indoor pickleball courts, and an inclusive outdoor playground in case the sun comes out to play while you’re there.
Jefferson County Libraries
Locations and times vary | Free
40 libraries, 1 county. From “Storypalooza” and “Roly Poly Babies” to “Lego Club” and “Pet Therapy,” these libraries have all kinds of kid-friendly indoor events for tots to teens. A few popular spots include the Homewood Public Library, Hoover Public Library, and the Vestavia Hills “Library in the Forest.”
Let’s Play Birmingham
5025 US-280 #102, Birmingham;
Hoover 5623 Grove Blvd, Hoover
| Mon–Thurs: 10 a.m.–6 p.m.,
Fri–Sat: 10 a.m.–7 p.m., Sun: 11
a.m. to 6 p.m. | Under 12 months:
$7.99/day; Ages 1–2: $14.99/
day; Ages 3–14: $17.99/day
An indoor playground with slides, obstacle courses, and activities for kids of all ages. There’s even a separate play area for younger kids. The Birmingham location has been newly remodeled for colorful Circus-themed play!
McWane Science Center
200 19th St N, Birmingham |
Mon–Tues: Closed., Wed–Fri: 9
a.m.–5 p.m., Sat: 10 a.m.–5 p.m.,
Sun: Noon–5 p.m. | Adult: $10–22,
Child: $9–17 | mcwane.org
A hands-on museum with exhibits, an IMAX theater, and a children’s play area. Perfect for science and fun!
Pump It Up of Trussville
4623 Camp Coleman Rd #101,
Trussville | Hours vary | $15/child
Bring the kids out for “open jump” and let them run and jump around in this climate-controlled environment with massive inflatables.
Riverchase Galleria
2000 Galleria Cir, Hoover | Mon–
Thurs: 11 a.m.–7 p.m., Fri–Sat:
11 a.m.–8 p.m., Sun: Noon–6
p.m. | Prices vary, entrance free
Consider shopping the “kids’” way: a stop at Build-A-Bear, lunch at Chick fil-A, a dessert (or three!) at Great American Cookie, and a ride on the carousel. If they’re in the mood to shop, check out Carter’s Oshkosh, The Children’s Place, and Kids Footlocker.
Shelby County Libraries
Locations and times vary | Free
The Shelby County library system has 22 libraries ranging in location from Chelsea and Alabaster to Pelham and Helena, each with their own storytimes and fun activities for kids of all ages.
Sky Zone Trampoline Park
6009 Tattersall Dr, Birmingham | Mon–Thurs:
10 a.m.–8 p.m., Fri–Sat: 10 a.m.–10 p.m., Sun:
10 a.m.–7 p.m. | $23.99–$35.99
This trampoline park will certainly burn off some energy, from playing dodgeball to climbing the walls to soaring across the ninja court and more!
Spare Time Entertainment Trussville
3600 Roosevelt Blvd, Trussville | Sun–Thurs:
10 a.m.–11 p.m., Fri–Sat: 10–Midnight. |
Weekday Open Bowling: $5.99 game/person;
Shoe Rental: $5.49; Laser Tag: $9/person/game
Spare Time has a little bit of everything, from bowling and laser tag to escape rooms and over 60 state-of-the-art arcade games. Plus, on Tuesdays, everything is half off.
TopGolf Birmingham
1111 24th St N, Birmingham | Sun–Thurs:
9–Midnight, Fri–Sat: 9–1 a.m. | $25+/hour |
Take a swing at this fun outing where kids can score points by hitting golf balls at TopGolf’s giant targets. Spice it up with an Angry Birds or Sonic the Hedgehog version of the game.
Trussville Playstation
411 Watterson Ln, Trussville | Thurs 6–8 p.m.,
Fri 7–10 p.m., Sat 2–10 p.m., Sun 2–5 p.m.
(Closed Mon–Wed) | $3–14
Their motto sums it up well: “Where fun is always in motion!” Skate around the roller rink, race each other on the Go Kart Track, tag each other in laser tag, or win prizes playing arcade games—they have it all at the Trussville Playstation.
Urban Air Trampoline and Adventure Park Trussville
3695 Roosevelt Blvd, Birmingham | Mon–
Thurs: 10 a.m.–8 p.m., Fri–Sat: 10 a.m.–9
p.m., Sun: Noon–8 p.m. | $11.99–$25.99
This adventure zone has so much more than trampolines: a ropes course, climbing walls, an Adventure Hub, a drop zone, and more acrobatic attractions.
