Climb higher. Play longer. Let the weather do its thing.
Cold outside? Raining sideways? Wichita has other plans. From climbing walls and arcade battles to hands-on museums and places to settle in over snacks and a board game, indoor fun comes with plenty of ways to keep everyone entertained.
Bring the kids, round up your friends or make a weekend of it. The couch will be there when you get back.
Burn some energy. Claim some bragging rights.
Aviate at Wichita Sports Forum
For the crew that hears “indoor voice” and immediately gets louder, start at Aviate inside Wichita Sports Forum. Trampolines and aerial attractions give energetic kids plenty of room to move. Join them for a little airtime or cheer on their next attempt. Either way, sitting still can wait.
Bliss Climbing & Fitness
Take the family competition vertical at Bliss Climbing & Fitness. With climbing walls, auto-belays and a bouldering area, there are several ways to test your grip and figure out your next move. First time climbing? Start with staff guidance, then see who gets hooked. The smallest person in your group might surprise you.
Wichita Ice Center
Lace up for a public skating session at Wichita Ice Center. Glide gracefully or become very familiar with the rink wall. Both count as getting out there. Check the public skate schedule before visiting and leave room for a few extra laps once everyone finds their footing.
Bowling around Wichita
Bowling has a way of turning “we’re just here for fun” into a deeply competitive afternoon. Pick a lane at Bowlero Northrock or Bowlero Northridge, or head to locally owned Let’s Roll Seneca or Let’s Roll Derby.
Add snacks, trade high-fives and let the scoreboard settle the family debate. Bumpers are a perfectly respectable strategy.
Sky Zone Wichita
The kids have energy. Sky Zone Wichita has somewhere to put it. Jump into freestyle trampolines, take on the Warrior Course or challenge your crew to Ultimate Dodgeball. Add slides, a zip line and an arcade, and “one more turn” becomes the afternoon’s unofficial motto. A dedicated Toddler Zone gives the littlest adventurers their own place to play.
Make hanging out the main event
Chicken N Pickle
Reserve an indoor pickleball court at Chicken N Pickle, then stick around for a meal. It’s an easy way to turn a quick game into an afternoon together, especially when half the group wants a rematch and the other half wants fries.
TapNPaddles
Keep the rallies going at TapNPaddles, where indoor pickleball courts share the venue with a restaurant and bar. Get everyone on the court, work up an appetite and give the postgame analysis its own table. Somehow, every missed shot has a story.
ShotSuite
Book a little friendly competition at ShotSuite, an indoor golf and sports simulation venue. Golfers can work on their swing while the rest of the group gets in on the games. It’s a social outing with room for both impressive shots and spectacular excuses.
Pink Elephant Games & Café
For a slower afternoon with plenty to keep everyone occupied, head to Pink Elephant Games & Café. Browse card games, board games and collectibles, then take a snack break with café options that include sandwiches, pizza, milkshakes and milk tea. Picking your next game may take longer than picking your lunch.
Challenge the kids to your kind of screen time
The Arcade
Introduce the kids to the games you grew up playing at The Arcade. Classic arcade games bring a little nostalgia and a fresh chance to prove you’ve still got it. No pressure when someone half your age beats your score.
Dave & Buster’s
Make the rounds at Dave & Buster’s for arcade games, food and big-screen sports. Play together, split into teams or let everyone chase their own high score before meeting back up for a meal. “One more game” is likely to come up several times.
Headshots Bar & Grill
Give game night a bigger selection at Headshots Bar & Grill, where video games and board games come with a full-service restaurant and bar. Settle into a familiar favorite or try something that requires a little strategy and a lot of snacks.
Guests younger than 21 must be accompanied by someone 21 or older.
Put curious hands to work
Exploration Place
Science gets hands-on at Exploration Place. Make time to explore the exhibits together and let the kids follow whatever catches their attention. This is the kind of outing where “What does that do?” is a good reason to stop and find out.
Wichita Art Museum
Take an art break at Wichita Art Museum, then head to PLAY, a drop-in space where visitors of all ages can create and explore activities connected to the collection. Spend a little time looking, a little time making and plenty of time hearing what the kids think they see.
Kansas Aviation Museum
Step inside Wichita’s former municipal airport terminal at Kansas Aviation Museum for a look at the city’s aviation history. It’s a fitting stop in the Air Capital of the World and a good way to give curious minds something new to talk about on the drive home.
Make something besides plans
Mark Arts, CityArts and Paint the Towne
Give everyone a chance to make a little creative mess. Browse classes and workshops at Mark Arts or CityArts, or choose a painting session at Paint the Towne. Check the calendar for activities that fit your group’s ages and interests, then let everyone put their own spin on the assignment. Matching masterpieces are highly unlikely.
GROW Plant Bar
Trade a little screen time for something green at GROW Plant Bar. Browse plants and accessories or plan a DIY terrarium outing. You get time together and something to take home. Keeping it alive becomes the next family project.
Let somebody else do the running
Grab seats for Wichita Thunder hockey at INTRUST Bank Arena or cheer on Wichita State basketball at Charles Koch Arena. There’s plenty of energy in the building, even when your only athletic contribution is standing up to celebrate.
Check arena schedules for more visiting sports and family entertainment during your trip. Your next big indoor outing might come with a very loud crowd.
Give your Wichita weekend room to play
Pick one big activity, leave time for food and see where the day goes. Check individual venues for hours, reservations, age requirements and open-play schedules before heading out.
Find more indoor family fun, browse the event calendar or build out your getaway with Wichita’s family weekend itinerary. The forecast can change. You’ve got plans.
