Sandpoint, ID

I don’t mind the snow. In fact, I kinda like it, and sometimes I think I could live with snow year-round. But, I’ll admit, this winter is getting a little long in the tooth. It would be nice to take my 1-1/2 year old daughter to the park. I know she misses it, and I do miss getting out of the house. I wish there was a place that had an indoor playground…

Wish granted! A friend suggested meeting for a play date at Funtastics, our local gymnasium. Every Wednesday and Friday morning, from 9:30-11:30 AM, Funtastics opens their 11,000 square foot gymnasium for open play, known as “Indoor Playground.” What a treat! My 1-1/2 year old daughter had a blast, and played so hard she fell asleep in the car driving home. And I loved, well, pretty much everything…

There was plenty to do. First we played with the balls, rolling them all around the gigantic floor mat (so comfortable for my little ankle-biter!). The mat was so large, and my daughter could roam so far, chasing the ball and bringing it back. We explored different heights and textures on all sorts of other mats, including “stairs” which she had fun crawling up and down.

Next my daughter discovered one of the three trampolines available. This one was floor level, so she was able to crawl right onto it (which she loved that she could do it by herself). The other trampolines included a raised circular trampoline with netting (great for bouncing with balls) and a long rectangular trampoline set up as a track, so the kiddies could race each other.

After we bounced so much my legs turned to jelly, we ventured into The Pit. This is a large pit filled with foam blocks for kids to jump or slide into. There is even a rope swing over The Pit! And of course, being a gymnasium, Funtastics has all sorts of equipment to “practice” on.

The Funtastics staff was very welcoming and totally available the entire time I was there. In fact, there was always at least one staff member in the gymnasium to answer questions and monitor safety. There were plenty of toys to make the young ones feel welcome. And I was delighted to see the availability of kiddie tables for snack time, plus cubbies to stash coats, diaper bags, shoes, etc. And the bathroom has a diaper changing station! Yay!

Funtastics is located off Hwy 200, just past McGhee road, as you are heading towards Hope. Turn left immediately before All Seasons Nursery. Funtastics is housed in the large two story gray building. The entrance is located on the side of the building, in the alleyway. But don’t worry, there is plenty of parking. Cost to use the Indoor Playground is $6.00 per family for up to 3 children, $10.00 per family for 4 or more children. $5.00 additional charge for non-members. Membership is $30.00 per year. Believe you me, I got a membership, as we will for sure be returning to Funtastics Indoor Playground frequently.

For more information, call Funtastics directly at (208) 265-9865.