Family-friendly indoor fun in Tri-Cities? Here are 20 ways to beat the heat

There’s about one month left of summer vacation for students in Tri-Cities.

That means there’s still time for family fun before classes begin again.

With hot weather on the horizon in the Tri-Cities area, local families looking for things to do together may want to avoid outdoor activities.

Indoor recreation options might be the best way to beat summertime boredom.

Here are 20 family-friendly things to do indoors in Tri-Cities:

What’s the Tri-Cities weather forecast?

According to the National Weather Service’s latest forecast, daytime temperatures in the Tri-Cities area were expected to near or exceed 100 degrees on multiple days while nighttime temperatures could remain in the high 60s or low 70s.

Tri-Cities will be sunny and hot on Wednesday with a high temperature near 103 degrees, the weather service said.

Wednesday night will be partly cloudy, with a low temperature around 71 degrees.

More hot weather is expected Thursday, which will see a high near 98 and a low around 68.

There’s a chance of showers and thunderstorms on Thursday night and before 11 a.m. Friday, the weather service said.

Otherwise, Tri-Cities will be mostly sunny on Friday, with a high near 91 and a low around 66.

The forecast calls for highs in the high 80s or low 90s over the weekend, with lows in the the 60s

What family-friendly activities are in Tri-Cities?

Families with young children have plenty of options for indoor fun in the Tri-Cities area.

Here are a few favorites:

Gesa Carousel of Dreams, 2901 Southridge Blvd., Kennewick

A community favorite, the Carousel of Dreams features many horses to choose from. There’s even a husky dog and a cougar to represent the rivalry between the University of Washington and Washington State University. You can ride after 4 p.m. Friday, 11 a.m. Saturday and noon on Sunday. Tokens cost $3 each for the first three rides, or $2.50 apiece if you buy four or more; an all-day wristband is $15.

Dino Discovery, 6501 Crosswinds Blvd., Suite E, Kennewick

This dinosaur-themed play space caters to younger kids, but all are welcome to enjoy toys, activities and games. A regular 90-minute play session costs $14 for the first child, $5 for each additional child and $8 for adults after the first two. Memberships, event bookings and Mommy and Me sessions are also available. Dino Discovery is open on weekdays from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

iPlay, 8524 West Gage Blvd., B 110, Kennewick

A three-level family entertainment center, iPlay offers obstacle courses, interactive games, an Art Alive area, virtual reality and more. The onsite cafeteria has a full food and drink menu. Admission for non-members ranges from $17.48 per toddler on weekdays to $27.60 per child on weekends. iPlay is open 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Thursday; 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday; 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday.

Let’s Glow Mini Golf, 731 North Columbia Center Blvd., Suite 114, Kennewick

Let’s Glow features 18 tropical safari-themed mini golf holes decked out in neon and lit by blacklights. There’s also a small video game room and a party space. Admission costs $13.95, with a $3 discount for seniors and military members. Kids 3 and under are free, while children ages 4 to 8 cost $8.95. The mini golf center is open 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Wednesday; 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday.

Max Air Trampoline Park, 731 North Columbia Center Blvd., Suite 100A, Kennewick

The Max Air indoor trampoline park has several attractions, including dodgeball, an obstacle course and a foam pit. There’s a designated kid zone for younger jumpers, and theme nights on weekends. Prices depend on age and jump time, ranging from $11.99 to $23.99. Toddlers get in free with paid adults from 10 a.m. to noon on Tuesday and Thursday, and you can buy four tickets plus socks for $55 on Monday. The park is open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday and noon to 8 p.m. Sunday. Prices depend on age and jump time.

Mid-Columbia Gymnastics Academy, 523 Fowler St. in Richland and 5102 Convention Drive in Pasco

Children ages 8 months to 18 years old can learn gymnastics and tumbling during weekly sessions. Gymnastic and tumbling rates range from $41 to $119 per month. Kids 6 and under who are enrolled in classes can enjoy open play time for $10. Play time is 10 to 11:30 a.m. weekdays at the Pasco location, and at the Richland location from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Monday, noon to 1:30 p.m. Wednesday and 1 to 2:30 p.m. Friday.

Polka Dot Pottery, 1321 North Columbia Center Blvd., Suite 459, Kennewick

Bring the whole family to paint pieces of pottery at Polka Dot Pottery’s only Tri-Cities location. You can also schedule appointments at the Columbia Center mall store for hand or footprint impressions. Prices vary by piece, ranging from $5 to $110. Polka Dot Pottery is open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday.

Quake Family Fun Center, 106904 East Detrick PR SE, Kennewick

This massive family entertainment center includes a trampoline park, laser tag arena, ninja course, arcade and golf simulator, with prices varying per activity. There’s a designated toddler area, plus a cafe and lounge offering food and drinks. In the summer, the family center is open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday and S11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday. Families with toddlers can access Quake Family Fun Center from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday; it’s open to all through 10 p.m.

What are things to do with older kids in Richland, Kennewick?

Looking for something a bit more exciting?

These recommendations for families with older kids swap out family fun centers for arcades, gymnastics for laser tag and playgrounds for escape rooms.

Atomic Bowl, 624 Wellsian Way, Richland

The family fun center connected to Joker’s Comedy Club and Nightclub has multiple bowling opportunities and a full arcade. Food and drinks are served as well. Activities are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Lanes are open from 10 a.m. to midnight Sundays through Wednesdays, and 10 a.m. to 1 a.m. Thursdays through Saturdays. Bowling costs $4.25 to $5.25 a game, and shoe rentals are $3.

Atomic Escape Rooms, 1653 Fowler St. in Richland and 1333 Tapteal Drive, No. 102, in Richland

Aimed at participants 10 and up, Atomic Escape Rooms has 15 different escape experiences to choose from. There are also virtual escape options, a paint splatter room and party experiences available. Prices range from $28 to $31 per person. The Fowler Street location is open from 1 to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday, noon to 10 p.m. Saturday and noon to 8 p.m. Sunday. The Tapteal Road location is available by reservation only.

Axe KPR Axe Throwing, 8425 Chapel Hill Blvd., Suite 104C , Pasco

Throw axes, hatchets and ninja stars with the help of coaches at Axe KPR. Throwers should be at least 8 years old, and participants under 18 must have a parent or guardian present. Right next door is the KBTC Family Fun Zone, which features an arcade, knockerballs, bumper cars, virtual reality and food options. Prices start at $20 per person.

Bullseye Laser Tag, 1341 George Washington Way, Suite F, Richland

This spot in the Uptown Shopping Center features axe throwing and a laser tag arena. Minors 14 and older can throw axes with parental consent, and there must be at least one adult for every three throwers. On Fridays and Saturdays, groups with minors may not make reservations past 6 p.m. Axe throwing start at $25 per person for an hour, and one game of laser tag is $10. Bullseye is open from 1 to 9 p.m. Wednesdays through Sundays, and by appointment on Mondays and Tuesdays.

PerplEXIT Puzzle Rooms, 750 Swift Blvd., Suite 13, Richland

PerplEXIT offers three escape room options for groups of three to six people. The recommended age is 10 and older. Players younger than 14 must be accompanied by two adults, and players ages 14 and 15 must be accompanied by one adult. Experiences cost $90 to $180 based on your party size. Hours are by reservation only.

Rollarena Skating Center, 849 Stevens Drive, Richland

Richland’s classic Rollarena offers public skate sessions from 12:30 to 3 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday and 7:30 to 10 p.m. on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. Admission costs $10 and includes traditional skate rental; upgrades cost extra.

Spare Time Lanes and Arcade, 711 West Vineyard Drive, Kennewick

This bowling alley and arcade offers fun for the whole family, plus a full menu of food and drinks. Bowling is available from noon to 10 p.m. on Sunday, Tuesday and Wednesday, and noon to midnight Thursday through Saturday. Bowling is $10 to $15 depending on the day. Shoe rental costs $3. The arcade is open from noon to 10 p.m. Sunday; 5 to 10 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday; 5 to 11 p.m. Thursday and Friday and noon to 11 p.m. Saturday.

What are the Tri-Cities museums and planetariums?

Craving something more intellectually focused for your family outing? Tri-Cities has several museums and other educational attractions.

CPCCo Planetarium at Columbia Basin College, 2600 North 20th Ave., D Building, Pasco

The planetarium features a 36-foot viewing dome with a state-of-the-art projection system. Shows are usually about an hour long and include a projected showcase of astronomical views as well as a live presentation. Tickets, which must be bought in advance online, cost $11.50 or $6.25 for children 6 to 12; admission is free for kids 5 an under, CBC students and members. Discounts are available for seniors, military and first responders.

Franklin County Historical Society Museum, 305 North Fourth Ave., Pasco

Collecting diverse objects that represent Franklin County’s heritage, the museum has permanent exhibits covering local wildlife, pioneers and Native American history. It’s open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, and 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Admission is $5, with discounts for seniors and military members. Children under 6 get in free, as do members.

Museum at Keewaydin, 205 West Keewaydin Drive, Kennewick

The Museum at Keewaydin is operated by the East Benton County Historical Society, and aimed at preserving the history and culture of East Benton County. Parts of the museum encourage hands-on learning, and there are escape rooms you can book in advance for $10, or $5 for members. Escape room bookings include admission to the museum. Regular admission is $5 with a dollar off for seniors, $1 for children 5 to 17 and free for younger children. The museum also offers free admission on Aug. 16 and Aug. 20.

Pasco Aviation Museum, 4102 North Stearman Ave., Pasco

The museum in the historic Naval Air Station Pasco Control Tower displays artifacts that showcase local aviation history and offers flight experiences. It’s open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday. Admission is $10 or $5 for youth and seniors, and free for veterans and members.

Reach Museum, 1943 Columbia Park Trail, Richland

The Reach Museum shares stories of the Mid-Columbia region with engaging exhibits and opportunities for hands-on learning. Its permanent exhibits cover topics including native fish and the Manhattan Project. It’s open from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. Admission is $12 or $6 for students, seniors and military. Members and children 5 and under get in free.

This story was originally published July 30, 2025 at 5:00 AM.