It’s too hot to spend all day outside. Here are 18 indoor recreation options in Tri-Cities

Students in Tri-Cities are about a month into summer vacation. Kids might be itching to do something new after a month off of school.

But with a massive heat wave in the area prompting an excessive heat warning, local youth need to monitor their time outside. The next stretch of summer can’t be spent entirely outside, so indoor recreation options are a necessity for beating summertime boredom.

Tri-Cities has no shortage of inside entertainment opportunities.

One popular among young children in the Carousel of Dreams . Located at 2901 Southridge Blvd., the carousel features plenty of horses to choose from, but also a cougar and a husky to represent the WSU and UW rivalry. Public rides are available after 4 p.m. on Fridays, 11 a.m. Saturdays and noon on Sundays.

Indoor recreation options around Tri-Cities

Here are other indoor, family-friendly recreation options in Tri-Cities.

▪ Atomic Bowl - 624 Wellsian Way

This Richland family fun center includes an arcade and bowling, while connected to the Jokers Casino, Nightclub open Thursdays through Saturdays and Comedy Club open Friday and Saturday nights. Food and drinks are available as well. Parties can be booked in advance, otherwise activities are first come, first served. Prices vary.

▪ Dino Discovery - 6501 Crosswinds Blvd., Suite J

While more catered toward children under age 9, all kids are welcome at the dinosaur-themed play space, featuring toys, activities and games. Play sessions are 90 minutes a piece. You can purchase a membership, individual play sessions, mommy and me sessions or book an event.

▪ iPlay - 8524 W. Gage Blvd., B 110

This family entertainment center features a three-level playground with obstacle courses, virtual reality, interactive games and more. Whether the kids are focused on art, gaming, running around or getting their hands dirty, there’s something for them at iPlay. Booking options are available online and in-person.

▪ Let’s Glow Mini Golf - 731 N. Columbia Center Blvd., Suite 114

Let’s Glow has 18 tropical safari-themed mini golf holes donning neon paint. The full course is over 5,000 square feet, lit up by black lights. There’s a small video game room on site, plus a party room available for booking. Kids 3 and under are free, older kids can get in for $8.95, seniors and military for $10.95 and all other adults for $13.95. Parties have separate rates.

▪ Max Air Trampoline Park - 731 N. Columbia Center Blvd., 100 A

The indoor park includes thousands of square feet of entertainment, including dodgeball, an obstacle course, foam pit and more. There’s also a designated kids zone, only for ages five and under. Neon Nights are held every Friday and Saturday night, featuring dance music and bright lights. Toddler Takeovers are held Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10 a.m. to noon, where the full facility is open to five and under, with free access for one parent per kid. Family Day is held Mondays, where families can get four tickets plus socks for $50. Rates vary on age, day, time and jump time duration.

▪ Polka Dot Pottery - 1321 N. Columbia Center Blvd., Suite 459

A paint-your-own pottery store located in the Columbia Center Mall, Polka Dot Pottery is a great place to get the creative juices flowing. Everyone can pick out their own piece of pottery to paint, select some colors and get to decorating. After, they’ll glaze the pieces for later pick up, or shipping for out of town customers. Or for a childhood keepsake, parents can schedule appointments for handprint or footprint impressions.

▪ QUAKE Family Fun Center - 106904 E. Detrick PR SE

Located in Kennewick, the amusement center has a trampoline park, laser tag arena, ninja course, arcade, virtual reality, golf simulator and more. There’s also a cafe and lounge to get food and drinks during your stay, and a designated toddler area. Parents who do not play are considered spectators and do not have to pay. Pricing varies based on duration and activity.

Indoor recreation for older kids in Tri-Cities

If your kids are a little older, they might not be satisfied with family fun centers. There are other options to suit all ages.

▪ Atomic Escape Rooms - 1653 Fowler Street

With multiple locations in Tri-Cities, Atomic Escape Rooms has 14 different escapes to choose from. There is also a paint splatter room, virtual escape options and party experiences. The recommended age for escape room participation is 10-years-old. Prices vary based on experience and group size.

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

Stop by Axe KPR to take your family to try throwing axes, hatchets and ninja stars. You can book a group online or try your luck walking in. Groups of up to 50 are allowed. Coaches are available for first-time throwers and will help facilitate competitions once everyone is comfortable.

▪ Bullseye Laser Tag - 1341 George Washington Way, Suite F

A laser tag arena and axe-throwing location in the Uptown Shopping Center, Bullseye is open weekdays from 1 to 9 p.m., 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturdays and noon to 6 p.m. on Sundays. The laser tag arena covers 3,000 square feet and multiple mission types. There are also several kinds of axe-throwing games, with an exceptionally safe set-up. If you cannot stick an ax within 10 minutes, you can give up and receive a full refund, but the Bullseye website says this has yet to happen.

▪ PerplEXIT Puzzle Rooms - 750 Swift Blvd., Suite 13

This escape room location gives groups of 3 to 6 one hour to complete puzzles and riddles, working toward the final mystery in order to complete the room. Players under age 14 must be accompanied by two adults, and 14- and 15-year-olds must be accompanied by one adult. PerplEXIT strongly recommends playing with team members no younger than 10. Booking must be done online , with rates depending on the group size.

▪ Rollarena Skating Center - 849 Stevens Drive

Try a family roller skating excursion at public skates at the Rollarena in Richland. Public skates for all ages are held Wednesdays from 1 to 3:30 p.m. and 7:30 to 10 p.m., Thursdays from 1 to 3:30 p.m., and Fridays and Saturdays from 1 to 3:30 p.m. and 7:30 to 10 p.m. General admission includes traditional skate rentals for $10. Skate upgrades are available, as well as skate trainers, for a few extra dollars. You can also book the venue for parties or large group events.

▪ Spare Time Lanes and Arcade - 711 W. Vineyard Drive

This bowling alley and arcade in Kennewick offers fun for all ages. Bowling is available for $10 on weekdays, and $15 on weekends and Thursday nights. Lanes are open from noon to 10 p.m. on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, noon to midnight on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, and noon to 10 p.m. on Sundays. The arcade is open from 5 to 10 p.m. on Wednesdays, 5 to 11 p.m. on Thursdays and Fridays, noon to 11 p.m. on Saturdays and noon to 10 p.m. on Sundays.

Museum options for families in Tri-Cities

Maybe your family doesn’t feel like activities based on creativity or exercise. There’s plenty of education-based entertainment in Tri-Cities as well, including multiple museums.

▪ CPCCo Planetarium at CBC - 2600 N. 20th Ave., D Building

The planetarium uses a state of the art projection system on a 36-foot viewing dome to showcase the night sky, solar system, constellations or other astronomical views. Shows are generally an hour long, including a live presentation and full dome movie. Tickets must be purchased in advance online. Public shows are held on the first and third Friday of each month at 7 p.m., and the second and fourth Saturdays at 2 p.m. Private rentals are available on request. Tickets are free for kids under 6, $5 for ages 6 to 12, $10 for teenagers and adults and $8 for seniors over 60. CBC students can get in for free, and staff for $5, with a current ID.

▪ Franklin County Historical Society Museum - 305 N. 4th Ave.

This museum aims to collect and preserve diverse objects representing Franklin County heritage. Permanent exhibits include Native American history, pioneers’ challenges and local landscapes and wildlife. It’s open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Wednesdays and Thursdays, and 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. Admission is $5 for adults, $4 for veterans and active military and seniors 65 and up, $1 for current teachers and students, and free for children under 5.

▪ Museum at Keewaydin - 205 W. Keewaydin Drive

Operated by the East Benton County Historical Society, the Museum at Keewaydin collects and preserves the history and culture of east Benton County. It does not require a hands-off experience, and actually encourages kids (and adults) to touch and use certain pieces throughout your visit. The museum is a Blue Star Museum, offering free admission to active duty personnel and their families between Armed Forces Day and Labor Day every year. Kids under 5 can get in for free, and youth ages 5 to 17 can get in for just $1. Adult admission $5, or $4 for seniors.

▪ Pasco Aviation Museum - 4102 N. Stearman Ave.

Located in the historic Naval Air Station Pasco Control Tower, the aviation museum features displays and artifacts showcasing local aviation history, with something for all ages. The multi-story museum is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays. Admission is free for veterans, $5 for youth and seniors, and $10 for adults.

▪ REACH Museum - 1943 Columbia Park Trail

Aimed at sharing the stories of the Mid-Columbia, the museum has permanent exhibits on the Manhattan Project and Hanford, Ice Age Floods and the region’s river basin history. Celebrating its ten-year anniversary, the REACH Museum has a new special exhibition through October. Stop by between 10 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. at $12 for adults, $6 for children, seniors and military, and free for kids under 5 and active military plus their family. Events specifically for children at different ages are held regularly, a Free Day is scheduled for July 23, and other events are scheduled throughout the season, with information available online .