Indoor
Activities
for Kids in OC

OC's best free indoor options are the public libraries — and not just for books. Anaheim Central Library runs four separate weekly storytimes (baby, toddler, preschool, family evening). Cypress Library has back-to-back Wednesday morning storytimes so you can bring two different-aged kids in one trip. Stanton Library and La Palma Library both have solid kids programs.

The Hangar Makerspace inside Placentia Library is a standout — free, runs weekly themed crafts, and has a Cricut, sewing machine, and embroidery machine. Kids under 14 need to be with a parent. Tue & Thu noon–7:30pm, Sat 9am–12:30pm, Sun 1–4:30pm.

Brea Mall Kids Play Area is free, newly renovated (2025), and climate-controlled. Socks required; coffee is seconds away.

PlayPie in Buena Park is one of the better toddler-specific options — 15,000 sq ft at The Source shopping center with a dedicated Little Ones area, pretend play zones, library corner, and obstacle courses. Runs $15–25/hour by age. Monthly memberships exist if you end up going regularly.

La Habra Children's Museum is specifically designed for the under-10 set — hands-on throughout (not "look don't touch"), with a real 1942 caboose to explore, a STEAM Lab, a fossil dig, and a dinosaur garden. Low-cost admission. Right next to Brio Park, so you can hit both in one trip.

Any public library storytime works well for babies and toddlers. Anaheim Central Library's baby/toddler storytime on Tuesdays is especially solid and costs exactly nothing.

Discovery Cube OC in Santa Ana is the main one — earthquake simulator, smoke tornado, marine life tank, hockey science. It's hands-on throughout and works well from about age 4 up. Membership pays off quickly if you're going more than twice a year; go right at open on weekends before the 11am rush.

The Bowers Museum's Kidseum (also Santa Ana) is a separate wing focused on world cultures and hands-on art. Less visited than Discovery Cube, rarely crowded. Free admission days exist — check their calendar.

La Habra Children's Museum has a STEAM Lab with a magnetic tube wall and a flight lab tower, which leans more science than the typical children's museum. Good if you're coming from the north-OC side and don't want to drive to Santa Ana.

A few. Urban Air Adventure Park in Fullerton is the largest in north OC — 43,000 sq ft with trampolines, a ropes course, ninja warrior obstacles, VR, a Tumble Track runway, and climbing walls. Kids 5 and under are $20; older kids run $35–46 depending on package. On Harbor Blvd, easy to find.

Sky Zone Anaheim relocated to Canyon Village Plaza at 5755 E La Palma Ave (Anaheim Hills area) — foam pits, 3D dodgeball, slam dunk courts. Toddler Time sessions for littles. Socks required.

Ultimate Ninjas Anaheim Hills is Ninja Warrior-style obstacle courses with age-appropriate sections for little and bigger kids. Good for kids who want something more structured than open jump. Check for open play times vs. structured sessions; open play is the move for drop-in.

All three require socks (some sell them on-site). All are in north OC.

Almost everything on this page is year-round. The ones that are specifically NOT seasonal: Discovery Cube OC, Aquarium of the Pacific (Long Beach), La Habra Children's Museum, Bowers Museum/Kidseum, Urban Air, Sky Zone, Ultimate Ninjas, PlayPie, all the public libraries, Color Me Mine Brea, Creative Collective Studio in Anaheim, The Arts Center in Orange, The Hangar Makerspace, and John's Incredible Pizza.

The Regal Summer Movie Express ($1 tickets on Tues/Wed mornings at multiple OC theaters) is summer only — June through August. That one is worth knowing about but you can't rely on it in October.

The Nixon Presidential Library is year-round and underrated for families — the helicopter and interactive rooms hold kids' attention way better than the name suggests.