Free & Low Cost Indoor Activities in Coeur d'Alene
Hello friends!
It’s been awhile since I’ve checked in. Fall is a very busy season for me, so keep your eyes peeled for sessions to hit the blog! In the meantime, if you’re anything like me, you’ve been eyeing the weather outside…and wondering what you’re going to do this Fall and Winter to keep your kiddos active and entertained. So here’s my top free and low cost indoor picks for the CDA area:
1) The Kroc’s “Huckleberry Hollow” Indoor Playground
It’s FREE! You don’t need a membership, you don’t need a pass, this portion of the Kroc is open to the community at no cost! A perk, the Kroc’s coffee shop is also available with a hearty selection of snacks. There’s also tables for fireside cocoa and board games, and Free WiFi. Don’t forget your socks, and make sure your kiddos is free of illness and injury. There are restrictions at Huckleberry Hollow on age and times that they’re open so follow the link for hours and specific age limits: http://www.kroccda.org/hours.html#open-hours-desktop
2) Real Life Kids “Training Grounds” Indoor Playground
This is new to our community this year, and completely FREE to the community. The playground is for kids 2-12 year of age and has a robust availability schedule (that compliments the Huckleberry Hollow schedule well!) The rules are straight forward, kiddos must be supervised by an adult and socks must be worn. No food and drink inside the play area, and of course ensure your kiddos is illness and injury free. This is at the Real Life Post Falls campus: 1860 N. Cecil Road in Post Falls.
Hours:
Monday 10:00-2:00
Tuesday 11:30-2:00
Wednesday 10:00-2:00
Thursday 3:30-7:30
Sunday 9:00-2:00
3) Coeur d’Alene Public Library
The CDA Public Library offers a variety of FREE activities for lap babies to teenagers including story time for babies to 2 year olds followed by “Stay and Play,” and Toddler Time with music and bubbles, and Lego Club and Teen D&D club for older kids. Follow the link below for the dates and times of upcoming events and mark your calendar!
For events for the Post Falls, Rathdrum and Hayden branches please use the below link:
Community Library Network Calendar
4) Home Depot Monthly Work Shop
The Home Depot provides a free workshop for kids recommended ages are 5-12, however kids of all ages are welcome. All kids must be accompanied by an adult. Kids younger than 5 will need some extra adult help completing the project. This event is one of our favorites! You must PRE-REGISTER online before the day of the event! Follow this link:
5) Avant Coeur Gymnastics Open Gym
This is a tried and true favorite for our kids. We’re there every Friday (unless someone is having a baby!) This a completely unstructured open gym, there are coaches helping with certain equipment, otherwise kids have free range of the facility. The fee is $5 for the first child, and $3 for each additional child. The current Fall schedule times for Open Gym with Avant Couer (6360 N. Sunshine St in CDA) are:
Monday 12:30 - 2:30pm
Friday 9:00 - 11:00am
6) Hands to Art
We love Hands to Art. Their studio is always clean, and staff are readily available to help you with your projects. This time of the year, they even have Christmas ornaments available for painting for just a few dollar per kid. It’s an annual must for us! Go check them out, they open at 11 AM on weekdays, 10 AM on Saturday and noon on Sundays!
7) Jump for Joy CDA
Jump for Joy is another active option for a quick energy fix. The fees are $7/hr for kids ages 2-10, with kids under 2 free with paid sibling. Hours can fluctuate but from their website, “Our hours are 9:30 AM - 7 PM seven days a week with the exception that we shut down for Private Parties which could be after 5 PM on weekdays or anytime on Sat/Sun. So please check the following schedule for open jump availability during these times.” Visit their website for the schedule updates on the main page:
8) Boys and Girls Club
Have older kiddos? The Boys and Girls Club locations have TONS of great activities available for students 6 - 18 after school hours and doing school breaks. You must be a member but the membership is $20 for a YEAR. Yes, $20 for the year. And they accept memberships partway through the year…like now! Check out the sign up details at their website:
Boys and Girls Club of Kootenai County
9) Mother’s Tea in Post Falls
Mother’s Tea in Post Falls is located at Spokane River Midwives birth Center and Inland Mama shop behind Walgreens. (615 E 6th Ave, Suite A, Post Falls). It’s every Thursday from 10:30 AM - 12:30 PM and all Mothers are welcome to attend. Lap babies welcome, and there’s also free childcare in a neighboring room. Come enjoy free tea, and company with other local mothers.
10) Michaels Arts & Crafts Class
Michaels hosts Arts and Craft classes for children 2 and up for $2, or 6 and up for $5. Other craft or baking opportunities may be available with different price points and the craft dates and times are dependent on location. Check out the schedule below for the Micheals off of Canfield in CDA (psssst it’s next to Target!).