If you could believe it Spring Break is upon us.
I know parents, I know, before you freak out and realize there is a full week in which you will have to keep your little monsters (um, sorry that should read "darlings") occupied outside of school, how about you use this time to discover some new spots in the city that will keep them active and maybe even continually educate them? (Okay, that education part might be a bit of stretch, but as long as you are with them outside of the house, and they are not at home poking each other's eyes out with plastic swords, we can consider this a moral victory. Now am I right dads, or am I right?)
And, for all you readers from outside Peg City, take note, because these spots are sure to please your kids on your next visit. Because hey, they didn't get me that "Best Dad Ever" shirt for my birthday because I'm a slouch when it comes to keeping kids entertained.
Let's face it, spring here is not always predictable, it's either melty or still kind of cold, and in general just sort of messy. This means outdoor play often equates to extra house cleaning for you parents. So Mister Peg here is recommending some excellent spots where the kiddies can still run themselves ragged indoors, while you can watch in utter amusement.
Speedworld puts the pedal to the metal
If your crew is older, and looking for some adrenaline-filled racing, Speedworld indoor kart track is the place. Its motto is "I don't know what the question is but the answer is... MORE POWER!!!" which is equally hilarious and terrifying. So please note, you have to be at least 4'10" to ride the Sprint Karts, while children under 16 must have their parents sign a waiver. For the Race Karts, drivers must either be at least 16 with a driver's license, or be 18 or over with a $100 damage deposit. Now, why so many rules? Well, the Sprint Kart goes up to 40 km/hr, while the Race Kart can go up to 50 km/hr. But don't worry mums who are reading this (as dad says he is taking the kids), because Speedworld is all about safety -- plus the kids have to learn to drive somewhere.
In LaserTopia’s 10,200 sq. ft. facility your kids can set their "phasers to fun" as they zap-it-up in their giant, two-level laser tag stadium, the Lost City. And yes, that was a Star Trek joke -- Next Generation all the way baby. And who am I kidding, Mister Peg is surely going to play laser tag too: code name Sharp Shooter (that's an inside joke, as they give you code names at LaserTopia after they strap on your gear and explain the game; it's really pretty rad).
The atmosphere at LaserTopia is out of this world
Anyway, they've built an impressive atmosphere at LaserTopia. The setting is like something out of Indian Jones, Avatar and Halo, with lush-looking plants and temple-like walls. It all makes for quite the spectacle while you shoot lasers at one another. They also have the latest high-tech video games and food and beverages for the whole family.
The hoops at Skyzone are on different levels, so kids of all sizes can practice their dunks
If you want a bit more aggressive shooting action, there is always paintball, of which there are plenty of options here in the city (here is a google map of all of them). Missus looks down on gun play, and I can't say Lil is ready for that sort of artillery, but if you are entertaining a motley crew of 14 year olds or older, lock and load and prepare to paint those punks.
There's no two ways about it, trampolines are awesome, and at Skyzone they've taken this token as a jumping-off point to a whole new level. Get this, they've built a whole room filled with connecting trampolines, including trampoline walls and tons of padding so no one gets hurt. It's kind of nuts, but it also makes me wish I didn't have old man ankles so I could get in there and jump around too -- which I would, because they have basketball courts and Mister Peg never faked the funk on a nasty dunk. Anyway, bring your kids so they can burn off some steam all while getting fit and having high-flying fun -- and all under safe supervision I might add.
Another intriguing spot is Enigma Escapes, Winnipeg's number one rated fun and games place on Trip Advisor. This place fulfills that learning/brainpower part I was alluding to, as you and your crew must cleverly navigate through puzzles, codes and clues to reach freedom from a thematic adventure room. It's good fun, I think of it like the movie Cube, but replace all the bits of terror and paranoia with wholesome, exciting, adventurous times. The rooms are meticulously put together, and you really have to work as a team to solve the puzzles. But don't just take it from me -- seriously read their rave reviews, this place is the bomb.
Kids love slides; a fact which Great Big Adventures knows well
If your children are under 12, bring them to Great Big Adventure, a sprawling 12,000 sq. ft. indoor park featuring a mammoth 3,000 sq. ft. play structure that is a modern marvel of engineering (well, almost). This structure has all the bells and whistles including: seven 20 ft. slides, a mini-sticks hockey zone, obstacle courses, a mini basketball court, and a nifty section tailored especially for toddlers. So if you have little ones, all you have to do is turn them loose and wait around for nap time. (See, this parenting thing is easy.)
So get out there, and by out, I mean in! Because Winnipeg has awesome indoor adventures for the whole family.
