Rain, rain doesn’t always have to mean things like fun go away. Even though most of the Florida rain pours down in May and June, Gainesville's rainy season can continue through mid-October, making it essential to have an epic list of activities that the kiddos can enjoy no matter what the weather brings. So, we’ve rounded up five of our favorite kid-friendly indoor activities to get things started.
Bragging Rights Amusements
The new kid in town, Bragging Rights Amusements in the up-and-coming Pleasant Street neighborhood of downtown Gainesville is packed to the gills with hundreds of new and vintage arcade games, all set to free play for kids and adults alike to enjoy! Pretty cool, right? No tokens or swipe cards are needed; simply walk up to a game you like and start playing.
Bragging Rights is currently hosting its very first Bragging Rights Contest, testing who can rack up the most points from 10 designated games, starting September 8th and ending October 9th (challenge accepted). If you miss this contest, don’t fret! They are planning on creating a new contest each month, so follow Bragging Rights’ Facebook Page for the most updated information.
Address: 113 NW 8th Ave, Gainesville, FL, 32601
Hours: Thursday 5-10 pm, Friday 4-11 pm, Saturday 1-11 pm, Sunday 1-8 pm
Cost: $25 Entry Fee - Ages 6+
Escapology Escape Rooms
Love a good problem-solving thrill? We’ve got your spot. Escapology is a premium escape game experience in Gainesville, challenging groups to work together to find clues, solve puzzles, and unlock mysteries that will free them from the game room.
Escapology currently has three rooms available: “Scooby-Doo and the Spooky Castle Adventure” (woof, sounds like fun), “Mansion Murder” and “Antidote”, as well as two more room themes coming soon. If you’re interested, be sure to visit the Escapology website and book your spot now!
Address: 4480 SW 32nd Rd, Suite 10, Gainesville, FL, 32608
Hours: Monday - Thursday 2-10pm, Friday 2pm-12am, Saturday 12pm-12am, Sunday 12-10pm
Cost: $30 per person (Standard Rate)
Florida Museum of Natural History
Located on the University of Florida campus and open year-round, the Florida Museum is one of the nation’s top five natural history museums. The Florida Museum is home to exhibits like the Discovery Zone, Butterfly Rainforest, and Florida Fossils: Evolution of Life and Land. The museum also hosts fundraisers with other businesses and film screenings which take you behind the scenes of your favorite movies. Talk about an awesome night out.
To find out more information about what the Florida Museum of Natural History has to offer, visit their website and snag your tickets online if you are planning to visit one of the special exhibits.
Address: 3215 Hull Rd, Gainesville, FL, 32601
Hours: Monday - Saturday 10-5pm, Sunday 1-5pm
Cost: Free General Admission (charge for special exhibits)
Cade Museum
Cue the creativity, friends. Located in Depot Park, The Cade Museum for Creativity and Invention is home to exhibits, educational programs, and Creativity Labs encouraging learners of all ages to think like an inventor, meet inventors, and even become an inventor.
The Cade Museum’s permanent exhibits include “The Sweat Solution”, “At First Flush”, and “Mothers of Invention”. Along with these exhibits, Cade offers featured and traveling exhibits that are only available for a limited amount of time, so be sure to check the Cade Museum website for current offerings and take your little ones to check them out!
Address: 811 S Main St, Gainesville, FL, 32601
Hours: Thursday - Sunday 10am-4pm
Cost: Adults (18+) $15, Youth (Ages 5-17) $10, Children (Ages 0-4) Free, Seniors & College Students $12.50
Flip Factory Zone
Okay, we’re doing summersaults over this next one. Flip Factory Zone is Gainesville’s premier family entertainment park with offerings for everyone to enjoy. Attractions include over 60 trampolines, an arcade, a ninja course, laser tag, dodgeball, and much more! Flip Factory Zone also offers monthly memberships to enjoy the fun year-round at a discounted rate. Parties and events like school fundraisers, birthdays, banquets, and team-building activities can even be hosted here. Head over to the Flip Factory Zone website for details.
Address: 7400 W Newberry Rd, Gainesville, FL, 32605
Hours: Tuesday - Thursday 2-8 pm, Friday 2-10 pm, Saturday 10 am-10 pm, Sunday 11 am-8 pm
Cost: Varies greatly depending on the activity
Final Thoughts
Whether it’s an activity from this list, or something else totally awesome Gainesville has to offer, we hope the next rainy Florida day is sprinkled with the most fun your little ones (and yes, you, too) can imagine.