Okay, so I needed a place for the kids to burn off some energy indoors. You know how it is, they get all cooped up and start bouncing off the walls. So, I did a little digging online and found this place called “indoor play area Jacksonville FL.” Turns out, there’s a bunch of options in Jacksonville!
First Steps: Research, Research, Research!
I started by reading reviews. I found some mentions of a place called “Sensory Towne”. People were saying it had some cool stuff that other indoor playgrounds didn’t have, like bubbles and handprints. Sounded fun! There was also something called “Hands On Children’s Museum”. Museums can be hit or miss, but this one seemed pretty interactive.
- Sensory Towne: Bubbles and handprints, sounds unique!
- Hands On Children’s Museum: Could be good, worth checking out.
Zoo Time?
Then I stumbled upon the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens. Now, I know what you’re thinking – a zoo isn’t exactly indoors. But they had this thing called a “Total Experience” ticket that included a train and a carousel. Plus, they had a scavenger hunt! I figured we could spend some time inside checking out the exhibits, then head outside if the weather was good.
- Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens: Train, carousel, scavenger hunt – options!
Narrowing it Down
I also found a place called “Pump It Up Jacksonville”, but some reviews mentioned the bathroom being a little… eh. Plus, someone said it was best for kids under 48 inches tall. My oldest is a little past that, so I ruled it out.
- Pump It Up Jacksonville: Probably not the best fit for us.
Making the Decision
Ultimately, I decided to go with the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens. We are fans of animals, also the train and carousel sounded like a blast, and the scavenger hunt seemed like a fun way to learn something new. It also gave us the option of being indoors or outdoors, depending on the weather.
The Experience
We got our Total Experience tickets and went straight for the train. The kids loved it! We rode it around the whole zoo, getting a sneak peek at all the animals. Then we hit up the carousel a few times. After that, we grabbed the scavenger hunt list and started exploring. We spent some time in the reptile house, which was definitely indoors and air-conditioned (a big plus in Florida!). We saw snakes, lizards, and all sorts of creepy crawlies. The kids were fascinated. We spent some time indoors, but mostly outdoors. The weather turned out great, so we saw as much as we could. It was a whole day event. I’ll give it a 8/10.
Final Thoughts
It was definitely a good choice. Next time, I might give Sensory Towne or the Hands On Children’s Museum a try. But for a mix of indoor and outdoor fun, the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens is a solid pick. Just make sure you wear comfy shoes – you’ll be doing a lot of walking!
