Salem is not only known for being Oregon’s capital city; it is also teeming with activities for the family to enjoy. In 2024, Yelp added Salem to its list of top 10 family travel destinations in the United States. Though Salem offers upwards of 90 city parks, sometimes staying inside is necessary. Below is a list of 6 places to enjoy for a memorable indoor family outing.
Explore the Indoor Playground at Awesome Indoor Playground
3890 Center Street NE, Salem
503.339.7054
Sunday through Friday: 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Saturday: 8:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Ages 2 and under: $10 on weekdays, $12 on weekends/non-school days
Ages 3-16: weekdays $12, weekends/non-school days: $15
Each child needs to have a waiver on file, but once admitted, they can play all day long, which some are known to do. Awesome Indoor Playground offers a variety of fun slides, tunnels, ball pits, and a giant airbag that makes an excellent bouncing area. Awesome has designated birthday party areas, a cafe, a toddler play area, and plenty of room for the adults to relax while their older children play.
Play Games to Your Heart’s Content at Wunderland
1657 Hawthorne NE, Salem
503.399.9410
Sundays: 12 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Monday through Thursday: 1 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Friday: 12 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Saturday: 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.
A $2 entry fee will get you into this electronic game-playing facility where you can play all day long. Game prices start at around four nickels a game and go up to eight nickels a game.
Watch for their new opening at the old Costco on Hawthorne, where they will have go-karts and laser tag. Until then, Wunderland will keep you busy playing games at its current location on Hawthorne near Market Street. With affordable game prices and fun prizes to win, Wunderland is a great place to have a birthday party for people of all skill levels.
Jump, Bounce, Spin, and Swing at the Athletic Edge Adventure Park
1379 Madison Street N, Salem
503.361.2344
Sunday through Thursday: 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Friday and Saturday: 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Each guest pays a one-time, lifetime membership fee of $5.
Monday through Thursday prices:
Toddler, walking to age 3: $10
Ages 4-17: $12
Friday through Sunday prices:
Toddler, walking to age 3: $12
Ages 4-17: $16
Something for everyone can be found in this indoor adventure park. Adults and older children can play miniature golf, table games, and board games while the youngsters explore the three-story play structure. Tumbling and competitive youth programs are offered alongside the Adventure Park indoor playground. Athletic Edge also offers an onsite preschool and seasonal camps.
Rock Climbing, Swimming, Water Slides and More at the Kroc Center
1865 Fill Frey Drive NE, Salem
503.566.5762
Monday through Friday: 5:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Saturday: 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Sunday: 1 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Day pass:
Youth, 17 and under: $12
Adult, 18 through 61: $16
Senior, 62 and up: $13
The Kroc Center has a lot to offer. Their aquatic center has a leisure pool, a competition pool, a wading river, and a lighthouse slide. The fitness room has exercise machines and free weights. The gym can be used for playing basketball, pickleball, and volleyball. There is a rock wall to climb, as well as group exercise classes and birthday party rentals.
Paint Your Own Pottery at Create A Memory
270 Commercial Street NE, Salem
503.375.3664
Tuesday through Saturday: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Sunday: 11 a.m to 4 p.m.
Monday: closed
Fees are calculated according to the size of the project, beginning with ornaments and figurines priced at $6-$15 and going up from there.
Salem’s first paint your pottery and fused glass studio provides everything you need to create a unique piece of pottery. Plenty of help is available from the many professionals and artisans on staff, and no reservations are required for groups of six or fewer. Create A Memory provides an open studio, parties, and summer camps for kids.
Try Your Hand at Bouldering at Rock Boxx
2895 Cascadia Canyon Avenue SE, Salem, Suite #110
503.371.3134
Monday through Saturday: 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Sunday: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Day passes:
Adults: $19
Students 13 and up: $17
Children 5 to 12: $15
Shoe rental: $4
Rock Boxx offers ten-punch passes, monthly passes, memberships, and party rental pricing details on the website.
For people ages five and up, the Rock Boxx climbing gym is structured for “bouldering’. No ropes or special equipment (aside from rock climbing shoes) are needed for bouldering, a sport where climbers scale 8-17 foot walls. After signing the waiver, paying the entry fee, and attending a safety orientation, climbers can climb all day long. According to climinghouse.com, bouldering enables climbers to express their abilities fully without the distractions of harnesses or the dangling metal bits used in rock climbing. Climbers must be age 5 or up.
