indoor play spaces for 2-year-olds?

thiswillbe

Does anyone know of any good (or, hey, when I'm desperate I'd even take crappy ones, as long as they're reasonably clean) indoor play spaces for 2 lively 2-year-olds? I need something for days like today, when they really need to get out and burn off some energy, but I'm not feeling up to taking them outside in the cold (stupid migraine!). I'm thinking anything ranging from a little mall playspace (like Columbia Mall's) to something bigger. Free and not free ideas welcome! Near-ish to College Park/Laurel (MD) would be great, but I'm willing to drive. Thanks for any and all ideas!

WinesNotWhines

The College Park Aviation Museum isn't exactly a play space, but it's close to you and kid-friendly. There's an area with activities just for toddlers and preschoolers. It's small and not too crowded. We spent about an hour there and my kid had fun. Other ideas are the Playseum in Bethesda and Port Discovery in Baltimore (but I wouldn't go to PD with both kids by yourself; go with another adult, because it's kind of chaotic).

kafunder

We've done a range of places. Here are some we've liked (some are near you, some aren't, but I'm posting all of them incase others are interested).

Landmark Mall--small, but pretty empty. it doesn't have a wall around it, so kids escape easily

Tysons Corner--very crowded unless you are the first ones there

Dulles Town Center--great when it first opens. It's well contained and has good equipment (slides, climbing things)

White Marsh Mall--also well contained

Fair Oaks Mall--lots of big kids running around 

Potomac Mills--well contained and has a lot of climbing things plus stuff on the walls for kids to play with

Montgomery Mall--well contained and has lots to climb on

Port Discovery--Very fun and big. The kids loved it.

There's also a full listing of soft playrooms here:  

https://www.our-kids.com/public/t/?f=2&s=107&t&expand=true 

MrsPhilDunphy

Ikea! I had to drag him out of there last week and we didn't even go in the playroom!

vtkgirl77

I have the PG Sports Complex on my list. I hope to go out there one Saturday.

https://kidfriendlydc.com/2012/02/16/open-play-at-the-pg-sports-learning-complex/

 

You can also check out this list:

https://kidfriendlydc.com/2010/09/29/the-great-indoors/

 

 

 

minzy

The National Building Museum at 401 F St NW has a huge open carpeted area, and also a "building zone" room that has seven or eight playstations that are great for kids that age.  It's $3 to get into the room and only so many are allowed in at once, so it shouldn't get too crazy.

ch ch ch chia

We took DD to an open gymnastics session today at Hill's Gymnastics in Gaithersburg, and she had a lot of fun.  It was $8 for an hour.  A little crazy, but I think that might have been because it was a holiday.   

Other gymnastics places have similar open playtimes - Silver Stars, Marva Teen & Tot, and I'm sure there's others.  I think PG county might even have a gymnastic center.

thiswillbe

Thanks so much, everyone! This is a fantastic list! I'm looking forward to checking these places out. I ended up taking the kids to the Columbia Mall play space yesterday, and it was pure insanity... can't wait to try some new spots!