Saturday, June 21, 2008

Going Bonkers! A great place to go when your kids are going bonkers....



So we've probably been swimming about a third of our waking hours for the last two weeks.   Well, maybe not a third, but at some point, on these hot days, there's got to be something else to do with the kiddos when they're crawling the walls and it's 150 degrees outside.

Enter:  Going Bonkers!     
This is some serious fun.    It's totally safe, with netted-in climbing platforms made out of a material that reminds me of seat belts.   They're big about how clean and sanitized the structures are, and there's a separate 3 and under play area that my 3 year old loves.  Plus, the word is, it was designed by a physical therapist.
 

It's 16,000 square feet of open-air climbing and sliding fun, and toddlers all the way to young teens love it.    Oh, and it's pretty dang cheap.    Adults  are $1,  Kids 3-18 $5.   Under 3, $2.50.


What's great:  
  • There a a whole bunch of booths situated right in the middle (I'm sitting in one now actually) that give you good line of sight to pretty much anywhere in the play center except the arcade upstairs.  (More on that later)
  • There's free wireless internet, so you can bring your laptop and check email, catch up on other moms' blogs, and keep yourself entertained.    That, or you can bring a magazine.
  • There's pretty cheap food, or you can bring your own in.    Huge cheese pizza, $15, feeds about 25 people.    OK, maybe not 25, but 4 at least.    They even had salads (which of course I didn't try) and several variations on kids' meals for $3 to $5.
Some tips:
  • Be sure and dress your kid(s) in a really bright, and ideally striped shirt.   It makes it wayyyy easier to keep up w/ your wigglers.   Except not pink, since every little girl in here has on a pink shirt.   Seriously.
  • Saturdays are REALLY busy.   If you're okay with that, or forget (like I did today), it's still fine, but a little harder to keep watch.     Weekdays are usually best, and they're open most days until early evening.
  • Meet a buddy here - it's like a grown-up version of Tots Towne, for all of you who remember that.  Easy to chat and still watch your kids.
  • When you get here, tell you kiddos they're not allowed to go upstairs to the arcade.    It's just easier.    It's the only area you can't see (without actually getting up and walking upstairs) and who knows who's lurking up there.    I know, I'm paranoid, but it's a crazy world these days.
To get there:   head up I-35 past the Bush, and you'll see Vista Ridge mall on your left.  I think it's called "Round Grove Road".    Go west on Round Grove over the highway, then make a left on MacArthur.   Watch for Going Bonkers on your left.

So, that's about it!    More than you ever wanted to know about Going Bonkers. 
  

1 comment:

Amy said...

I can't wait to try this place out!!