Today's families are busier than ever. Each member is caught up with individual activities from work meetings to soccer practice, making together time even more important than ever. Make a few happy memories today at these indoor family fun centers in Wichita, Kansas. more The Alley The Alley is your one-stop-shop for a variety of entertainment possibilities from bowling and go-karts to the arcade. Now introducing Escapology, the latest attraction at The Alley. It delivers an exciting one-hour adventure that the kids will retell for years to come. Do you have what it takes to save the crew or is a murder mystery more your family's thing? Either way, you'll have to work together to solve the riddle. Check out Hologate. It's a virtual reality world where you can experience a snowball fight aboard a hovercraft with the game Cold Clash. SIMURAI is a team shooter game that will challenge your skills against robots and the powerful Dragon-Boss, while you and the older kids can save the world from the undead with Zombyte. Work up an appetite on the lanes, then head over to the onsite restaurant: AJ's Sports Grill. Even your ravenous kids will be satisfied with the Superdome. It's a gigantic 29-inch pizza topped any way you like it. Located at 11413 E. 13th St. North, The Alley is open every day to accommodate your family's demanding calendar. Join the club and get exclusive access to member events and budget-friendly special offers. Bliss Climbing and Fitness One of Wichita's best rock climbing gyms, Bliss is a family-owned, full-service bouldering complex. Bring all the kids along to Bliss. It's a welcoming retreat for climbers of all experience levels. Whether it's your family's first time on the wall or you guys are hardcore climbers looking for an alternative workout, Bliss Fitness has something for everyone. Challenge your body and mind with this fun physical activity while you build strength and flexibility. Bliss has programs for every member of the family, with youth rock climbing classes that might lead to a terrific new hobby. Adults will appreciate the wall's total body workout with programs for Mom and Dad. Ditch the boring gym routine and tone up at Bliss. With a supportive environment and experienced coaching staff, Bliss offers indoor fun for the whole family. Setters regularly develop fantastic new routes, so head over to 11114 E. 28th St. North and see what's new. Bliss is open daily for your convenience. Laser Quest What do you get when you combine hide-and-seek with the classic game of tag, in a high-tech backdrop? It's Laser Quest! Discover a series of multi-level arenas shrouded in fog, with heart-pumping music filling the hall. You never know who's waiting around the corner. Embark on an outstanding entertainment experience at Laser Quest on 2120 N. Woodlawn, except Monday when they're closed. Grab the kids and head out for a fun family adventure right here in Wichita. What's stopping you from enjoying one of these three exciting venues today? Image via Flickr by battlecreekcvb
Exploration Place is one of the best attractions in the Wichita area. Take a tour of this science museum if you're looking for a day trip that is both educational and entertaining. Here are a few things you won't want to miss on your next visit. Live Science Show Treat your family to a live demonstration of exciting science concepts by attending one of Exploration Place's science shows. These presentations are held year-round, on different dates and at different times, depending on the season. You'll get the opportunity to learn about physics, chemistry, electric energy, and even the science behind sweets and candy. Best of all, the presenters regularly allow children in the audience to participate to get a hands-on look at the concepts being demonstrated. These live shows are held in the Kemper Creative Learning Studio, which accommodates 150 patrons and is equipped with its own audiovisual setup. more Where Kids Rule If you're taking kids to Exploration Place, they'll definitely want to check out this enormous interactive exhibit. Where Kids Rule features more than 60 hands-on activities designed to facilitate learning in the fields of math and science. The exhibit is currently themed after medieval life and activities include building a bridge to cross a moat, learning how to apply horseshoes to horses, and understanding the mechanisms of gears and levers in devices such as catapults and trebuchets. The entire exhibit takes the form of a three-story medieval castle, transforming even the simple act of exploring its premises into a fascinating learning experience. Planet Shark Feast your eyes on this comprehensive shark exhibit, which is new for the summer of 2018. The exhibit features full-size models of different species of shark, exciting stories about human/shark encounters, and interesting fossils of prehistoric sharks, including their teeth. Adults and children alike are sure to enjoy learning about the anatomy, biology, and hunting strategies of these iconic ocean predators. You can even learn about shark conservation programs, including satellite tagging and monitoring initiatives. When you're done exploring this fascinating exhibit, don't miss the accompanying Great White Shark film, which is now playing at the science center's Dome Theater. Dome Theater Catch an immersive film at Exploration Place's Dome Theater. The screen was recently upgraded with digital technology for a crisper picture. The screen is 60 feet tall and wraps in a 360-degree view surrounding the seating stands. You'll be blown away by the audiovisual experience when you sit down to watch films such as Great White Shark, Fighter Pilot: Operation Red Flag, and Chirpie's Amazing World Adventure. Watching a film here is like taking a trip around the world — but at only $5 per ticket, it's a whole lot cheaper. You can check show times right on the website. There are so many great exhibits at Exploration Place that it can be hard to know where to start. You should check out anything that catches your eye, but visiting these especially exciting points of interest will get your day at the science center started off on the right foot. Photo by Garett Gabriel | Licensed under cc BY-SA 2.0
Looking for some new additions to your book collection? Whether you’re a collector or just searching for your next good book, find it at a local Wichita bookstore. Here are five places to find the perfect book. more Watermark Books & Cafe For a truly local bookstore experience, be sure to visit Watermark Books and Cafe on East Douglas Ave. Open six days a week and closed on Sunday, the store offers a variety of books across many genres. With an excellent children's section, the store hosts many storytimes and author signing events to help encourage young readers. In addition, the bookstore publishes newsletters for kids, teachers, new releases, and seasoned readers. With a big focus on local and regional authors, you can find some Wichita gems at Watermark. The bookstore's cafe offers soups and a variety of pastries to enjoy with your book. F.C. Ziegler Co. Also located on East Douglas Ave., F.C. Ziegler Company is a small Catholic bookstore chain. Open from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, they carry prayer books, devotionals, bibles, and gift items. You can find history books and commemorative edition books to celebrate special occasions such as baptisms and weddings. Book-a-holic Book-a-holic is a wonderful independent used bookstore. With three locations in Wichita, all three are open seven days a week. Monday through Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sunday 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. The store allows you to buy, sell, or trade for your next great read in any genre from cooking to science-fiction and everything in between. Barnes & Noble Are you ready to explore a store with something for everyone? Stop by Barnes and Noble on North Rock Road. Free WiFi means you can escape the daily grind to study or work while enjoying a Starbucks coffee in the on-site cafe. You can also relax and disconnect in many of the welcoming seating areas located throughout the store. With weekly storytimes (featuring free cafe items and giveaways for the kids), author events, book release parties, Barnes & Noble is a great weekly stop for the kids. In addition to their events and extensive periodical inventory, you can pick up special orders in-store. Al's Old & New Book Store LLC If you are looking for a new copy of an old book, head over to Al's Old and New Book Store on East William Street. The store focuses on carrying older titles that are hard to find in other locations, including classics and a variety of history books. If you are looking for a treasured book from years ago, ask them to show you the special research tools they have to help cut down your search time. Make sure you leave yourself plenty of time to explore their more than 40,000 book inventory. With so many options, it will be fun and easy to find your next read at one of these Wichita bookstores. Make it a weekly after-school field trip with the kids or make it a date night stop to sip a cup of coffee and browse the extensive book selections at your favorite store. Image via Pixabay by geralt
