When the weather outside is frightful, outings to indoor family-friendly spots can be delightful – and absolutely necessary for everyone’s sanity! In this post you’ll find ideas for keeping kids busy during inclement weather in or near Prince Edward County.

In Prince Edward County:

The Prince Edward Fitness & Aquatic Center (PEFAC) runs public swims on Thursdays from 7-8:30 p.m. and Saturdays from 1-3 p.m., and on the third Tuesday of the month from 7-8:30 p.m. (call or check website to confirm schedule and fees). As of last time we checked, pricing was: Child under 12 – $5, age 13-17 – $8, Adult – $10, Family (two adults and any children living in the home under 21) – $20.

Take the kids skating for free at the the Prince Edward Community Centre or Wellington & District Community Centre during public skate times – the schedule can be found here. Helmets are mandatory for kids aged 5 years and under, and BYO skates!

All hail the kid-friendly cafes and stores of the world! In the County, we are lucky to have a few of these; here’s hoping that more local business owners will follow suit. Beacon Bike & Brew (188 Main St, Picton) is a wonderfully family-friendly cafe with delicious treats and a welcoming kids’ play space. Books & Company (289 Main St, Picton) is another fun excursion – share a cookie from Miss Lily’s Cafe and browse/read/buy a book/toy or two!

Escape Camp Picton at Base 31 offers two 1-hour indoor escape room experiences – A Spy’s Workshop (2-5 participants) and The Secret Guild (5-12 participants). They are designed to challenge adults but all ages are welcome to join. The cost is $30/person, but kids under 6 can tag along for free (and don’t count towards the maximum number of participants). It is an indoor experience, but they advise dressing warmly in the colder months; also, note that there is no running water and only a portapotty on site. Visit the website for hours and to make a booking.

Playgroups and storytimes are engaging, rain-or-shine socializing opportunities for kids and parents alike. Check out our Playgroups & Library Activities Guide for information on County organizations hosting playgroups and storytimes at various locations and times. Of course, all 6 branches of the PEC Public Library system have children’s areas where families are welcome to hang out any time during opening hours.

Picton’s iconic Regent Theatre sometimes offers kid-friendly films – along with booster seats and yummy local popcorn.

Explore the region’s history at the County’s museums. They are sometimes closed in the winter, but still open for special events, including Flashback February.

Near(ish) to Prince Edward County:

The Quinte Museum of Natural History hosts “natural science” exhibits on the Earth’s fossil record, the biodiversity of Ontario, and the Bay of Quinte region. The 2022 exhibit explored dinosaurs! Check the website for opening hours as they are currently (January 2023) closed for an exhibit change-over and maintenance.

Belleville’s Quinte Sports and Wellness Centre hosts public swims every day of the week; the schedule can be found here. The cost is $3/person (kids under 3 are free), or you can purchase a 10-visit pass for $25. In addition to a main pool and therapy pool, there is a preschool pool with beach entry, a slide, and splash features that is heated to 90 degrees!

Zone Athletics hosts drop-in sessions at their Play Zone which has a fully sprung floor, AirTrak, ninja activity set, and more. 

Steeeerike! Quinte Bowl in Belleville is open daily from 9 a.m. until way after bedtime. They have smaller balls for kids.

Try out bouldering at the Boiler Room Climbing Gym in Belleville – they have a kid-friendly circuit!

Are the kids in playground withdrawal? The Treehouse at the Belleville YMCA may be the answer for kids aged 1-10 years; it has small, medium, and large slides and climbing structures with fun obstacles to play around.

Another indoor playground option for kids aged 3-10 is the “Soft Play” Zone at Kingston’s The Fun Zone. They also have a Laser Tag course and an arcade.

Kingston’s Boys and Girls Club (BGC) South East offers glow-in-the-dark mini-putt and laser tag.

Napanee’s Strathcona Paper Centre also deserves an honourable “non-PEC” mention due to its offer of skate and helmet rentals for public skating sessions! See calendar here for times, and click here, then on “Skating Opportunities” and “Public Skate” for more details.

The Squishy Goose is an indoor playground located in Cobourg with “places that safely allow infants to explore or rest, a toddler area specially equipped for crawlers and early learners, and a large intricate play structure designed for kids of all ages to run, climb and play!”.

Finally, Joey’s World in Bowmanville is a (literal) step up in the indoor playground game. A huge play structure, 2 separate toddler areas, 20′ climbing wall, (supervised!) archery practice with real bow and arrow, and Skytrekking, an aerial ropes course suspended 17′ above the ground. It’s open from 10-4 on Mondays and 10-8 from Tuesday-Sunday; check the website for prices. No outside food (other than baby food) is allowed; there is a cafe onsite.