Having great indoor playgrounds nearby are perfect for those days when the weather outside is not enjoyable and every toddler mama should know where the local spots are. I was THRILLED to see that a new venue opened near to us at the Ocean County Mall.
This new venue is just steps away from the Ocean County Mall food court. It's the perfect location because if you just need to run to the mall to grab a thing or two, you don't HAVE to drag your child right on by-- but it's easy enough to get there when you have time to hang out and play!
The play area has two structures, one for little ones and a bigger one for the older kids. Tickets are very fair-- at $20 for ages 1-12 and that price includes admission for 1 adult. They also offer a great perk that you can leave and shop and then return to play!
There is a nice area of cafe tables to the side of the play area for adults to sit and relax while they watch their children. My guy is only two so I followed him around so we could play together. Like other classic indoor playgrounds, you must wear socks-- so during flip flop weather you may need to remember to tote them along! If you forget-- at least you are in the mall! Plenty of options to get a new pair!
The staff was lovely to interact with. We popped in on a beautiful Saturday around 3pm because I THOUGHT it wouldn't be busy since it was a nice day and 2p/3p are the traditional nap hours for most kids. I was wrong-- it was PACKED at that time--- but we still had enough room for everyone to play. Recently I passed by again around the same time on a Thursday and it was pretty quiet. I suspect weekday afternoons are the best times to be there!
You'll find all the attractions that make these venues fun. Slides, ball pits and climbing areas of course. One of my favorite features of this playground though was the tricycle course that goes around the main structure! The kids loved zipping around the tricycle track! My little guy liked it so much we ended up purchasing a tricycle a few days later on Amazon. (here's the one we picked. Great price and he LOVES it!)
I'm happy to have another great indoor option nearby and I am looking forward to meeting local moms there soon for a playdate. If you aren't close to Toms River, Playland has another playground at the Woodbridge Center in Woodbridge Township. Let us know if you check it out!