If you’re reading this site, you’re probably avid about one or more outdoor activities. But what to do when the weather won’t cooperate with your plans? This point has been hammered home to my family and me recently, as three solid weeks of rain, thunder, and lightning have transformed our portion of Florida into the “What Happened to the Sunshine?” State.
Our forced exile from the outdoors has brought to light a number of fun alternatives that will do just fine in a pinch. Indoor play lands abound for those who are willing to look. You know those inflatable bounce houses and slides that pop up for carnivals and festivals and such? We’ve got two indoor inflatable play lands in our city, which means you’ve probably got one within a reasonable drive of where you live (unless you live in Montana). Within the climate controlled walls of “Backyard Adventures”, we found no end of fun in zipping through mazes of air-filled obstacles and careening down slides at speeds unsafe for dad and son alike.
Another delightful discovery was something called “Funtasia”. It is an indoor series of mazes, climbing walls, ropes, pseudo-zip lines, and ball pits appropriate for children up to 12ish. There is one entrance in and out, so it is a safe place to let the kids run wild while I enjoy a little daddy down time.
It turns out that the moms all know and love these places because they can go there during the oppressive summer heat. But for an outdoor guy with two outdoor sons, this was an adequate substitute for those days when we just couldn’t get out to play. We even found some indoor (but not air conditioned) batting cages with a miniature practice field to keep up with our baseball skills.
It’s true that there is no substitute for fresh air and your favorite outdoor activity. But it turns out that there are a few temporary alternatives for those times when Mother Nature just won’t play along with your plans.
