A few quick ideas:
- The Sandy Creek Nature Center (the exhibit hall is big and fun)
- The Athens-Clarke County Regional Library
- The McDonalds on Epps Bridge Road (has an indoor play area)
If you don’t mind driving, there is also:
- Interactive Neighborhood for Kids (The INK Museum), Gainesville, Georgia
If you know of any other options, please leave them in the comments section!
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1 2 3 Jump in the Georgia Square Mall
I’ve never been a huge fan of malls, but ever since I had kids, I am more than grateful for them. Although we prefer the outdoors, sometimes you need a different place to go, especially when the weather isn’t ideal. Once I wrote about our excursions to the Mall of Georgia in one my newspaper columns.
But the Georgia Square Mall in Athens is more convenient, so we go there sometimes. My kids love 123 Jump, which is a place with toys and several inflatables. I like it because it’s low key, quiet (that is, no music playing), and if we go during the week, there’s usually not many other kids there.
The cost: $3.50 for 15 minutes, $4.50 for half an hour, and $5.50 for an hour (per child). What’s nice is that we can pay for half an hour, and then if the kids are having a lot of fun, we just pay an extra $1 for another 30 minutes.
If we’re up to it, the Georgia Square Mall also has a train ride ($3 per person).
Maybe we just haven’t found them yet, but I don’t know of many other places to take kids in Athens during rainy or cold weather. The exception is Pump It Up, but we haven’t been there yet. It looks like from their website that you have to book a group to go. If you are a homeschooler, there is a homeschooling group that goes on the second Friday of every month. You can join the Athens Homeschooling list to receive updates about that.
It’s not in Athens, but if you’re willing to drive to Gainesville for a special day, you may enjoy the Interactive Neighborhood for Kids museum, which is also indoors.
Mama of Letters 
One other idea is the library, which has a fun kids section with some toys, etc. Here’s a link to the Athens Library: http://www.clarke.public.lib.ga.us/ There are many, smaller regional libraries too.
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Now that the Sandy Creek Nature Center has opened its new exhibit hall, it’s a great place to go on a rainy day! http://www.athensclarkecounty.com/facilities.aspx?pagenum=2&RID=16&Page=detail
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I hate to say it, but we go to Epps Bridge McDonald’s because it is enclosed, has one exit and always has a wide variety of kids to play with. We used to buy the fruit trays, but since they don’t have them any more I usually get tea for me and milk for the kids and they play for an hour or so. My 3yo is VERY active and a contained space is the only way I can relax for a little while!
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Thank you so much for this suggestion, Becky. Actually, it’s a great idea! My husband has taken my boys to that McDonald’s a few times. I completely forgot about it!
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Jungle Jumpers in Winder is a great place for kids to play indoors as well!
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The INK Museum in Gainesville is a fun place, if you don’t mind the drive: https://mamaofletters.com/2011/07/06/interactive-neighborhood-for-kids-ink-museum-in-gainesville-georgia/
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Thank you for your kind words about Georgia Square Mall. We LOVE having the kids visit, rain or shine!
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