our favorite Activities for kids & grandkids

Many fun options are available for activities and adventure in Springfield and Southwest Missouri. The Ozarks is a giant playground, and getting kids outdoors and in healthy learning environments shows them life is best experienced in the moment and not online.

We love outdoor adventures because they can teach kids an array of healthy habits—like appreciating the benefits of exercise, proper nutrition, hydration, boosting their immune system, reducing stress hormones, and more. Healthy habits give kids a chance to form a healthy addiction to the natural environment as opposed to technology (where digital addiction is increasingly linked to depression, anxiety, disruptions in sleep patterns, and loss of face-to-face communication skills). Nature is a powerful antidote.

Indoor and outdoor activities—like ropes courses, interactive exhibits and opportunities for kids with disabilities, also teach kids valuable life skills like overcoming fear and physical challenge, courage, decision making, social skills, risk management, planning, and organizing. Children who explore through play learn new skills which can promote self-confidence, resiliency and self-advocacy.

There’s no substitute to kids exploring the natural world around them or experiencing the pure joy and elation that comes from overcoming an obstacle, which gives them something to look back from and see how far they came. Below are some of the many indoor and outdoor activities we have experienced with our own kids and grandkids and a few we’ve heard great things about. See Outdoor Adventures for more awesome activities.

Amusement & Water parks

  • Silver Dollar City
    399 Silver Dollar City Pkwy, Branson 📍 | 417-336-7100 — Voted one of America's Best Theme Parks by USA Today, this 1880s theme park will turn an ordinary day into a best-ever day with fun that awaits you from a spring-time getaway to a Christmas celebration. New adventures, record-breaking thrills, world of surprises, and memories you’ll remember forever.

  • White Water Park
    3505 West Highway 76, Branson 📍 | 417-336-7100 — Voted One of America's Best Outdoor Water Parks by USA Today 10 Best Readers. This water park features 13 acres of water rides, slides and waves including the 500,000 gallon Surf's Up Wave Pool, Aloha River, Coconut Cove, and for high thrills take a 70 degree, 40 foot plunge at 26 feet per second on KaPau Plummet or brave the side by side freefall drop slides at Kalani Towers.

Axe Throwing

  • Craft Axe Throwing
    431 S Jefferson Ave, Suite 132A, Springfield 📍 | 417-409-2496 — Minimum age to throw an axe is 10 years. Anyone 10 to 18 years of age must have a parent/guardian present. Featuring 10 throwing lanes, players of all experience levels are welcome and on-site instruction is provided.

Bowling

  • Andy B’s
    1127 E Battlefield Rd, Springfield 📍 | 417-883-1234 — Destination for refined bowling, arcade games, underground laser tag, and food and beverage selection.

Climbing

  • Zenith Climbing Center
    3534 E Sunshine St #3, Springfield 📍 | 417-986-3869 — State-of-the-art climbing studio is a fitness junkie’s dream. With multiple climbing walls, workout area, gear shop and various courses for beginners and advanced climbers alike, Zenith offers a thrilling challenge and family friendly atmosphere.

Dancing

  • Ann’s Performing Arts Centre
    1435 E Independence St #100, Springfield 📍 | 417-881-1211 — Multi-studio complex offering recreational and competitive classes for kids ages 3 and up. Styles include ballet, lyrical dance, modern dance, jazz, tap and hip-hop.

  • Springfield Ballet
    411 N Sherman Pkwy, Springfield 📍 | 417-862-1343 — Children as young as 3 can plié their way into classical ballet training, students can also take jazz, tap, modern dance and creative movement classes.

Diving

  • DiVentures
    5225 S Campbell Ave, Springfield 📍 | 417-883-5151 — Kids learn to scuba dive for underwater adventure in controlled environment, plus swimming lessons available for children of all ages.

Escape Rooms

  • 417 Escape Artist
    2147 W Republic Rd, Springfield 📍 | 417-887-8816 — In each 417 Escape Artist escape room, entertainment, mystery, and logic are blended together to create an amazing mix of fun and problem solving. From investigating a classic whodunit case to escaping a serial killer’s basement lair, 417 Escape Artist has an escape room storyline and difficulty level for sleuths of all ages.

  • Cryptex Branson Escape Rooms
    1819 W 76 Country Blvd, Branson 📍 | 417-320-6263 — 2019, 2020 and 2021 Winner Best of Branson, choose from five escape rooms accommodating groups up to 5 and 9 people.

  • Escape Code
    4560 North Gretna Rd, Branson 📍 | 417-365-7999 — Branson's original escape attraction was ranked by USA Today as the fifth best in the nation. Experience the thrills of solving mysteries in beautiful and immersive environments. Escape from a powerful tornado, wander through a mysterious, vacated hotel, discover a whimsical cottage and more.

  • Springfield Escape Room
    3554 S Campbell Ave, Springfield 📍 | 417-580-9482 — An immersive experience that will challenge the mind and test your limits. Whether you’re looking for a heart-pounding adventure or a fun way to spend an afternoon with friends, there’s an escape room for you. You and your friends will need to use all your mental faculties to beat the clock.

explore Branson

  • Branson/Lakes Area Convention & Visitors Bureau
    4100 Gretna Rd, Branson 📍 | 417-334-4084 — World-famous live entertainment, thrilling attractions, outdoor beauty, delicious food and genuine Ozarks hospitality that will make you feel right at home. Turn precious moments with family into memories that last a lifetime. Branson offers activities and natural wonders that will transform your day into an unforgettable adventure.

Farm-Style Learning

  • Rutledge-Wilson Farm Park
    3825 W Farm Rd 146, Springfield 📍 | 417-837-5949 — 207 acre farm experience offering interaction with farm animals, pedal tractors, catch-and-release fishing, farm-themed playground, and a section of the paved Wilson’s Creek Greenway.

Golf Gaming & Mini Golf

  • Backwoods Golf
    6155 W Republic Rd, Brookline 📍 | 417-233-4234 — Climate controlled hitting bays with TopTracer Range technology provides the place to practice your game and enjoy a day of golf. Restaurant offers delicious food options to keep you and your kids energized for your next round, pro shop stocks all your favorite gear.

  • BigShots Golf
    1930 E Kearney St, Springfield 📍 | 417-427-3040 — State-of-the-art technology drives a fun, virtual golf gaming experience for all skill levels with games called Knockout, Pinball, Islands, Long Drive, and more. Plus, mini-golf, firepits, live music, yard games, and scratch kitchen food.

  • Getaway Golf
    3833 E State Hwy D, Springfield 📍 | 417-881-4653 — One-of-a-kind entertainment venue offers engaging, interactive and educational spin on miniature golf. Appealing to all ages and ADA compliant, Getaway Golf is themed around travel, showcasing top destinations from around the world from the Great Barrier Reef to the Grand Canyon.

Gymnastics & Competitive cheer

  • Dynamics Gymnastics
    USAG Xcel program for beginner competition settings with fun meets on all four women’s events: vault, bars, beam and floor. Women’s levels 4-10 competitive gymnastics attend approximately 8 USAG sanctioned events each year including State, Regionals and Nationals competing on all four events. Boys USAG levels 3-10 competitive gymnastics attend both local and USAG sanctioned events including State, competing in six events: floor, pommel horse/mushroom, rings, vault, parallel bars and horizontal bar.​
    2100 E Pythian St, Springfield 📍 | 417-890-0946
    3624 W Republic Rd, Springfield 📍 | 417-890-0946

  • Gold Medal Gyms
    6840 W Republic Rd, Republic 📍 | 417-732-4100 — Offers gymnastics and competitive cheer programs. Competitive Cheer trains year-round to perfect a choreographed routine and compete in specific divisions split by age and difficulty levels 1 thru 6. Recreational Gymnastics Classes are available in five age-specific Pre-School Classes, five progressive School-Age Classes, and Tumbling Classes for athletes ages 5-18. GMA Gymnastics Team Classes include Pre-Team; Junior Olympics compulsory levels 4 thru 5 program which follows routines set by USA Gymnastics; and, Xcel program set by USA Gymnastics with Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum, and Diamond levels that train 6 to 15 hours per week.

Horseback Riding

Indoor Fun

  • Fritz’s Adventure Branson
    1425 W 76 Country Blvd, Branson 📍 | 417-320-6138 — 80,000 square feet of fun-filled activities for every age includes world's only indoor/outdoor TreeTops course with 45 obstacles, including 17 high-flying ziplines, 8 suspension bridges, 2 free falls, crow's nest with a view for miles, real airplane suspended in the air, multi-story ropes course, treehouses, slides, containers, underground tunnels, laser maze, warped walls and climbing challenges.

  • IMAX Theatre
    3562 Shepherd of the Hills Expy, Branson 📍 | 417-335-4832 — Branson’s IMAX Entertainment Complex features live shows, the latest Hollywood hits, great food and unique shopping experiences.

  • Incredible Pizza
    2850 S Campbell Ave, Springfield 📍 | 417-501-0826 — Extensive pizza bar, classic arcade games, laser tag, go karts, prizes and accommodations for birthday parties and group events.

  • Itty Bitty City
    3640 S Campbell Ave, Springfield 📍 | 417-202-2025 — Loads of creative play opportunities for kids and their parents to imagine, play, learn and build memories in a safe, tiny town educational setting.

  • Jump Mania
    3202 W Republic Rd #600, Springfield 📍 | 417-881-5867 — 8,700 square feet of inflatables for jumping, climbing & sliding, including baby/toddler area.

  • Urban Air Trampoline and Adventure Park
    2825 S Glenstone Ave, Springfield 📍 | 417-210-7889 — Indoor adventure park where kids of all ages can explore thrilling trampolines, rock climbing, ropes courses, virtual reality games, zipline, obstacle course, indoor playground, and more.

  • Where the Wild Things Play
    5557 N 21st St, Suite 4, Ozark 📍 | 417-470-1417 — Safe, clean and beautiful space for your child to let their imagination run wild. A fun environment for children and relaxing atmosphere for parents. Comfortable seating throughout the play space with café tables and high chairs, snacks available for purchase, family friendly restrooms, and parents are welcome to bring their coffee along.

Junior Volleyball

  • Volleyball Beach Ozark
    1198 State Hwy NN, Ozark 📍 | 417-771-9330 — Biggest indoor beach volleyball facility in the U.S.A. The 40,000sq.ft. facility has 10 white sand volleyball courts designed for all levels of play from recreational and collegiate to professional. The Junior Volleyball program is for athletes looking to train for beach volleyball, join a club, play beach in college, join a league, or improve their indoor game through the benefits of sand.

Martial Arts

  • Martial Arts USA
    4560 S Campbell Ave, Suite 132, Springfield 📍 | 417-886-3331 — Offers Lil' Ninjas program giving kids a jump start in life through fun learning that develops gross motor skills (balance, coordination, agility), longer attention spans, confidence, and social skills. Kid Martial Arts give children lifelong gifts of confidence, discipline, self-defense, hard work, and perseverance. Kid Brazilian Jiu Jitsu teaches kids how to defend and protect themselves.

Music

  • Ernie Williamson Music
    3100 S Fremont Ave, Springfield 📍 | 417-881-1373 — Comprehensive private music lessons for band and orchestra, guitar, bass, ukulele, piano, vocals, violin, drums, and specialty instruments including classical guitar, mandolin, and banjo. All teachers are company employees and on-site private lesson rooms make lessons convenient and safe for students and their families.

Performing Arts

  • Sight & Sound Theatre
    1001 Shepherd of the Hills Expy, Branson 📍 | 800-377-1277 — Unique theater experience begins with a 2,000 seat auditorium, a 300-ft stage that surrounds the audience on three sides, a cast of 50 actors, state-of-the-art technology, and live animals. Each production is intricately created—from the finely-stitched costumes to the grand staging of massive sets. Meticulous attention is given to every detail to transport you right into the heart of the story.

  • Springfield Little Theatre
    311 E Walnut St, Springfield 📍 | 417-869-3869 — Offers acting classes for all ages and skill levels, including musical theater, tap dancing, ballet, acting and voice.

Science

  • Discovery Center of Springfield
    438 E St. Louis St, Springfield 📍 | 417-862-9910 — Playground of hands-on, interactive exhibits that elicit a surprising, delightful and inspiring educational experience to make learning science, technology, engineering and math more accessible and relevant to everyday life.

Skating

Studying the Animal World

  • Dickerson Park Zoo
    1401 W Norton Rd, Springfield 📍 | 417-833-1570 — Over 500 animals from across the world, classes featuring live animal encounters, crafts, stories, games and snacks.

  • Wild Animal Safari
    124 Jungle Rd, Strafford 📍 | 417-859-5300 — Drive-through animal encounters educate, engage and create memorable moments between people and exotic animals from the scaly and slithery to furry friends.

Swimming

  • Chesterfield Indoor Aquatic Center
    2511 W Republic Rd, Springfield 📍 | 417-891-1616 — Little Splashers is designated time for children 5 and under accompanied by an adult in the water with small spray features on for little ones to enjoy. All ages open swim daily, and private and semi-private swimming lessons available.

  • The OC Aquatic Facility
    1530 W Jackson St, Ozark 📍 | 417-581-7002 — Offers indoor heated lap pool with beach access, lazy river, water slide, water features, locker rooms, and private and group swimming lessons with 7 classes based on skill level for ages 6 months and up. Ozark Tiger Sharks Swim Club provides opportunity to train and compete at all levels of competitive swimming while building sportsmanship, self-discipline, commitment, and leadership in every athlete.

The Arts