Best Indoor Activities for Kids in Santa Cruz

5–17Indoor~$60–$100 (mini golf ~$10–$14/person; arcade tokens extra; budgeting $15–$25/person for tokens is reasonable; 2 adults + 2 kids)

An indoor miniature golf course with an ocean/nautical theme, plus a huge arcade — it's a rainy-day jackpot right next to the Santa Cruz Boardwalk.

Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary Exploration Center

2–17FreeIndoor$0 — completely free admission

Touchable tide pool exhibits, glowing deep-sea creature displays, and video windows into the actual Monterey Bay — kids are riveted by seeing what liv

The Santa Cruz Children’s Museum of Discovery

0–10Indoor~$40–$52 (admission typically ~$10–$13/person for ages 1+; under 1 often free; 2 adults + 2 kids)

Hands-on exhibits let kids dig for fossils, splash in a water table, run a pretend farmers market, and explore science concepts in ways that feel like

Altitude Trampoline Park

4–17Indoor~$60–$100 (typically $15–$22/jumper per hour session; grip socks ~$3 if you forget; 2 jumping kids + 2 spectating or jumping adults; 2 adults + 2 kids)

Wall-to-wall trampolines, foam pits, dodgeball courts, and slam dunk zones — it's an energy bonfire that leaves kids completely spent in the best poss

Cave Train

4.4 stars

A slow-moving train ride through darkened tunnels filled with glowing, slightly spooky scenes — the perfect amount of 'scary' for little kids who want

2–9Indoor~$20–$32 (ride tickets per person; part of Boardwalk ride packages — combo day passes are better value; 2 adults + 2 kids)

Neptune's Kingdom

4.6(621)

Ages: 5–17

Free

Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary Exploration Center

4.6(491)

Ages: 2–17

The Santa Cruz Children’s Museum of Discovery

4.6(172)

Ages: 0–10

Altitude Trampoline Park

4.6(685)

Ages: 4–17

Cave Train

4.4(35)

Ages: 2–9

Giggles-N-Wiggles

4.4(72)

Ages: 0–7

Boardwalk Bowl

4.4(962)

Ages: 2–17

Santa Cruz Roller Palladium

4.4(344)

Ages: 5–17

Free

Visit Santa Cruz County

4.2(67)

Ages: All ages (planning resource)

Lost Worlds Funtropolous

4.0(333)

Ages: 4–16

Sky Zone Trampoline Park

3.9(1,768)

Ages: Best for ages 3-15