KidPaths

Rainy Day Activities for Kids in Santa Cruz

14 indoor and rainy day activities for kids in Santa Cruz. Museums, entertainment centers, and indoor play spaces with age ratings and parent tips.

Highest rated: Bill's Backyard, Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History, The Santa Cruz Children’s Museum of Discovery. 2 are free. 11 are indoor. Every listing includes age ratings, stroller access, and parent tips.

Top Picks

Bill's Backyard
#1

Bill's Backyard

5 stars

Bouncy castles, pony rides, and full party experiences — for the birthday kid, this is the ultimate day.

2–10Indoor & OutdoorParty packages vary — budget $200–$500+ for a hosted party; individual event access pricing varies
Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History
#2

Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History

4.7 stars

A full gray whale skeleton, touchable fossils and minerals, live native bee hive, and coastal ecosystem displays that connect directly to the beach ki

3–13Indoor & Outdoor~$0–$20 (suggested donation-based admission; typically free or very low cost; check current policy at santacruzmuseum
The Santa Cruz Children’s Museum of Discovery
#3

The Santa Cruz Children’s Museum of Discovery

4.6 stars

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

0–10Indoor~$40–$52 (admission typically ~$10–$13/person for ages 1+; under 1 often free; 2 adults + 2 kids)
Altitude Trampoline Park
#4

Altitude Trampoline Park

4.6 stars

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

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)
Neptune's Kingdom
#5

Neptune's Kingdom

4.6 stars

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.

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

Bill's Backyard

5.0(20)

Ages: 2–10

Indoor/OutdoorStroller-FriendlyRainy Day
Santa Cruz Museum of Natural HistoryPartially Free

Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History

4.7(330)

Ages: 3–13

Indoor/OutdoorStroller-FriendlyRainy Day
The Santa Cruz Children’s Museum of Discovery

The Santa Cruz Children’s Museum of Discovery

4.6(172)

Ages: 0–10

IndoorStroller-FriendlyRainy Day
Altitude Trampoline Park

Altitude Trampoline Park

4.6(685)

Ages: 4–17

IndoorStroller-FriendlyRainy Day
Neptune's Kingdom

Neptune's Kingdom

4.6(621)

Ages: 5–17

IndoorRainy Day
Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary Exploration CenterFree

Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary Exploration Center

4.6(491)

Ages: 2–17

IndoorStroller-FriendlyRainy Day
Boardwalk Bowl

Boardwalk Bowl

4.4(962)

Ages: 2–17

IndoorStroller-FriendlyRainy Day
Santa Cruz Roller Palladium

Santa Cruz Roller Palladium

4.4(344)

Ages: 5–17

IndoorRainy Day
Cave Train

Cave Train

4.4(35)

Ages: 2–9

IndoorRainy Day
Giggles-N-Wiggles

Giggles-N-Wiggles

4.4(72)

Ages: 0–7

IndoorStroller-FriendlyRainy Day
Visit Santa Cruz CountyFree

Visit Santa Cruz County

4.2(67)

Ages: All ages (planning resource)

IndoorStroller-FriendlyRainy Day
Fun Factory

Fun Factory

4.1(15)

Ages: Best for ages 2-8

Indoor/OutdoorRainy Day
Lost Worlds Funtropolous

Lost Worlds Funtropolous

4.0(333)

Ages: 4–16

IndoorRainy Day
Sky Zone Trampoline Park

Sky Zone Trampoline Park

3.9(1,768)

Ages: Best for ages 3-15

IndoorRainy Day

Common Questions

What can we do with kids on a rainy day in Santa Cruz?
Santa Cruz has 14 rainy-day-friendly activities for families. Best options: Bill's Backyard, Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History, The Santa Cruz Children’s Museum of Discovery, Altitude Trampoline Park, Neptune's Kingdom. All are indoor or covered.
How many rainy day activities in Santa Cruz are stroller-friendly?
8 of the 14 rainy day activities in Santa Cruz are fully stroller-friendly.

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