PLYMOUTH FIELDHOUSE
PLYMOUTH, MN
VISIT WEBSITE
It’s been uttered by every parent out there…”this winter is getting long.” I heard about this place from a friend and the timing couldn’t have been better for this losing-my-mind-in-our-tiny-house-and-sick-of-hitting-up-the-mall mother of two. My kids ran themselves ragged to the point where the oldest crumbled into a ball on the floor when I said it was time to leave saying he was “so tired his legs don’t work anymore.” Yup. Awesome!
What is it?
The Plymouth FieldHouse is literally an indoor soccer field with fake turf that offers open play for preschoolers and toddlers three days a week for a VERY cheap rate. There are a variety of bouncy houses and slides, soccer nets and basketball nets with accommodating balls, tunnels, ropes (dangerous? Maybe a little), frisbees, and best of all, TONS of open space to sprint, dive, crawl, and roll.
Fit for what ages?
I would say that two would be a pretty good minimum on the age I would put on this activity. My son, at 4 1/2, LOVED it. He was old enough to do the steep slide and the climbing wall, and enjoyed chasing the frisbees and playing soccer with me. Fortunately, they have a “mid-range” bouncy slide that my 2-year-old was just old enough to successfully climb, so she felt pretty cool.
How much are we talkin?
NOTE: 2015 rates have gone up to $5/kid for non-residents of Plymouth and $4/kid for residents.
Adults are free. This is a WINTER ONLY activity, so I believe the last day for it is coming up at the end of March.
Want some tips?
Bring cash. No credit cards accepted (learned this one the hard way…I sweet-talked the guy into a “trial day” because I literally had $.43 to my name and it was mostly in pennies). Bring food. Kids get hungry and, though you can’t actually eat IN the dome, there are nice indoor tables with lots of space right outside the fieldhouse entrance. Water fountains and bathrooms are in that same space. Bring extra socks for the kids. There’s a great likelihood of their socks getting wet since they can’t wear shoes and the turf is a bit damp. The fieldhouse has a nice track that goes around it so, if you are a runner, use your time wisely and run while your kids play. It was very nice, and small enough that you can pretty much still keep a close eye on your children while you squeeze in some exercise, assuming you have kids who are old enough to not get stuck in bounce houses, etc. Wear comfy shoes if your kid likes to include you in his games of soccer and basketball and frisbee like mine does. And, DO keep an eye on your kids, please. I can’t tell you how many times older boys pummeled over my daughter as she was trying bravely to get up the bouncy slide by herself. And, I helped two young girls find their moms after they got rammed in the head by a miniature basketball. Both moms were sitting in the corners on their cell phones. I’m guilty of it too, but just pay a little more attention here. It can get busy and kids will be kids. Speaking of busy, we got there right when it opened at 10:30 and it was packed. By noon, it had cleared out. Naps and lunch took precedence for most parents, so maybe try to work around that?
Hours and Location
14800 34th Ave., Plymouth, MN 55447
Open every Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 10:30am – 1:30pm, only through March 28, 2014! The location was tricky…I suggest using the map on their page, because the landmarks were the only things that helped me. Note that there are two 34th Streets, so don’t give up if you hit a dead end 🙂
Their website (with map): http://plymouthmn.gov/index.aspx?page=119
