7 Family-Friendly Winter Activities

posted on Thursday, January 31, 2019

With these bitterly cold days upon us, you may be experiencing cabin fever. Or maybe you just need to get the kids out of the house to burn some energy. Whatever your reason, we have compiled a list of family-friendly winter activities to do here in Waterloo.

Public ice skating at Young Arena

Ice Skating
Young Arena’s public skating is a fun-filled atmosphere for all ages to enjoy. Admission is $5. If you don’t own skates you can rent them there for $4. The sessions begin in late July and run through April. Check out the website for public skating tips and times.
 

Classes and Shows

Do you have a budding actor or actress in your house?  The Black Hawk Children’s Theatre offers classes for all age groups. Cost varies depending on the class.  Their website has a list of classes, dates, and prices.  Or you can call their office at 319.235.0367. If you’d rather just watch instead of performing, they offer four live performances each season. 

Museums. 
Waterloo has seven museums all within one mile of each other in the downtown area. We have anything from history, to science, to art, to agriculture to offer.  Kids can have fun at all the museums with offering some hands-on activities. Admission costs vary by location.

• Waterloo Center for the Arts and Phelps Youth Pavilion at 225 Commercial Street. Both museums are open 10am-5pm Tuesday-Saturday and 1-5pm on Sunday.
• The Grout Museum District consists of three museums. The Sullivan Brothers Iowa Veterans Museum and the Grout Museum of History and Science are at 503 South Street. The Bluedorn Science Imaginarium is located one block away at 322 Washington Street. All three museums are open 10am-5pm Tuesday-Saturday.
• The National Wrestling Hall of Fame Dan Gable Museum is located at 303 Jefferson Street. They will be opening again at the end of March after being closed for remodeling.
• John Deere Tractor and Engine Museum is located at 500 Westfield Ave. They are open 9am-1pm Monday, Tuesday-Saturday 9am-5pm, Closed Sundays and Holidays.

Bowling
Waterloo has two bowling allies for some fun with family and friends.

• Maple Lanes located at 2608 University Avenue offers 32 lanes and food at the KingPin Bar & Grill.
• Cadillac XBC at 650 La Porte Road offers 32 lanes for bowling plus an arcade and laser tag. 

Get Air Waterloo

Trampoline Park
What better way is there to burn off some energy than to jump around in a trampoline park? Get Air Waterloo is located at 3729 University Avenue and offers wall-to-wall trampolines, foam pits, ninja courses and more.

Workshops
You can get creative, learn about history or science and more with the workshops offered at  The Waterloo Public Library, Waterloo Center for the Arts/Phelps Youth Pavilion, and Grout Museum District. Visit their websites for a complete listing of workshops and activities for many different ages and areas of interest.

We hope this helps inspire you to get out and experience Waterloo's many activities and attractions during these cold winter months. 

For a complete list of activities and events visit our on-line 2020 Visitors Guides or our calendar of events. 

---

- Annette Freeseman, Experience Waterloo
 

1. black hawk children's theatre
2. bluedorn science imaginarium
3. bowling
4. cadillac xbc
5. family fun
6. get air waterloo
7. grout museum district
8. grout museum of history and science
9. ice skating
10. john deere tractor and engine museum
11. maple lanes
12. museums
13. national wrestling hall of fame dan gable museum
14. phelps youth pavilion
15. snowden house
16. sullivan brothers iowa veterans museum
17. tea
18. theatre
19. trampoline park
20. waterloo center for the arts
21. waterloo public library
22. winter
23. young arena