Kids’ day out

Family friendly

Vintage toy plane display at the Aviation Museum of New Hampshire.

Photo by Jennifer Gingras.

From indoor playgrounds with trampolines and obstacle courses to museums and outdoor activity centers, New Hampshire offers all kinds of fun for kids and families.

1. aviaTioN museum of New hampshire BesT of The BesT

27 Navigator Road, Londonderry, 669-4820, nhahs.org The museum is dedicated to the science, technology, history and culture of aviation and features interactive exhibits and educational programs for all ages. Museum hours are Friday and Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Sunday, from 1 to 4 p.m. Admission costs $10 for adults and youth ages 13 and older and $5 for seniors age 65 and older, children ages 6 through 12, veterans and active military duty personnel, with a $30 maximum admission fee for families. Admission is free for children age 5 and under and museum members.

2. fuN ciTy TrampoliNe park

553 Mast Road, Goffstown, 606-8807, funcitygoffstown.com The 60,000-square-foot indoor playground and party venue features trampolines, foam pits, laser tag, a climbing wall, slam ball, dodgeball, bumper ball, bumper cars, battle beam, arcade games and a toddler area. Open jump hours are Monday through Thursday, from 3 to 8 p.m.; Friday, from noon to 10 p.m.; Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.; and Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; with toddler time on Tuesday from noon to 3 p.m. Open jump rates are $16 for 60 minutes, $21 for 90 minutes and $26 to $30 for 120 minutes for visitors age 7 and up; and $10/$12/$15 to $18 for visitors age 6 and under. Laser tag is priced separately at $8 for one game, $12 for two games and $15 for three games; as are bumper cars, at $2 per ride.

3. krazy kiDs

60 Sheep Davis Road, Pembroke, 228-7529, krazykids.com The indoor playground and party venue features a Ninja Warrior inflatable obstacle course, a trampoline, an aerial ropes course, slides, tunnels and other soft matted and inflatable structures for climbing, bouncing and jumping. Hours, which are subject to change, are Friday, from 6 to 9 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Two-hour admission costs $15 per child and $5 per adult.

4. NuThiN’ BuT gooD Times

746 Daniel Webster Hwy., Merrimack, 429-2200, nuthinbutgoodtimes.com The indoor playground and party venue has a soft two-story play structure for all ages, a separate play area for toddlers under age 4, a lounge, massage chairs and

a cafe with health-conscious, nut-free food options for snacks, lunch and dinner. Hours are Tuesday through Friday, from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission, which includes unlimited time in the facility, is free for infants and costs $3.50 for crawlers, $8 for children age 3 and under, $11 for children age 4 and up and $2.50 for adults.

5. see scieNce ceNTer

200 Bedford St., Manchester, 669-0400, see-sciencecenter.org The interactive science museum features hands-on exhibits, demonstrations and educational programs focused on technology, engineering and mathematics. It is home to the Lego Millyard Project, the largest permanent minifigure scale Lego installation in the world, which depicts Manchester’s Amoskeag Millyard circa 1900 with more than 3 million Lego pieces; and to a permanent BiologYou exhibition, which includes more than a dozen experiences centered on human biology and biotechnology. Museum hours are Tuesday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., with final admission at an hour before closing. Admission costs $10 per person ages 3 and up and is free for children under age 3 and museum members.

6. cowaBuNga’s

725 Huse Road, Manchester, 935-9659, mycowabungas.com The indoor playground and party venue features an open gym with a threestory climbing structure, outfitted with numerous inflatable slides, ladders, obstacles, foam cannons, ball fountains and more, plus oversized toys and games and a creation station. The equipment is designed to be accessible to adults and encourage adult participation, according to the facility’s website. Hours, which are subject to change, are Tuesday through Friday, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Saturday, from noon to 8 p.m.; and Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Admission per child costs $15 for one hour of play and $20 for two hours; there is no admission fee for accompanying adults.

7. mciNTyre ski area

50 Chalet Court, Manchester, 622-6159, mcintyreskiarea.com The winter snowsports facility has 200 vertical feet of terrain for winter fun, including 11 skiing and snowboarding trails with four lifts and an eight-lane lift-serviced snow tubing thrill hill. The facility has its own snowmaking and hill grooming machines and usually opens for the season in mid-December, according to its website. Tubing is offered Friday through Sunday in two-hour sessions for $30 per person. Skiing and snowboarding is offered for full days (9 a.m. to 6 p.m.), half days (9 a.m. to 2 p.m., or 1 to 6 p.m.) and nights (4 to 9 p.m.)

8. fuNspoT

579 Endicott St., Laconia, 366-4377, funspotnh.com Named the “Largest Arcade in the World” by Guinness World Records, Funspot currently houses more than 600 games, as well as a 20-lane ten-pin and candlepin bowling center, a 5,500-square foot 18-hole mini-golf course, kiddie rides and games, cash bingo, a restaurant, a tavern and a free party room. It’s open Monday through Friday, from noon to 10 p.m., Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m., and Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Admission is free; visitors pay per activity and purchase tokens to operate the arcade games.

9. squam lakes NaTural scieNce ceNTer

23 Science Center Road, Holderness, 968-2229, nhnature.org The nature center and zoo features live animal exhibits, lake cruises, a public garden, hiking trails, educational programs and a gift shop. According to its website, Squam Lakes Natural Science Center is the only institution in northern New England that is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. It’s open daily, from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., from May through October. General admission costs $22 for adults, $20 for seniors age 65 and up and $16 for youth ages 3 through 15 and is free for children age 2 and under and members.

Matt the Sax

Matt the Sax, a.k.a. Matt Meaudin, specializes in saxophone and acoustic guitar and vocals. He released an EP, It gets better, in June and you can find his schedule of performances on his Facebook page.

Photo by Sid Ceaser. 62 Hippo Magazine 2022

Doris Ballard

Doris Ballard, creator of the Laughta in New Hampsha comedy school and a locally performing comedian (and a former Concord Community TV executive director), won one of the Best Local Comedian slots. Ballard’s upcoming shows can be found on her Facebook page, where she said “#callmeverklempt” in reference to her readers’ poll win.

Photo by Sid Ceaser.