Finding fun, free indoor places for your kids to burn off energy feels nearly impossible these days. When the weather is bad (which, let’s be honest, happens a lot here in West Michigan) it would be nice to have somewhere to take the little ones that doesn’t require spending a fortune.

Growing up in the 1980’s & 1990’s, I remember McDonald’s Play Places were the go-to spot to hang out. Parents could grab lunch, let the kids climb and slide, and take a breather without worrying about an entrance fee or time limit. Fast forward to today, and most of those play areas have disappeared faster than all of those pogs we collected back in the day.

MORE: Playcafes and Indoor Playgrounds in Grand Rapids ⬇️

Whether it’s due to remodels, changing trends, or health concerns after the COVID pandemic, now the indoor playgrounds that once kept kids entertained for hours are now few and far between. 

Thankfully, a handful of McDonald’s Play Places still exist in the Grand Rapids area, and they can be a lifesaver on those long winter days or rainy afternoons. But if you try to use their website to find them, you'll come up with zero results for some reason.

If you’re on the hunt for a spot where your little ones can play while you enjoy a much-needed break, here are the locations where you can still find a Play Place in West Michigan:

531 68th St SW, Grand Rapids

160 Chicago Dr, Jenison

1300 W Main St, Lowell

657 E 8th St, Holland

8531 Homestead Dr, Zeeland

4131 17 Mile Rd NE, Cedar Springs

While there may be more out there, these are the rare few I've found via crowd sourcing and personal experience. Good Luck parents. Enjoy the last final free play frontier when the weather isn't so great before it turns into some weird iPad corner..

And here are some options in case you don't mind dropping a few bucks...