Theme & Amusement Parks in Boulder City

In 1976, Joan Barnes—a California mom frustrated with the lack of spaces where she could take her kids for safe and age-appropriate play time—took matters into her own hands and founded Gymboree Play and Music. In the decades since Gymboree’s founding, Joan’s vision of a safe place where youngsters could build confidence and creativity has come to fruition and spread to 30 countries around the globe. Staffed by attentive and expertly trained instructors, each Gymboree outpost adheres to a curriculum of activities designed by experts to foster the development of children's cognitive, physical, and social skills through structured play and close readings of Goodnight Moon. The staffers also conduct entertaining classes for parents, newborns, and children under 1 year that cover subjects ranging from music to sports, imparting valuable lessons of imagination and physical activity to developing minds. To further set apart her business, Barnes employed nationally renowned playground designer Jay Beckwith to design the proprietary play equipment at her centers.

Inspired by Michelle Obama’s Let's Move! initiative, Lily Sirsy set out to do her part to fight childhood obesity and promote lifetimes of healthy habits. Her passion resulted in Jumpfit Kids, a safe, colorful space for Nevada families to play, exercise, and create. Amid the 3,000-square-foot play gym, tots can defy gravity in one of two indoor bounce houses, tell tall tales with puppet theater, or expand their palates and built-in water wings in a variety of art, cooking, and exercise classes. Junior-size cardio equipment in bright primary colors fills the kids' fitness center, encouraging whippersnappers to work up a sweat or produce enough electricity to power a gingerbread house.

Blood-curdling screams reverberate through the two haunted houses that make up Blood Village, a sleepy hollow of gruesome scenery and deranged tenants. Inside the Haunted Mansion, dark corridors and blood-soaked fiends bring guests' worst fears to life, particularly for those afraid of murderous clowns’ oversized pants, and an undead horde staggers through the Zombie Infection realm, eager to feast on idling brains. Blood Village also hosts the Last Ride attraction, which entombs customers in a wooden coffin, simulating the bone-chilling experience of being buried alive or waking up in a closed trundle bed.

Recognized as the Best Family Attraction by Best of Vegas in 2010, Sky Zone fuses fun and fitness into one atmospheric package for guests of all ages, sizes, and skill levels. Inside the facility's 3-D-walled playing fields, jumpers bound and ricochet across angled trampolines that transform traditional games such as dodge ball and long division into challenging new tests of aerial prowess. Additionally, SkyRobics fitness classes add a new dimension to exercise routines, and the Foam Zone lets guests cannonball into a plushy pit of foam boxes to experience what it would be like inside one of the moon's many FedEx locations.

Established in 1980 and nationally accredited by the NECPA, Creative Kids Learning Center fosters the development of children aged 18 months to 12 years while meeting each of the standards set forth by the "10 Signs of a Great Preschool." Inside colorful classrooms or outside on playgrounds, inspiration flows freely as kids participate in a curriculum that features such subjects as initiative, music and movement, and creative representation. The center's hands-on philosophy emphasizes five key components, including professionalism and education, which consistently shine through the words and actions of a staff that is certified in first aid, CPR, and refereeing wrestling matches between imaginary friends. Safety and health are also cornerstones of the business, resulting in toys, equipment, and classrooms being sanitized frequently.

European Formula EK20 karts whiz by on Pole Position Raceway’s quarter-mile track, cruising at speeds of up to 45 miles per hour. Spectators crank their heads to keep up. There’s no wind to battle against, no sun blinding the drivers’ eyes, and no birds rigging the race by dropping smoke bombs because all of Pole Position Raceway’s competitions happen inside. This is thanks to a fleet of electric-powered karts, which accelerate more quickly and hug curves more smoothly than gas-powered karts without dumping out clouds of exhaust.

To sate speed cravings, drivers simply arrive and drive—show up and nab one of 13 spots in the next race. Then with a DOT-approved racing helmet, they push the pedal to the floor for roughly 10 minutes, drafting their opponents to fly past them near the finish line. At the end of each race, drivers receive a SpeedSheet that displays their race results, fastest lap time, and the likelihood of getting their own action-movie franchise. For those seeking to dive deep into the world of racing, Pole Position Raceway offers driving clinics and youth racing camps, where younger racers pilot EK10 karts that peak at 20 mph.