Foothill Farms, CA Indoor Activities

"Ornate" and "sweeping" only begin to describe the Crest Theatre, whose rich history extends back to 1912, when it was opened as a vaudeville house. Within its gargantuan auditorium, plush seats perch in subtly curved rows while elaborate lights and a sea-blue ceiling wash the space in ethereal hues. Moviegoers settle into the elegant confines to take in both new and classic films, reading the subtitles in a whisper to stuffed animals that forgot their glasses. Out in the lobby, a richly patterned carpet and bronzed floral motif cover the sprawling space as visitors belly up to the bar and snack on high-quality goodies.

BounceU transports kids to an inflatable, climate-controlled playground, where they can bounce from side to side in a safe, secure environment. Children can practice for future careers as catapult payloads during adrenaline-pumping birthday parties, with options such as private bounce rooms and glow-in-the-dark accessories, or they can play during open bounce sessions throughout the week.

Adults are welcome to act like 8-year-olds and join the vivacious youngsters in the playground, where they can duel with the foam-shooting equipment or mount the climbing structures while imagining they're synchronized leapers in Michael Flatley's Riverbounce. The attentive BounceU staff will monitor the rebounding playground at all times, ensuring the facilities are safe and clean.

When Joan Barnes founded Gymboree Play & Music in 1976, she envisioned a facility where parents and children could play together in a safe and age-appropriate environment. In the following decades, Gymboree spread to more than 30 countries across the globe, helping youngsters from infants to 5 years old develop cognitive, physical, and social skills.

The company's instructors lead classes such as Play & Learn, its flagship course, in which parents and kids move through a seven-level program filled with storytelling, play activities, and debates on the merits of sandwich crust. Talented staffers also prep youngsters for school and foster development in areas such as music, art, and sports. Throughout all classes, they make use of custom play equipment designed by acclaimed playground designer and seesaw-tamer Jay Beck.

Arena Softball's advanced pitching machines fling curveballs, sliders, and fastballs at players preparing for a big game on their indoor softball field. The same field also hosts birthday-party matches regulated by experienced umpires, and after the game, players can feast on snacks or home-run softballs.

Additionally, experienced coaches lead lessons, teaching kids the ins and outs of fielding, positioning, and batting, as well as camps for kids aged 6–18. Arena Softball also hosts a variety of leagues.

The fun-loving team members at Flip 2 It Sports Center—whose collective credentials include a degree in child development, coaching experience in competitive cheer and gymnastics, and CPR and first-aid training—strive to cement physical activity as a part of kids' daily lives. They have made it their mission to provide a safe, welcoming place where kids can learn important life skills. Instructors lead fitness-oriented classes ranging from parkour-like urban gymnastics and floor-exercise-focused tumbling sessions to jazz and hip-hop dance. The facility's excellence in teaching made it a finalist in CityVoter's Best Cheer and Gymnastics category in 2011.

The center organizes activities such as field trips and parents' nights out. They also host special events including summer camps and princess-in-training days that feature a tea party, makeover, and guide to selecting moat-worthy goldfish.