Welcome to Smyrna, a wonderful city where the fun never has to stop just because of the weather. Whether the Tennessee sun is blazing hot, the rain is falling hard, or the winter air is too chilly, families need reliable places to go where they can relax, run around, or learn something new.
This guide focuses on five outstanding indoor spots right here in Smyrna. These venues offer something for every member of the family, from the smallest toddlers just learning to climb to hard-to-please teenagers and parents looking for a fun night out. Having such a wide variety of year-round options means your family can manage different age groups and energy levels all in one place. You will find that Smyrna is a true destination for diverse family fun, ensuring you can return again and again without running out of exciting new things to do. Every location listed here is ready to welcome your family today.
1. Kidz Adventure Center – Where Active Kids Up to Age 12 Play Safely
If you have children under 12 who need to burn off energy, the Kidz Adventure Center is the perfect choice.1 This business prides itself on being the best indoor play center specifically designed for younger kids.1 It focuses heavily on providing a clean, safe, and engaging environment for children from infants up to age 12.
The Fun Structures and Activities
The core of the center is its impressive, multi-level play equipment. Children can explore the giant two-story soft play castle, which is a big draw. The facility also includes popular features that encourage physical activity, such as a ball pit, a climbing wall, and trampolines. A unique feature mentioned by visitors is the ‘seed pit’ or ball pit, which offers sensory fun alongside the gross motor activities. These structures are specifically designed to promote fun while also helping kids develop important motor skills.
Dedicated Spaces for Little Explorers
A key benefit for families with very young children is the dedicated toddler zone.4 This separate area ensures that infants and young toddlers can play safely away from the rush and bustle of older children. When choosing a shared play space for little ones, parents often look for high standards of cleanliness. This center addresses that concern directly by routinely sanitizing its entire facility to reduce the spread of germs, making it a low-worry option for guardians.
Planning Your Visit
The center welcomes families for open play throughout the week, with pricing structured to encourage family outings: the first adult gets in free, and infants under one are often free with a paid sibling.5 For parents, the venue is highly convenient. It offers ample seating areas where supervising adults can relax while keeping a watchful eye on their little ones. They also sell food and provide refreshments on-site. This means you can plan for extended playtime without needing to leave the building for lunch. The Kidz Adventure Center is also a popular spot for birthday parties, offering various packages for groups of 8 to 24 children, often including two hours of play time and access to a private party room.
Address: 1406 Hazelwood Dr., Smyrna, TN 37167
2. Stars and Strikes Family Entertainment Center – The All-in-One Destination
For families seeking a massive, diverse entertainment experience that truly caters to all ages and energy levels, Stars and Strikes is Smyrna’s mega-hub. This location offers over 54,000 square feet of activities designed to keep everyone moving, laughing, and playing. It is a versatile center that can host a simple afternoon outing or a large group event.10
Bowling, Arcade, and Laser Tag
The heart of Stars and Strikes is its bowling facility, which features 24 lanes. These include signature VIP lanes available in the Main St. Lounge, which provides a more upscale experience.2 For extra fun, they often turn the lights down for cosmic bowling, complete with black lights and big television screens.
Beyond bowling, the center holds a huge 7,000 square foot arcade and prize store.2 After you rack up points in the arcade, the whole family can move to the high-energy, two-story laser tag arena.2 They also feature indoor bumper cars, perfect for a little crash-and-smash fun.
Activities for Older Family Members
Stars and Strikes is a great choice because it successfully entertains the often hard-to-please teenager and adult crowd alongside the younger kids. The venue includes Escapology escape rooms for those who enjoy solving puzzles under pressure.
They have also introduced Lumberjack Alley, an axe throwing area.12 This activity is very popular for groups and is a major attraction for older children and adults. If you plan to try axe throwing, keep in mind there are age limits: participants must be 10 years old or older, and minors must be with an adult who is 21 or older.
Dining Experience
One feature that elevates Stars and Strikes above a typical fun center is its dedication to dining. They offer a full menu featuring chef-inspired cuisine, meaning you can stay for an entire afternoon or evening without needing to leave for a proper meal. Plus, the venue has a full-service bar for supervising adults looking to relax and catch sports on the big screen TVs. Some visitors have noted the novelty of food delivery by robot, which adds a futuristic twist to the dining experience. This combination of extensive activity options and quality food and drink makes it an all-day destination.
Address: 333 N Lowry St., Smyrna, TN 37167
3. Smyrna Outdoor Adventure Center (SOAC) – Climb and Learn
The Smyrna Outdoor Adventure Center (SOAC) is a fantastic indoor facility run by the Smyrna Parks and Recreation Department.14 It offers a unique combination of high-energy physical activity and educational exhibits, perfect for families who like to mix exercise with learning.
The Adventure Zone
The main attraction inside SOAC is the Adventure Zone, which features impressive climbing structures.17 The facility is home to 20-foot climbing walls and a cargo-net climbing structure. For families looking for a more relaxed experience, there are also interactive exhibits focused on environmental themes that engage both children and adults, connecting the fun to the surrounding nature of the Smyrna park system.
Critical Planning and Safety Rules
Because safety is the highest priority for the climbing walls, SOAC has very important rules that require careful planning before you go.
First, there are strict age and weight restrictions for climbing: guests must be 8 years old or weigh at least 50 pounds to use the rock walls. Also, every person planning to climb must wear closed-toed shoes or sneakers, as flip-flops or crocs are not allowed.
Second, the climbing area operates on a structured schedule. The center uses “Scheduled Climb Times,” where each session is 40 minutes long, followed by a 20-minute cleaning break.17 This system ensures the staff can manage capacity, keep the equipment clean, and ensure a safer, more organized experience for everyone.18 All visitors must sign up for a climb time upon arrival.
Finally, you must complete a liability waiver before you visit.17 Because the Adventure Zone rooms can sometimes be rented out for private events, it is highly recommended that you call ahead to plan your visit and secure a climb time.
Educational and Community Programs
SOAC offers a wide variety of year-round educational and recreational programs.16 These include after-school programs like the Climbing Club 20, as well as Early Learners classes and programs for homeschool groups.14 These programs provide ways to stay active and connected to nature concepts, even when staying inside.
Address: 100 Sam Ridley Pkwy E., Smyrna, TN 37167
4. Malco Smyrna Cinema – Relaxation in Reclining Seats
Sometimes, the best indoor activity is one that requires zero effort: sitting back and enjoying a great movie. Malco Smyrna Cinema offers families a highly comfortable and relaxing way to escape the heat or cold for a few hours.
Luxury and Convenience
The theater prioritizes customer comfort, which is especially important for families managing young children during a long film. A primary feature is the luxury recliner seating. These spacious seats make the movie-going experience feel premium and relaxed. Furthermore, the cinema uses a reserved seating system. This simple feature takes away the stress of rushing to find seats together, allowing your family to arrive closer to showtime and still sit comfortably as a group.
The staff are known for being friendly, and the facility maintains a clean lobby and environment, adding to the overall pleasant experience.
Important Accessibility Details
Malco Cinema is committed to ensuring that all patrons can enjoy the film. They offer important accessibility tools, including closed captioning (CC) displays and audio description narration devices. These features are available at the box office, helping to make the movie experience accessible for family members who are deaf, hard of hearing, or visually impaired.
Planning Tip for Family Budgets
The movie experience itself, with its comfortable seating and clean venue, is consistently praised.However, like many theaters, the costs can add up quickly. The venue offers standard concession items like popcorn and soft drinks. Patrons sometimes mention that the prices are high when compared to the portion sizes. For families keeping an eye on their budget, a practical tip is to plan to have your meals before or after the movie, allowing you to enjoy the relaxing experience inside without the added expense of concessions.
Address: 100 Movie Row, Smyrna, TN 37167
5. Game Galaxy Arcade – Freeplay Fun and Retro Classics
If your family includes gamers, history buffs, or just anyone who loves a good classic competition, Game Galaxy Arcade is a must-visit. This unique location offers an extensive collection of gaming history, ranging from ancient pinball machines to modern rhythm games.
The Massive Gaming Library
Game Galaxy is famous for its wide variety of games. It feels like a massive, old-school warehouse arcade, with different sections dedicated to specific types of entertainment. You will find classic arcade cabinets like
Joust, Galaga, and Donkey Kong Junior alongside newer titles and Japanese rhythm games.25 There is also an entire room dedicated to pinball machines, some dating back to the 1960s and 1970s.
This wide mix means that adults often find games they grew up playing, which is a great way to bond with their children by showing them the games of the past. The center also features a separate section for console games.27
The Freeplay Advantage
The single biggest reason this venue is great for families is its pricing model. Game Galaxy typically operates on a fixed-price “Freeplay” model. For one reasonable entry price, usually around $15, you get unlimited playtime on standard games. This is a huge benefit for family budgets because it removes the pressure of constantly feeding quarters into machines. When you pay a fixed fee, your family can stay for long hours and try out dozens of different games without worrying about the cost adding up.This model ensures maximum playtime and maximum value.
The friendly environment is suitable for all ages 24, and for serious players, the arcade hosts weekly match-play pinball tournaments.
Address: 3 S Lowry St., Smyrna, TN 37167
Final Thoughts and Planning Tips
Smyrna is exceptionally well-equipped to handle any kind of weather, offering a fantastic spectrum of indoor activities to suit every taste, budget, and age range. Whether you need a place for your toddlers to tumble safely at the Kidz Adventure Center, a multi-generational outing for bowling and laser tag at Stars and Strikes, a structured physical challenge at SOAC, a comfortable movie day at Malco, or hours of affordable retro gaming at Game Galaxy Arcade, Smyrna has an indoor spot ready for you.
To ensure your trip goes smoothly, remember that some of the most popular venues require a little planning. Always check the SOAC calendar for climbing availability and complete the required waivers ahead of time. If visiting Stars and Strikes or Malco Cinema during a weekend, booking your bowling lane or reserved movie seats online can help you avoid delays and guarantee your spot. Enjoy your weather-proof family adventure!
