What’s a mom to do besides go crazy with little bundles of energy on a bad weather day? Why not try one of the Westchester hot spots that are sure to be fun for the kids. And even better yet, they can get out all of those extra jiggles and wiggles that they never seem to get rid of. Luckily, there are lots of great choices for places to jump and bounce in Westchester!
Note: Before you go! Most places require a waiver, which can be lengthy to fill out. Check out the website before you go to see if you can fill it out online. Grab jumping socks if you have them and a water bottle and get going!
Bounce U: Elmsford
Bounce U is a bouncy castle dream land! Inside each room there are a bunch of inflatables. Each one is different. Your kid can climb, slide, race, and bounce to their heart’s content. Socks are required for jumpers. There are cubbies for shoes but parents can keep their shoes on (unless you wanna bounce your way to happiness, too).
The pros: There are so many different inflatables that there is something for every age and ability. Bounce U offers open bounces at many different times and they offer a lot of fun and different programs during the week. During holiday time they held a bounce with Santa. Bounce U offers a “birthday party bounce” where kids can bounce for an hour and then get a slice of pizza. It’s like a party where everyone is the star. If you sign up for their emails, Bounce U will let you know when fun events are coming and you can sign up online or call them. My kids have also been there for birthday parties, and they always have fun. 
The cons: Unless you are there for a special bounce event where food will be served, there is not a place to get a snack on site. Parking is free but can get pretty packed. The bathrooms are not always the cleanest either – I always make my kids put their shoes on to go to the bathroom, but I have seen others enter in socks…yuck! The only other problem I’ve ever noticed is that some of the staff is amazing, but others are not great. I’ve had to ask someone to let my kid play the basketball game by herself when he kept taking basketball shots (he was throwing really hard. Plus, you know, he was there to watch kids, not play).
Sky Zone: New Rochelle
Sky Zone is located on the first level of New Roc City’s complex. It is a trampoline park with different activities at each trampoline section including bouncy basketball, an obstacle course, and a huge foam pit to bounce into. One must-know tip is that you have to have sky zone socks (they have sticky pads on the feet) but you can reuse them, so save those socks!
The pros: The variety of sections make it a great place to take everyone, because chances are they will each find their own place to jump. Parking is a plus since New Roc always has a ton of (paid) parking available. This is a high energy activity so the other plus is that your child will most likely nap the whole way home. There is a large snack bar with hot and cold choices (but beware there are lots of sugary candy options!). It was very well lit and airy. The people working at the desk were fairly accommodating, as I had booked online and showed up way too early and I wanted to change my jump time. I liked signing up online because you could see how many other tickets were bought so you could decide if it would be too crowded.
The cons: There is an area upstairs for all grownups to watch from (unless you also pay to jump). I include this in cons because you have to be far from your child and if your child falls or starts to cry (like mine did) you have to take your eyes off them, run down the stairs and hope you can find them again. Once you find them you still have to call them over to the entrance. The other downside of that is that if your child is misbehaving you can’t really correct them because they are far enough to be out of voice range. There also were not enough seats. My other con was that it was pretty dirty upstairs. There were papers on the stairs and dust in the corners. People left their food garbage upstairs in the viewing zone and for the hour I was there, nobody was by to clean at all. The biggest con?! My five year old was being over run by a bunch of pre-teen boys and there really wasn’t a good place for her to be where she felt comfortable.
Rock N Jump: Mount Kisco and Ridge Hill, Yonkers
Rock N Jump’s two locations are also trampoline style amusement centers. Mount Kisco’s location has three party rooms, as well as a snack area. The Ridge Hill location is similar in set up. In both locations you must purchase jump socks to wear while you jump, but like Sky Zone, they can be used each time you go.
The pros: There is a lot of parking at both locations (although at Ridge Hill you have to pay the $3 parking fee). Mount Kisco hosts a sensory jump once a month. They turn the music and televisions off and turn down the lights to accommodate children with sensitivities to light and sounds. Both locations also have tot jumps on weekday mornings (check the website for times) which I like because it can be scary watching your tiny loved one jump surrounded by teens! Parents are allowed in free with their children during the tot time. Ridge hill also has a great spot that’s roped off for little kids only (6 and under) which is awesome for the tiniest of jumpers.
They also open later on the weekends for slightly reduced fees for teen jumps which is a great, healthy, and fun way for your “big kids” to spend the weekend evenings with their friends! At the Ridge Hill location there is an obstacle course and basketball jumpy spots. The attendants were great and really kept the place running smoothly. There were plenty of spots for adults to sit, and a food bar that had a few arcade games adjacent.
The cons: Like most of these places, it can get loud. It also was hard to keep an eye on your kids from one location because they are pretty spread out.
The “Not Exactly Westchester” Bounce Spots
Bounce!: Valley Cottage and Poughkeepsie
Although not technically Westchester, one of the original trampoline parks to pop up in the Hudson Valley is Bounce! in Valley Cottage. Bounce! offers free parking and a well spread out location with plenty of jumping opportunities.
The pros: The layout here is better than some of the other bouncy spots. You can keep an eye on your child when they bounce from trampoline to trampoline. They also offer a special area that’s just for toddlers. The trampolines here seem to be a little harder so they don’t bounce away! Free parking is always a plus in my book and they have Groupons available from time to time.
The cons: The distance from Westchester may be the only con, and perhaps its age (it’s the oldest of the bunch) has led to it being a little less flashy than the others. Still definitely worth checking out!
Launch: West Nyack
Launch is one of the newer trampoline parks on the scene and while it isn’t technically in Westchester either, the amount of fun options available at Launch make it a must-try. Launch has some fun options for toddlers, as well as older kids. Your child can enjoy The Challenger (a ninja-warrior type course) and a battle pit. Pizza and other snacks are available for sale on site and there are arcade games when they need a break. Like the other options, party rooms make this a fun choice for a winter birthday as well. Socks are mandatory here as well.
The pros: Launch has some fun additions like Launch Pads (big air-bags to learn new tricks on safely) and tumble tracks for the budding gymnast in your life. They also have fun programs like teen nights and hours just for home-schooled kids.
Well, what are you waiting for? Grab those crazy kids and go let them jump their winter wiggles away! Tell us which place is your favorite spot in Westchester to jump and bounce. Bouncing not up your child’s alley? Check some other indoor play places!
