Play Palace

When Anchorage winters drag on and kids are bouncing off the walls at home, this place becomes a genuine lifesaver. The enclosed play area keeps little ones contained while parents actually get to sit on a bench and breathe for a minute — a bigger deal than it sounds. Staff here are the kind of people who clearly don’t mind being around kids all day, which shows. The slides and climbing structure hold up well for the 1-7 crowd, and the place stays noticeably clean, which isn’t something you can say about every indoor play spot in the city. It’s also become a go-to for birthday parties, so weekends can get busy — worth calling ahead.