Rainy afternoons · Local
Rainy afternoons for families in Madison
The local version of the question: how far, how long, and is it worth it.
On a wet Saturday, going early beats going late. The same hour feels completely different before and after the rest of the city has the same idea.
The drive back to Madison is where you find out what they actually thought. Children review an outing about twenty minutes after leaving it, never during.
Getting there
The trick with a rainy day is picking something that burns energy rather than something that keeps children still. Sitting through a film leaves the energy in the tank.
Bring a spare layer even in summer. Malls are air conditioned, rinks are colder than that, and a cold child is a child who wants to go home.
What you will find
Both venues sit inside shopping centres, so the walk from the parking to the attraction is under cover.
Rain turns a normal afternoon into a problem to solve. An indoor attraction inside a mall solves it without anybody getting wet between the car and the door.
How long to allow
On a wet Saturday, going early beats going late. The same hour feels completely different before and after the rest of the city has the same idea.
Bring less than you think. Coats and bags are the part of the visit nobody enjoys managing.
Worth the trip?
The trick with a rainy day is picking something that burns energy rather than something that keeps children still. Sitting through a film leaves the energy in the tank.
Both venues sit inside shopping centres, so the walk from the parking to the attraction is under cover.
Questions parents ask
Is it fully indoors?
Both venues are inside malls - Opry Mills in Nashville and Concord Mills in Concord.
What are the opening hours?
Monday to Saturday 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM, Sunday 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM.
Where is New Life Entertainment?
Two centres: 433 Opry Mills Drive, Nashville TN 37214, and 8111 Concord Mills Blvd, Concord NC 28027.
What are the opening hours?
10:00 AM to 8:00 PM Monday to Saturday, and 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM on Sunday.
Planning your visit in Madison
The nearest of the two centres to Madison is the one to aim at - Opry Mills in Nashville - and the drive is the ordinary sort rather than an expedition.
Warn a nervous child about the noise before you walk in. Knowing what to expect is most of the difference between anxious and curious.
If one child is nervous, let them watch for the first ten minutes without being asked to join in. Almost all of them join in.
Parents from Madison tend to ask the same first question: how long will this hold their attention. Long enough to be worth the drive, and short enough to leave while they still want more.
The practical details
- XCAV ZONE — 433 Opry Mills Drive, Nashville TN 37214: four child-operated machines over a ball pit.
- ICE PARK — 8111 Concord Mills Blvd, Concord NC 28027: a real rink with bumper cars on the ice.
- Opening hours — 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM Monday to Saturday, 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM on Sunday.
- Phone — +1 (424) 387-6232 · +1 (615) 968-4925
- E-mail — info@newlife-entertainment.com
If a visit needs planning around a date, a group or a long drive, the centre is easiest to reach by phone: +1 (424) 387-6232 or +1 (615) 968-4925.