The Indoor Sand Place My Kids Loved

Guest post written by Elizabeth, Madison town specialist and fellow local mom. She’s always on the hunt for hidden gems and fun family spots. If you’re looking for a quick, kid-friendly escape close to home, Elizabeth has you covered.

The end of summer is always a little sad as a parent. For me, summer is usually an easier season to parent in because getting outside to play is simple with the longer daylight and warmer weather. While my family did not get to the beach as much as I would have liked this summer, I recently discovered a new play concept in Rockaway that will keep your kids engaged in sand play all year long.

Dig Land Kids just opened at the end of June, so it is a relatively new indoor play park located within the Rockaway Mall. The idea intrigued me at first because it’s like a day at the beach, but without having to lug all of the sand toys or change kids out of wet swimsuits.

My first impression when we entered the space was that it was larger than I expected, with plenty of room for kids to spread out in the sand area. The venue is brand new and CLEAN. The owner is really on top of keeping the space clean. There were wipes and hand sanitizer everywhere, which I really appreciated. There is also a single-stall restroom within the venue, so you do not have to use the public mall restrooms.

Reservations are not required, and pricing is very fair at $21 for up to two hours of play, plus discounts for multiple kids. You can extend your play, and you can also stay for as little as 30 minutes if you don’t think your kids will want to play for two hours. They also offer a Dig Pass, where you can buy ten visits for $99. You are welcome to get in the sand and play with your kids if you’d like, but there are also chairs throughout the play area where you can sit back and observe. Unlike lots of other kids’ places that close by 4 PM, Dig Land’s operating hours are great for working parents, as they are open until 8 PM on weekdays and 9 PM on weekends.

The room is construction-themed, with plenty of trucks, shovels, cinder blocks and cones for kids to create their own construction site. In addition, along the walls of the room there are various tunnels and sensory walls that kids can pour the sand through, as well as musical instruments. There is also a giant conveyor belt toy in the center of the room to take turns on, along with excavators kids can sit on for the full construction experience. While there were so many different tables and gadgets to explore, my kids really enjoyed keeping it simple with the cones and shovels and making “sand angels.”

I was actually surprised by how caught up in play all of the kids were in the space. It was surprisingly quiet, even though we were there with a handful of other kids of various ages. It was almost as if the sand had a calming effect on everyone. There is also a very small, separate dedicated space for kids under one.

Snacks are sold onsite, and there are lots of tables throughout the venue, so you can end your visit with a snack break. Fair warning, your kids will need a good wipe-down after playing in the sand, and the wipes throughout the venue will definitely come in handy!

While Rockaway is a little bit of a drive, there is a similar concept coming soon in Livingston that I am looking forward to opening this fall. If you are looking for something fun to do one weekend in the colder weather, or looking to give your kids a “beach day” without getting on a plane, I’d suggest checking out Dig Land. It’s also a great option to consider for any upcoming birthday parties.

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