The Big Backyard, New Berlin

Established: 2008
Staff Size: 11–25 people
Average Duration of Services: 2–4 hours
Pro Tip: Socks are required for both kids and adults to help keep the play area clean.
Parking: Parking lot
Recommended Age Group: Kids

The Big Backyard's owners each have two children of their own and struggled for a long time to find all-weather activities to please their own kids of different ages. They finally decided to create their own playground to address all their needs, building an indoor space with slides, climbing structures, and climate control. "I enjoy that various ages of children can have fun at our playground," says co-owner Christine. "Infants, toddlers, and school-age children all can find things to do."

Of course, they didn't just design the place with kids in mind—they also wanted to make the experience enjoyable for families. An open floor design provides clear sight lines for parents, in addition to plenty of room for kids to run, crawl, or pretend to be late to a meeting. Christine adds: "Parents with multiple children tell us they love the visibility of the play area, as they can watch more than one child at once."