Lakeline Mall: There is an area with lots of little rides (costing a quarter or 50 cents to ride) near the food court and a fantastic little toddler playground on the bottom floor next to Sears. There is also an inflatable jumping place that is suitable for crawlers-10yos across from that play area. It costs $10 per child, but only $5 on Tuesdays and Thursdays. We live nearby, so this is our rainy/very cold/very hot day go-to!

Extreme Fun: This is an inflatable playplace on Anderson Mill Rd between 182 and 620. It’s cheap ($5 per child) and the place is huge. Adults can go down the slides with toddlers here, so that was a plus for us.

Barnes & Noble Bookstores: I’m not generally a fan of huge chain bookstores, but these are fun places to hang out with my son. I get a coffee drink in the cafe and we head over to the children’s section, where there are lots of books and toys and a train table that will literally keep my son occupied for an hour. They also have storytimes, though we haven’t managed to make one yet.

Lifetime Fitness (for members only) has a fantastic indoor pool with waterslides and a gradual slope in that’s great for little ones. It’s a fun place to go swimming year-round (there is also a great outdoor pool), but especially in the winter when it would otherwise be impossible. Members can check online for family pool hours.

McDonalds: Yes, the evil empire of fast food, but they have good coffee! There are a few in town with indoor playplaces that are toddler-friendly, and we will head over on a rainy or cold morning and often have the place to ourselves. For the price of a cup of coffee and a fruit and yogurt tray, it’s not bad at all. My favorites are: Cypress Creek & Lakeline, and on I-35 at Round Rock Ave. I also like the one on 620 at Four Points, though the play area there is outside.

We are members at Gymboree, which in addition to classes has open playtimes that can be fun to go on rainy days.