Ridgedale center indoor play-area.

A few weeks ago, the 2-year-old and I checked out the brand new indoor play-area at Ridgedale Center in Minnetonka. This FREE, 6,000 square-foot, enclosed play-area has something for everyone (under 52" tall). First of all, I loved the clean and modern design of this facility. It's also located on the second floor (near Nordstrom), and easily accessible to restrooms. If you're looking for a play-area in the middle of a mall, you won't find one here. This play-area is nestled in between storefronts, with fancy illuminated letters telling parents and kids to come and play.

My 2-year-old didn't want to leave. He moved from the giant train table, to the apple tree climber, then over to the fishing pond, and then back to the blocks, cars/spaceships (what are these things, anyway?!), and into the padded fun space. There are so many hands-on activities for little ones to keep busy, and there's even a specific enclosed area for babies under the age of two.

Huge train table

Giant apple tree climber

The two things I didn't love about this place are the layout, and the chaos when it gets busy. The floor plan of the play-area is in the shape of an "L", and there's an exit door around the corner toward the back of the play-area. This makes me nervous in the off-chance that a kid figured out how to open the exit door, or if a creeper makes his/her way into the play-area and takes off with a kid. While this isn't likely to happen, it's something I keep in mind when my kiddos make their way toward the back of the play-area.

When this place gets busy during peak hours, it's a nightmare. If you're one of the first visitors to arrive and park your stroller in the lounge area, good luck getting your stroller out. We watched parents attempt to get their strollers out of the lounge area with little to no success. So, you may want to think about parking your stroller toward the front, or even outside, this play-area to ensure easy access when you're ready to make your exit.

Fishing pond

There's also a party room, and the owners of InnerActive offer party packages starting at $175. The Ridgedale Center website says that classes will begin in January 2018. There's also a sitting lounge with vending machines, and all kids and adults must wear socks and remove their shoes before entering the play-area.

Overall, we love this new play-area... Especially during freezing cold Minnesota winters. It's clean, new, open, and educational for little ones. Our 6-year-old came with us during one visit, and enjoyed playing with her 2-year-old brother. But I'd definitely say that this facility is intended for kids under the age of 5.