It is not unusual to experience a rainy day in Nova Scotia. Most parents have a go-to list of things to do and places to go when such weather occurs. This is especially true with parents of toddlers – like me. At the top of my rainy-day list is Ice Patch Hollow. Located at the Sunnyside Mall, it is relatively close to home and the perfect place for my little guy to burn off some energy.

Ice Patch Hollow was born from the work of a local author’s children’s books. In these books, his characters explore themes of resiliency, hard work, friendship and sustainability. You see these beloved characters painted on the walls and featured in multiple places throughout the space.

This fantastic play space has a variety of offerings to fit your needs including day passes, 10-visit passes, and private party rooms for birthdays. The day passes afford you access for one full day, so you can stay as long as you want or come and go as you please. This is handy for parents who have kids that still nap in the middle of the day – like my 2-year-old. During our last visit, we arrived in the morning and played for a couple of hours before heading home for nap time.  We returned later that afternoon and stayed until close.

The giant play structure includes multiple slides, and areas for climbing, crawling, swinging, dancing, and even tagging one another with giant bouncy balls. There is a special section for toddlers that includes soft oversized building blocks and two shorter slides, this area was a big hit with my little guy. Parents can accompany their smaller children through the giant play structure or relax on the big comfy couches in the lounge. With free wifi, coffee, tea and snacks, Ice Patch Hollow has something for everyone- a break for parents and a fun, safe place to play for the kids.  My only advice: dress comfy, wear matching socks (no shoes allowed), and have an exit plan because your kids will never want to leave!

Ice Patch Hollow

When: Open Daily
Time: 10:00am-5:00pm
Location: Sunnyside Mall, Bedford
Price: Find the full price list on their website.
Phone: 902-835-1155
Website: www.icepatchhollow.ca