Want to invest? How about an indoor playground

Northern Virginia needs an indoor playground. If you are looking to invest in a project, this would be it. Today, we made our second trip out to the All Star Legacy Gym in Sterling. It was OK. I would say $10 a kid for the two-hour open session twice a week is fine for us once in a while. We certainly can't swing that once a week, but every now and then on a rainy/snowy/hot/cold day we would make the journey and pay the dough for some indoor fun. Today it was cold and my kids are tired of being inside with my sinus infection. (Which I am now fully medicated for.) But this gym is lacking in many reasons. While it's fine for the cheerleading groups that use it most of the time, it provides no place for moms to sit down; it isn't really a safe set up for kids (this doesn't matter to me really); and it's needing some spirit to it.

What I am looking for us a full-time indoor playground. Not open gyms from 12-1 or Gymboree limited open gym on Sunday morning. I need full-time. Ok, maybe limited hours during the nicer weather since most people want to be outside. In Richmond there are a few open gyms including The Playroom. I love this place. You pay $6 a kid, go in and check your email (Wifi included in the price WITH laptops), let your kids run around for as long as they like AND you can bring in your own food. It's not just moonbounces, but a dress up area, train table, play kitchen and baby area, too. They even have babysitting on certain days.

Also, if someone is looking to invest only a little--a coffee place with a play area would be nice too. There is also one of these in Richmond called Chat & Play Cafe. Someone is really missing out on a huge market here. Moms in Northern Virginia WILL pay for stuff like this. I just dropped $20 today to let my kids run around in an open gym with a few moonbounces. Friends from the West Coast find it hard to believe there are not more places here for kids to play indoors. What's a mom have to do to get a cup of coffee around here? My kids aren't going to sit while I drink coffee and chat with friends. And until Barnes and Noble gates in their train table, I'm not including this as an option. I will never include Chuck E. Cheese's in this group. NEVER.

If there is anyone out there with a wad of cash looking for a good investment, here is a tip--indoor playgrounds, family-friendly coffee shops or fun things for the kids to do indoors.