Take the kids: Indoor playground in Cary has slides, trampolines and giant ball pit

This week I took my 2-year-old daughter to our first indoor playground experience.

The photos I saw online looked amazing, and it didn't disappoint!

Angel Island Fun Park is located at 924 NE Maynard Road in Cary. The owners also operate an all-ages location in Durham, but the Cary playspace is only for children 8 and under.

It was the perfect place to take my toddler, who has just started becoming more confident on slides and playground equipment.

Angel Island has swings, trampolines, a foam pit and an elevated climbing structure with giant slides, ropes and bumpy bridges. Everything is soft and cushioned.

My daughter loved the slides and giant ball pit the best, because the stairs were small enough for her to climb on her own. She must have climbed those stairs and gone down the slide a dozen times!

The best part of Angel Island is adults get free admission with their child. Parents and caregivers are allowed to climb inside the playspace with their little ones, which is good because parts of the obstacle course are pretty high!

I'm not going to lie, I had a blast getting to play along. It's rare to find ball pits these days!

Cyndi Ray manages the Cary location. She said her favorite thing to see is how parents and nannies connect and meet while their children play.

"I get really excited for a lot of people," Ray said. "A lot of these moms coming in here ... they always find a friend. I see people switching numbers and making playdates for after this."

Ray has four daughters of her own and worked in preschools for 30 years.

"I love this, because I still get to be around the kids," she said. "It's in my DNA, I've been in childcare for so long."

Ray said the indoor playground was formerly a Dollar General, and the whole play structure was installed before Angel Island opened in 2019.

The center is deep cleaned multiple times throughout the day and again at the end of the day.

There are two party rooms, and parents can host small parties or rent out the whole playspace for a larger event.

Angel Island Fun Park's hours are:

• Monday-Thursday 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Friday 9:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.
• Saturday 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
• Sunday 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

The indoor playground is more crowded on the weekends, so online reservations are recommended.

Children should wear non-slip socks, which are for sale if you need them. All parents have to sign a waiver for their children, and no bare feet or shoes are allowed in the playspace for children or adults.