Soarin’ Indoors Aerial Adventure Center

UPDATED 11/4/2023

***PLEASE NOTE: THIS LOCATION HAS PERMANENTLY CLOSED***

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2022 Post:

After 10+ years writing this blog, I always feel like I must have heard of every family-friendly destination in this state. So I am always surprised when I stumble upon a new-to-me place that isn’t actually new. And I’m even more surprised when I find it randomly through a desperate Google search on a day that I needed to get my stir crazy kiddos out of the house and stat. But that is exactly how we ended up at Soarin’ Indoors one chilly Saturday morning last month.

My boys have been participating in Climbing Club at our local rock climbing gym, Central Rock, and love it. So I was looking for a similar type of physical activity for a family outing. Years ago we visited It Adventure Ropes Course in New Haven, CT and I was thinking we might make the trek back there, when suddenly this place called Soarin’ Indoors popped up in my browser. An aerial adventure center? Hmmm. That sounded promising! From the website it looked like an honest-to-goodness outdoor ropes course, with logs and nets and actual ropes. Like the kind you would find at summer camp, but as the name indicates, indoors. Neat! And even better, it was located MUCH closer to us in Manchester, CT.

What really sealed the deal though, is that they also had activities for my 4-year-old. It is more difficult than I imagined to find a family outing that is equally entertaining for kids ages 11, 8 and 4! Soarin’ Indoors fit the bill with three courses, one low for the littles and the other two, well, soaring. There are also several zip lines with similar height differences.

And the cherry on top was an online reservation system that allowed us to book our time AND pay online so we could just walk in and get started!

As suggested, we started on the lower course to get the hang of the equipment and a feel for the course basics. Each climber is equipped with their own safety cord that, once attached at the base of the course, can move freely along the course’s safety wire by gently pulling it along with you and, where necessary, guiding it over stopping points. You never have to detach that safety line from the course at any point while you are on the course, even when you change directions or elevations.

Soarin’ Indoors also boasts three ziplines, and each climber is equipped with their own tool that allows them to clip their harness to the zipline (while still remaining tethered with their safety rope) and fly across the space.

There is a tall, standalone zipline:

There is also a low zipline, perfect for the preschool set.

The third zipline is part of one of the two upper courses.

Each upper course has unique features and offers different kinds of physical challenges. I asked the boys if they preferred one to the other, and they unequivocally liked the one with the zipline best. I mean, can you blame them though? LOL

There are several benches scattered around as well, so once the kids get the hang of things (sorry, bad pun), you might even get a moment to sit down!

I have three pretty active kiddos, and sometimes finding a place that meets all their varying skill levels and attention spans can be a challenge. We found a great fit for everyone at Soarin’ Indoors! I hope your family has a chance to check it out too.

Soarin’ Indoors Aerial Adventure Center

169 Progress Drive, Manchester, CT

(860) 645-0303

Find their email contact form HERE.

Find them on Facebook!

Hours:

FRI 3PM-8PM
SAT 10AM-8PM
SUN 11AM-6PM

NOTE: LAST TICKET SOLD 1 HOUR BEFORE CLOSE

On any day they are open you are free to walk-in!  On the weekends, for a larger group or a party, you might want to make a reservation to confirm they have availability and to lock in your slot before you arrive. Even if it’s not a busy day, you might want the convenience of reserving a time and paying ahead online so you can just walk in and get going! There is no time limit on climbing unless there are people waiting for a harness. Then the climbing time is limited to an hour in order to be able to give everyone waiting a turn.

Pricing:

$16/each for climbers regardless of age
FREE to watch

Details:

Stroller Friendly: YES
Restroom: YES
Baby Changing Area: NO
Parking: YES
Food for Sale: NO
Outside Food Allowed: N/A
Cash Required: NO
Dress Code: Their website recommends the following: Gloves with fingers to protect your hands; Solid shoes that won’t fall off (sneakers work best!); If you have long hair, tie it back. We did not bring gloves with us and it did not seem to be an issue for my children, but if your kids have more sensitive hands you may want to consider it. There are a lot of ropes to cling to!
Age Recommendation: The upper course is suitable for children ages 7 and up, and adults.  For younger guests and children that aren’t able or comfortable to be at that height, they also have a lower course and zipline. While there isn’t a weight limit on the upper course, you have to fit into a harness, which can accommodate up to around a 42″ waist, to climb.
Birthday Party Venue: YES. Find more info here.

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