Lake Life Review
Our latest Lake Life adventure took us to Diggin Boji Kids Playplace, located inside the Old School Mercantile, in Arnolds Park. And for this review I took the back seat, we knew we had to call in the real reviewers: the kids.
Tara brought her two kids, Wyen (4) and Willow (1), while Joy brought her son Noah (11), originally thinking he might “help” with the little ones. About 45 minutes later, Noah summed up the experience perfectly: “This is so fun!” Safe to say, he didn’t end up doing much supervising, he was all hands in playing right next to Wyen.
When we arrived, Cassie gave us a quick tour and explained the simple rules, don’t throw sand, keep toys where they belong, and be kind, and then the kids were off. Wyen and Noah immediately headed to the remote-control sandbox area, where they drove dump trucks and backhoes, filling buckets and moving sand like seasoned construction pros, using the handheld remotes. From there, they bounced to the kinetic sand stations, shaping creations with stencils, then to the colorful ball-tube racing area.
There was so much to explore that they were practically speed-running through the play zones so they wouldn’t miss anything. They quickly figured out we are staying and had plenty of time to try it all!
Meanwhile, little Willow took a different approach. She happily observed the action from a cozy rug, completely fascinated by everything happening around her. She crawled after a new friend she spotted, carried magnetic building blocks from place to place, and spent time in the adorable grocery-store playroom picking up items, giving them a good squeeze, and setting them aside, a toddler’s version of “shopping.”
Back in the main sandbox, the boys kicked off their shoes and socks and went all in. Hidden toy coins throughout the sand can be traded in for prizes, and while neither found one, they quickly forgot about the “hunt” and focused on building roads, digging trenches, and rescuing stuck trucks. At one point, Wyen piled sand over his tires and called out, “My truck is stuck!” Noah arrived with a bigger vehicle for the rescue. Then came the moment that made us all laugh: Wyen confidently told Noah, “Give me the tow hook.” He’s four! Proof that kids learn an incredible amount simply through imaginative play.
They also tried the interactive motion-based TV game, the one electronic feature in the space, where they controlled flying dinosaurs by raising and lowering their arms. It wasn’t screen time in the typical sense; it was movement, coordination, and a lot of laughter as they figured out how to make their dinosaurs soar.
After nearly an hour, we finally had to call it for lunch, though the kids would have happily stayed longer. And that’s part of what makes Diggin Boji Kids Playplace so appealing. Families can choose timed play sessions, from quick 30-minute visits to longer stays. The space is also available for birthday parties. Tara could already picture Wyen and his friends building entire worlds together in that giant sandbox.
Open since last July, the playplace has quickly become a perfect go-to for kids to burn off energy no matter the weather. Too hot? Too cold? Rainy day? It’s always the perfect temperature indoors, and always ready for imagination at work.
If you’re looking for a place where kids can dig, build, explore, and play (and maybe learn a little engineering along the way), this one is definitely worth checking out.
Visit their Facebook page for more details and hours!