Fun Ideas To Keep Kids Busy While Parents Enjoy A Night Out in Billings

Let’s say you and your spouse have finally scheduled a much-needed night out in Billings. You’ve lined up your trusty, responsible babysitter, but now the kids are whining about how it’s soooo unfair that you get to go do something fun without them.

Normally, I respond with something like, “Too bad, so sad. The pizza is on its way. Be nice to the babysitter, and please don't call us unless it's an emergency.” Parents, you know what I mean.

But now and then, you might decide to let the kids have a little adventure while you’re enjoying a nice dinner, a bottle of wine, and conversation that doesn't involve arguing about whose turn it is to cleanout the dishwasher.

So you give the driver's-licensed babysitter a little bit of cash and tell them to go do something while you're out. But what? Finding evening activities for kids and pre-teens in Billings isn’t always easy.

Here are a few options I’d feel totally comfortable sending them to with our sitter.

Hit Up a Park. Seasonally, Of Course.

During the warmer months - when it’s still light out after dinner - sending the crew to a neighborhood park is an easy win. Tell the sitter to get them a Soda Station on the way there, and let them do kid stuff. Billings has more than 50 parks, and they’re perfect for burning energy before heading home to crash.

Wander Around Scheels

Scheels is basically an attraction disguised as a sporting goods store. Between the giant aquariums, arcade-style shooting gallery, mini bowling, and the iconic Ferris wheel, kids can roam, explore, and stay entertained longer than you’d expect, for practically free. Plus, it's open until 9 PM.

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Roller Skating at Skate World

Classic? Yes. Still fun? Also yes. Last summer, we visited Skate World for one of my kids' birthdays. It's one of the few remaining roller rinks in Montana. I hadn't skated for years, and it was awesome. My kids loved the experience (they now have their own skates, lol) and it's also fairly affordable.

Bowling... Multigenerational fun.

The Billings area has multiple bowling options:

• Sunset Bowl - Great for glow/disco bowling nights.
• Fireside Lanes - Hourly lane rentals make it easy for families.
• Town & Country Lanes - A solid, laid-back option for those in the Heights or east of town.
• KC's Palace - The bowling alley in Laurel might be a fun option for those on the West End.

Send the kids and the sitter to the arcade.

I checked out The Cove arcade at Bighorn Resort when it first opened, and my wife and I visited again, somewhat recently, as a stop on a date night. It's a really fun place for all ages, and I'd feel 100% comfortable having a sitter keep an eye on the kids here.