19 Indoor Activities In Philadelphia To Try Next Time It Rains (2024)
- Date: May 31, 2024
- Topic: Events
- Contributors: Written by Peerspace Staff
Source: Peerspace
The City of Brotherly Love is one of the best places to live if you’re trapped indoors due to the rain! Instead of canceling your meetup plans, think about exploring one of the many exciting destinations we’ve curated for you here. Whether you’re into a quiet dining experience, exercise, or educational venues, we at Peerspace are hapy to share that there’s no shortage of indoor activities in Philadelphia to try. You can even book a party venues in Philadelphia, to make your own unforgettable indoor dinner, birthday, or bachelorette event a reality!
1. Explore Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens
The two indoor galleries of the Philadelphia Magic Gardens are a fun place to escape the rain! Made by master artist Isaiah Zagar, the installation explores the influences on his life and his creative vision. He’s created hundreds of public works around the world and the Magic Gardens are a museum dedicated to Isaiah’s brilliance! Guests can even take classes on mosaic making.
2. Book a private dance lesson
Practice your movement arts talents with a dance lesson the next time it rains in the City of Brotherly Love! From salsa to ballet, professional instructors here can help you master the basics or learn an entirely new routine. Peerspace can also help thanks to our massive library of event venues. How about this 705 sq. ft. dance studio in South Philadelphia? The amenities list includes sprung oak flooring, a sound system, and mirrored walls for an engaging private class!
3. Sample everything at Reading Terminal Market
Sometimes it’s nice to window shop and try samples while waiting for the weather to improve. Have you been to Reading Terminal Market in Center City yet? You’ll find dozens of arts & crafts vendors, bakery goods, ice cream, fresh produce, and more to sample and buy. Each of the 75 businesses operating here are small, family-owned, local brands that you’ll be proud to support!
4. Knowledge is power at The Franklin Institute Science Museum
How about an indoor activity in Philadelphia that’s educational as well as fun? Lovers of the sciences should visit the Franklin Institute Science Museum sometime! They focus on interactive and easy-to-understand exhibitions about science and technology. From human biology to electroscience, you’re sure to learn something new about the fascinating world we live in.
5. Head to an indoor climbing gym
Rainy days don’t mean you have to give up on your fitness goals. Get a full-body workout at one of Philly’s indoor climbing gyms instead! Climbing and bouldering facilities offer classes if you’re new to the experience. Learn the basics of rope use and how to navigate the vertical challenges. Philadelphia Rock Gyms has been a part of the community since 1994 and has given lessons to 500,000 people over 30 years of operation!
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6. Tour the Eastern State Penitentiary
The Eastern State Penitentiary was once the world’s largest and most expensive prison. Nearly 85,000 people have been kept behind its doors over the decades, including famous bank robbers and mobsters. It’s just a few blocks from the Philadelphia Art Museum and several other exciting indoor activities to enjoy in Center City.
7. Break free of an escape room
Looking for an indoor activity in Philadelphia where you can test your wits and solve a puzzle? Check out an escape room adventure, where you’ll get to decipher hidden messages, find keys, and work your way free. One of the best escape rooms in Philadelphia is Escape the Room, with several themed spaces that give you an hour to find freedom!
8. Step back in time at Independence Hall
Visit the place where the Declaration of Independence was signed and the United States Constitution was created. Independence Hall serves as a reminder that the City of Brotherly Love was America’s capital for a decade and was the birthplace of many of the laws that still guide the nation. When visiting Independence Hall you will also be a short distance away from the Liberty Bell, the President’s House Site, and several other historic wonders.
9. Immerse yourself in Wonderspaces
Immersive art displays and museums are a fun indoor activity in Philadelphia where your senses get saturated by the sights and sounds of walk-through artwork. Have you been to Wonderspaces in Center City’s Fashion District yet? The venue is home to multiple walk-through artworks that change continuously, as well as a bar to enjoy a few drinks after the experience.
10. Try a new restaurant
With one of the East Coast’s most vibrant culinary scenes, you could eat out constantly and never get to the bottom of Philadelphia’s restaurant selection. From cheesesteaks to Chinese, the Athens of America doesn’t disappoint diners. If you’re interested in authentic Southern Thai cuisine, check out Kalaya in Fishtown for artistic, flavorful dishes. Crowning the best cheesesteak in town is a controversial topic but few have complaints about Chubby’s in Roxborough.
11. Take a cooking class to sharpen your skills
Brush up on your kitchen skills with a cooking class! You can start with Kitchen 101 skills, try your hand at a holiday meal, or take a specialty course in pasta making. Cooking classes are usually held at a culinary arts school. You can also make them an educational part of a team building or birthday event by hosting the cooking class in your own private venue.
Peerspace has several spaces in Philly that are ideal for a cooking class. Have you seen this open-concept kitchen and dining room space in Newbold? It’s the perfect spot for creating something tasty and enjoying the fruits of your labor!
12. Enjoy a dinner in the dark
Restaurants that offer a meal as part of an experience are some of our favorite indoor activities in Philadelphia for a date night or birthday dinner. Dine in the Dark invites guests to turn off their sense of sight while sampling one of their three 3-course dinner selections. You’re forced to engage your other four senses and explore the meal in an intriguing new way while guessing what’s been served to you.
13. Take the kids to the Please Touch Museum
This is one children’s museum that encourages kids to touch and engage with the exhibits! Parents of active kids can let them off of the leash to explore the Please Touch Museum’s many interactive displays. Kids discover the power of learning through play here, exploring topics that range from biology and art to STEM!
14. Shop ’til you drop at the King of Prussia Mall
Philadelphia has a fantastic shopping scene and the King of Prussia Mall is one of the city’s finest. With more than 450 stores spread across 3 levels, it’s easy to spend an entire rainy day here. You’ll find national name brands like Armani Exchange, Crate & Barrel, and Nordstrom for scouting sales. Afterward, you can enjoy something yummy at Bonefish Grill or Cold Stone Creamery!
15. Explore the Philadelphia Museum of Art
No list of the top indoor activities in Philadelphia would be complete without the Philadelphia Museum of Art, a world-class institution at the very edge of Center City! From South Asian art to feminist influences on modern art, the Museum explores creativity through a lens that crosses the world and stretches deep into history. If you have kids, don’t forget that admission for 18 and under is always free. The Museum also has special events like family tours and art-making for children happening year-round.
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16. Visit the Adventure Aquarium
Are you looking to explore the ocean’s depths without getting wet? Check out the Adventure Aquarium, where you’ll find fish, hippos, turtles, and invertebrates! This AZA-accredited aquarium is famous for having the Northeast’s largest collection of sharks on display, including one of the only great hammerhead sharks in the country. Not to mention the Shark Tunnel, 3D displays, and virtual reality experiences for kids.
17. Get your kicks at a comedy club
Philadelphia is one of the East Coast’s leading entertainment capitals and a great city to catch a show at. So why not laugh away the rainy day blues at a comedy club? Have you been to Punchline Philly in Fishtown yet? As a comedy club, restaurant, and bar, you can enjoy a full-service menu and drinks along with the jokes. Punchline Philly hosts local and national talent year-round and is a must-visit for comedy lovers!
18. Check out a video game arcade bar
Video arcades didn’t disappear as console games made it into people’s homes. They only got better as the decades progressed. Now you can not only enjoy your favorite arcade classics; you can play with a beer in hand and pizza at your table. Arcade bars like Barcade offer dozens of video games and pinball machines to try. You can even check the games list ahead of time to ensure your favorites are on hand as different arcades keep different selections.
19. Indulge your senses and take a wine-tasting class
Rainy days are the perfect chance to explore new wines with good company. Try booking a tasting class at a local winery or wine bar with an experienced sommelier who can guide you through the finer points of each beverage. You can make your next wine-tasting event even more memorable by hosting it inside of a private venue.
Peerspace has several we think you’ll love, including this highly photogenic wine bar and event space in Center City East! The venue includes a first-floor tasting room and a second-floor skylight lounge for a truly upscale rainy day tasting event.
Indoor activities in Philadelphia: conclusion
As you can see, rainy days are no excuse for boredom in the City of Brotherly Love. Indoor activities in Philadelphia are some of the most thrilling in the nation! And if nothing here is to your liking, we at Peerspace can help you create an indoor event of your own. All you need is the right party venue near you to make it happen!
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