19 Indoor Activities In Pittsburgh To Try Next Time It Rains (2024)
- Date: June 2, 2024
- Topic: Events
- Contributors: Written by Peerspace Staff
Source: Peerspace
Pittsburgh is Western Pennsylvania’s largest city. That makes it a fine place to be when the inevitable rains come to visit. You have a huge collection of spaces to visit that include party venues, educational museums, art installations, and world-class restaurants. So don’t cancel your party plans; adapt and enjoy a new experience in Steel City! We at Peerspace specialize in creating memories for people by collecting unique party spaces near you. So we’ve created this list of the best indoor activities in Pittsburgh to try!
1. Visit the Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens
The Oakland neighborhood is home to the Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens. The Conservatory is the best place to retreat to on a rainy day, where you can study rare blooms and trees inside of the glass house. Unlike smaller conservatories, the glass house here has 14 rooms! You’ll also get to enjoy seasonal garden beds, educational displays, and art installations from artists!
2. Visit an arcade or arcade bar
It’s nice to play some of the more nostalgic games of our youth at a classic arcade. But did you know that you can enjoy drinks and food at some of them? Pittsburgh is home to some of the best arcade bars in the nation! One of our favorites is Barcadia in Market Square. They have a rotating collection of 85 classic arcade and virtual reality games along with Happy Hour drink specials and a full menu.
3. Plan a potluck dinner with friends
Rainy days are the perfect opportunity to have some friends over for a nice dinner as an indoor activity in Pittsburgh. You can take some of the planning pressure off by making it a potluck affair! Potluck dinners give everyone a chance to contribute. All that’s needed is a venue spacious enough for your guest list.
If your apartment dining room is a bit too small, consider booking a dinner venue through us! Peerspace has hundreds of suitable potluck dinner venues in Pittsburgh, like this industrial urban event space in Bloomfield! There’s seating enough for 80 guests, who will love the iron-crafted furniture, incorporated salvage bridge parts, and other artistic touches!
4. Play indoor mini-golf at Pittsburgh Puttery
Golf is an activity that a forecast of rain might ruin but miniature golf is still an option! Pittsburgh is home to the Puttery, an indoor 3-course mini golf venue. You can opt for a single course or purchase unlimited courses to golf away on a rainy day. Each course has a theme; the Library, Garage, and Lodge all have their own aesthetic. The Puttery also has 2 bars and a menu with pizza and other treats to enjoy.
5. See birds at the National Aviary
Did you know that Pittsburgh is home to the only nonprofit indoor aviary in the United States? The National Aviary houses over 500 birds and other animals from across the world. You can see Andean condors and penguins in a single day here! There are also educational opportunities, including live streams of nesting falcons, birdwatching classes, and more!
Looking to explore the city with your colleagues? Then you should check out our favorite team outing ideas in Pittsburgh!
6. Learn about Pittsburgh at The Heinz History Center
Pittsburgh has a long history to explore as a major US city. Educational indoor activities in Pittsburgh like The Heinz History Center are a fun family or date outing that heighten your appreciation for the Paris of Appalachia. Did you know they have the TV set from the famous program “Mister Rogers Neighborhood?” You’ll also find exhibits on glassmaking, the French and Indian Wars, and more of the influences that have shaped the city.
7. Enjoy bowling at Arsenal Bowl
Bowling is a popular indoor activity in Pittsburgh but what if you want an experience as much as a game? Check out Arsenal Bowl on Butler St! It brings a nightclub vibe to the traditional game! Most days there are themes like 80s/90s night with a DJ or Rock n’ Bowl. Arsenal Bowl has food and drink specials for sale as well as packages for birthdays and other special events!
8. Play laser tag at Laser Storm
Looking for a more competitive indoor activity in Pittsburgh? Why not bring your friends to a game of Laser tag? Laser tag gets people moving, scoring points, and avoiding blasts behind barriers. Laser Storm is a Pittsburgh favorite; they offer reservation-free games every day. When you need a break, hit the arcade or have snacks and drinks in one of their private party rooms!
9. Check out a smaller museum
When people look for indoor activity in Pittsburgh on a rainy day, major museums always top the lists. But locals who have already seen many of the top museums tend to ignore the many niche museums the city has. Have you been to The Center for PostNatural History? Lovers of natural history will appreciate its focus on the relationship between nature and human intervention. Pittsburgh is also home to the Western Pennsylvania Model Railroad Museum, the Photo Antiquities Museum of Photographic History, and the Duncan and Miller Glass Museum!
10. Laugh at a comedy show
There’s no better way to forget about the weather than a good comedy show with friends! Arcade Comedy Theater hosts sketch, improv, and standup comedy shows year-round. Enjoy food and drinks while laughing at some of the best talent in PA. True lovers of comedy take to the stage themselves; Arcade Comedy Theater also has classes and workshops for comedians of all skill levels.
11. Go climbing and bouldering at Ascend
Pennsylvania has excellent rock climbing and bouldering opportunities. When the rain comes you don’t have to cancel your plans. Check out an indoor climbing gym where you can get a full body workout inside a mosquito-free, air-conditioned space! Ascend Climbing has bouldering, climbing, yoga, and fitness classes for all ability levels.
12. Taste fine wines at a wine bar
Relax with wine and company on a rainy day at one of the many wine bars in the area. Wine bars like Allegheny Wine Mixer in Lawrenceville offer beautiful surroundings and a plentiful selection to go with your drinks. You’ll also find unique wine cocktails here, which blend classic craft cocktails with fine wine infusions.
13. Book a private dance lesson
Are you passionate about tango, salsa, ballet, or other movement arts? Take the time to work on your fundamentals or pick up a new routine with a private dance lesson! Private lessons give you all of your instructor’s attention so you can perfect your dance moves. Plus you can work in a far more intimate space than a traditional dance class where you may have dozens of other dancers to work around.
Peerspace has one of the largest collections of dance venues in Pittsburgh. For a private dance lesson this studio in Etna, PA, is hard to beat. The amenities include dance barres, floor mats, and a soft mixture of overhead and natural light!
14. Check out an entertainment complex
Entertainment centers know that everyone has different tastes. So they offer something for everyone to enjoy! Pittsburgh has several, including Dave & Buster’s and Zone 28. You can enjoy bowling, laser tag, or arcade games for a while before relaxing in the beer park at Zone 28. Or watch UFC and football games indoors at Dave & Busters for a rainy evening of fun!
Love taking photos with friends and family? Then you need to check out these gorgeous indoor photoshoot locations in Pittsburgh next!
15. Break free of an escape room
Check out an escape room for a more interactive indoor activity in Pittsburgh! Escape rooms require you to find clues and work your way free of the rooms in a set amount of time. They have varying skill levels and come decorated in themes like libraries, graveyards, or spaceships. Escape Room Pittsburgh is a 60-minute adventure where you work with a team to win freedom!
16. Play some pinball
Pinball is an arcade classic that never gets old! And Pittsburgh is home to one of the best pinball arcades and museums in the nation. Check out Pinball PA on a rainy day! It has a collection of over 500 different games to try, dating as far back as the 1930s and reaching into the present day. You’ll also find classic arcade games like Galaga and Street Fighter II to play!
17. Enjoy movie night with friends
Get some friends or a date together for a fun movie night. A private screening room lets you bring whichever food, snacks, or drinks you like, in a space with more comfortable seating than a traditional theater.
Peerspace has several unique screening rooms for a rainy day movie night. This Shadyside gallery is one of our favorites! Besides the large screen and projector, you’ll have tables, chairs, a balcony, and other cozy touches to enjoy with your booking.
18. Explore the nationality rooms at the University of Pittsburgh
Lovers of international history and architecture will enjoy the University of Pittsburgh’s nationality rooms! Each room focuses on a unique region and time somewhere in the world. From England to China, the rooms use elements that predate both the signing of the American Constitution and the founding of the University.
19. Dine at a new restaurant
Steel Town is home to the best restaurants in Western Pennsylvania. From Central European to East Asian, the city has enough options to satisfy even the pickiest of eaters. Have you been to Gaucho Parrilla Argentina yet? They specialize in Argentina’s world-famous barbecue options, including empanadas and wood-fired meats in a high-end downtown atmosphere!
Indoor activities in Pittsburgh: conclusion
You don’t have to cancel your plans if the weather forecast calls for rain. Pittsburgh has a wealth of indoor activities to try out. From museums to bowling alleys, Steel City is never a dull place to live. You can make outings with friends and family even more memorable by booking a party space through Peerspace. We have some of the best venues in Pittsburgh for a party, baby shower, wedding reception, or other special event! Take a peek at our collection sometime!
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