Carnot-Moon, PA Indoor Activities

The New Hazlett Theater, built in 1889 as the Carnegie Musical Hall, pays more of a resemblance to a cathedral than a concert space, from its austere stone walls to its soaring bell tower. In fact, the hall would serve as a religious retreat through the early 1900s. Saved from demolition in 1967 and renamed the Hazlett Theater in 1980, the venue would serve as the home of the Pittsburgh Public Theater for 24 seasons, followed by a brief stint as the summer home of a Pirates-obsessed vampire.

Taking control of a battleship can make you work up a mighty appetite. Luckily, there's a food cart located just outside this ship's walls. At E2 Toys2Try, LLC there are plenty of eco-friendly, lead-free toys and play stations to gallop to and from. The space abounds with baubles that run only on imaginations instead of batteries or vengeful, displaced souls. Along with the battleship and food cart, there's a rope tree, pedal truck, old-fashioned gas pump, and wooden kitchen. The playground's team stretches kids' imaginations further by engaging them in arts activities, which parents can watch from the cozy confines of a lounge replete with complimentary tea or coffee and free WiFi. Next to the playground, staffers stock a boutique toy shop's shelves with wooden and nonmechanized playthings from brands such as Edex, Haba Toys, and PlanToys.

Though having only recently celebrated its second birthday, the August Wilson Center commands a striking architectural confidence. Its two-story steel-and-glass sail juts into the night sky with the bravado of a toddler who just lassoed his first neighborhood cat. Within the steal and glass, a 486-seat theater hosts plays, dance performances, and lectures while multiple exhibition galleries display art and cultural treasures for the community. The center draws on the legacy and culture of African Americans from Western Pennsylvania, infusing each curation with a celebration of rich history.

Every weekend, Twin Hi-Way Drive-In’s dual screens come to life with double-feature showings from a schedule of current films. Viewers tune their radios to the audio track’s frequency, directly transmitting the movie’s dialogue and soundtrack to their car, or fiddle with the knob to recast Ira Glass as the lead in Die Hard. The concession stand dispenses movie-night treats, such as hot dogs, popcorn, and sodas. On Saturdays, the drive-in hosts classic-car shows, where owners can show off their ’67 Mustang or their ’66 GTO.

Though Pines Plaza Lanes has been keeping guests entertained since 1957, the newly renovated space features state-of-the-art technology that ensures carefree rounds of bowling. The BYOB facility houses twenty lanes, which can accommodate league players, friendly outings, or up to 120 guests for an in-house party. On Friday nights from 10 p.m. to 1 a.m., the alley turns down the lights for three hours of galactic bowling, allowing players to toss bowling balls under the lights of comets and stars without angering park rangers.