Stony Brook, NY Indoor Activities

In the 74 years between the Paramount Theatre's opening night, when people used to line up to see “talkies” for 50 cents, and 2002, when it was voted Best Mainstage Theatre in a Seattle Weekly Reader's Poll, the palatial venue faded and decayed alongside its Roaring Twenties brethren throughout America. Luckily, former Microsoft Vice President Ida Cole saved it from the rubble heap in the mid-‘90s when she established the Seattle Landmark Association and vowed to render the Paramount "kissable" once again.

Over the course of seven months, the renovation crew expanded the size of the stage wings to accommodate more ambitious live productions. They also cleared decades of grime from the french baroque plaster reliefs, uncovering long-forgotten designs and causing only one long-dormant horror to snap open its eyes dramatically. They also replaced the gold leaf in the floral designs of the wall medallions, repainted all the surfaces in their original 16 colors, and scrubbed each of the 1.6 million crystal beads in the chandelier by hand with a toothbrush. The original Knabe Ampico player piano was returned to its spot on the four-tiered lobby's lush carpeting, and a 21st-century sound system now shares sonic space with the thundering, luminous sonority of the Paramount's fully restored Mighty Wurlitzer organ. Though the Paramount's calendar runs the gamut from rock concerts to standup comedy to Broadway musicals on the scale of Wicked, its decadent Beaux Arts trappings transport audiences to the days when reality was still black and white.

Stepping Stones Museum for Children encourages kids to learn through play with permanent and traveling exhibits tailored to different age levels and activities designed to develop growing brains. The museum was founded in 2000 in order to give kids a place to let their imaginations soar while participating in an interdisciplinary mix of subjects, such as art, culture, literacy, and string theory. Because children learn best by doing, the museum's interactive activities are perfect for improving cognitive function.

Creativity and problem-solving skills improve in the massive courtyard—a gigantic open-air tent that hosts an oversized checkerboard and big blue-foam building blocks—as well as in the kiln-equipped art studio. A community garden teaches little ones about butterflies and edible plants, and Healthyville employs more than 50 hands-on activities and computer games to educate kids about nutrition, the body, and why you shouldn't eat fake fruit.

Brightly colored pennants embellish the ceiling at Port Jeff Bowl, but bowling skills demonstrated in the lanes below are what attract attention. Players hurl balls toward pins for fun or team up with peers to play in one of many leagues, divided by age and whether or not a player is tall enough to ride a roller coaster. On Tuesday nights from 9:30 to midnight, athletes enjoy an unlimited amount of fun during Bottomless Bowling. And after hours spent satiating competitive impulses built up over years of being benched during tag, patrons can quench thirsts and appetites with a beer and bite at Splitz Sports Bar. The alley also hosts parties and private events for up to 200 guests, which lets partygoers pair play with pizza, soda, or buffet fare in the 11th Frame Lounge.

An oasis for arts-loving crowds tired of taking malfunctioning teleporters to Long Island, the cavernous, recently renovated Paramount draws in major acts to spare fans stressful commutes. The buxom venue buzzes with a true rock 'n' roll vibe, beaming with a nocturnal color scheme decorated with whimsical local art and exposed brick walls.

Settle traffic arguments by challenging an opposing driver to a duel on Boomers!'s speedy go-carts. Or just cruise solo, banking curves and outdriving total strangers in a wild day of rubber-burning and dust-eating. For crashtastic thrills, climb aboard a bumper boat and drift on the waterscape, floating amok and gleefully broadsiding fellow captains. A bit of the briny seeps into Boomers!'s mini-golf range, where it creates a sparkling blue hazard to complement the verdant greens. Finish the day with a feeling of accomplishment that comes only from climbing Boomers!'s big, giant rock wall. The 32-foot climbing surface has a variety of handholds and different climbing options, so explore them all with the three climbs. Be sure to check Boomers! Medford's hours before heading out.

Self-improvement is a highly personalized goal that can take any number of approaches to achieve. Satya Yoga & Pilates attempts to incorporate as many of these approaches as possible, giving students the means to relieve stress, become more physically fit, or bolster their holistic well-being. There, students can design their own well-rounded workout regimen that emphasizes physical as well as mental health through yoga, dance, and Pilates instruction.

The yoga classes exemplify this flexibility through dynamic Vinyasa lessons that link poses to create seamlessly flowing sequences as well as gentler workouts that emphasize deeper, controlled stretching. Regardless of style, advanced yoga lessons continue to challenge attendees by introducing inverted poses, breathing techniques, and sudden-death overtime. The dance classes adopt a similarly broad approach, using belly dance and Zumba choreography to create cardio-intensive workouts or guiding students through the basic steps of international ballroom styles. Although Pilates focuses a bit more on building core strength, the sessions also emphasize the importance of measured breathing and controlled, mindful movements.