Things to Do in Whitehall Township

Lehigh Valley Grand Prix's gas-powered Sodi GT5 Proline karts zip around a quarter-mile racetrack with 11 brake-stomping turns. The karts feature air-intake units that trap their exhaust and keep the atmosphere fresh, and the track—constructed from 1,300 used Goodyear tires and the shredded remains of Mario Andretti's learner's permit—is outfitted with three observation platforms for track marshals to regulate each lap and guarantee riders' safety. A full-time mechanic keeps finish lines crowded by calibrating karts to run within three-tenths of a second of one another and hanging hundreds of piñatas from the checkered flag. At the facility's bar, Octane, drivers can refuel with drinks and food while watching stock-car races on the five 42-inch TVs.

Backed by a score of pulsing music and illuminated by swirling veins of light, bowlers swing their arms back and send pearlescent orbs hurtling down the glossy lanes in front of them. Though it recalls science fiction, this surreal scene is commonly witnessed at Playdrome Rose Bowl's Future Bowl nights. These cosmic escapades are among the many family-friendly events hosted at the sprawling bowling alley in an average week.

Flanked by neon murals and electronic scoring machines, Playdrome's 36 lanes remain open from mid-morning into the wee hours of the night. Bowlers of all ages can satisfy their between-game appetites with hearty fare at Orbits Cafe or practice their aim on three billiards tables. A full arcade keeps fingers loose with button-mashing combos; more serious bowlers can take turns building muscle by lifting the video-game consoles over their heads.

The 43,000 square-foot facility of America On Wheels is dedicated to preserving and showcasing the expansive history of American transportation. Within that, 23,000 square feet are devoted entirely to exhibit space, where guests will find a variety of classic cars, racing vehicles, trucks, and motorcycles. Rotating exhibits have included topics such as classic cars of the 1930's–including a 1933 Buick–, muscle cars, and trains. In addition to offering family memberships and group tours, the facility hosts rentals of its space and a museum store, as well as a classic café complete with ice cream, shakes, floats, and hot dogs.

Mulligan's Family Golf Center beckons to birdie-hunters with a scaled-down golf course, an 18-hole mini-golf circuit, and a full-length driving range. With its longest hole measuring in at 108 yards, the center's 9-hole Chip-n-Putt course fosters short-game refinement, as players send balls somersaulting onto small greens from artificial tees or out of one of the layout's three sand traps. Mulligan's graciously rents out golf balls (a $0.50 deposit each, refunded when balls are returned) for use on the course, saving players the hassle of buying their own sleeve or chiseling a bocce ball down to the right size.

For more pressure-free swing practice, Mulligan's 30-stall driving range lets clubbers dial in their wedges, irons, woods, and mannequin legs with five signs demarcating yardages all the way back to the 250-yard terminus. The center also encompasses an 18-hole mini-golf course, where putt-putt posses crouch to demystify tricky breaking putts while the burbling sounds of waterfalls, fountains, and streams set a tranquil tone.

BounceU welcomes kids to descend upon an inflatable, climate-controlled playground where they can bounce and ricochet in safety. Along with birthday parties and group outings, BounceU hosts open-bounce sessions that let sock wearers of all ages imagine they're synchronized leapers in a futuristic moon performance as they carom around the inflatable stadium, expending energy with every leap. Adults are welcome to act like 8-year-olds and join the vivacious youngsters in the playground.

The inflatable arena also opens its buoyant doors to day camps, where boys and girls ages 5–10 spend half their time with brain-bolstering projects such as painting or reprogramming the remote to skip all news channels. After stretching the limits of their imaginations, kids then spend the other half of the day stretching the limits of their limbs on the inflatable playground.

Town & Country Lanes is a smoke-free family center that hosts rollers of all stripes, from children using helpful bumpers to pros battling it out during tournaments. Four nights a week, laser lights cut through clouds of fog as players' song requests drown out the sounds of strikes, spares, and self-administered high-fives. Between games, bowlers can keep their fingers busy at the arcade or fuel their stomachs with food and drinks from the snack bar and pub.