Top 10 indoor play spaces for the active, adventurous Pittsburgh family

The cold weather months always challenge me as a parent. How can I maintain an active, healthy lifestyle for my kids when it’s just too chilly to be outside? I suspect it’s a nagging question for many other Pittsburgh parents, too. Yet kids get cranky when they’re cooped up inside and statistics reveal that a frightening one-third of our children are considered overweight or obese. In the wake of this epidemic, we need to get and keep our kids moving!

In honor of NEXTpittsburgh‘s new Health Section, I have created a guide to some very special Pittsburgh indoor play spaces. These spots offer a chance for the active, adventure-loving family to stay fit and have fun–even on the dreariest of Pittsburgh days. I hope you enjoy exploring them this fall and winter. Who knows? You might even pick up a new hobby to share with your kids.

Highmark Sportsworks at the Carnegie Science Center

Want to be active and learn some cool stuff, too? Head to the Highmark Sportworks building, a part of the North Side’s Carnegie Science Center. Its 30+ exhibits are entirely devoted to encouraging physical activity in kids. And it’s first on my list for a reason. It’s a centrally-located, all-around great spot to burn off some energy, try some unique adventures and learn some science, too.

Sportworks’ exhibits are certainly one-of-a-kind. Some examples: a “You-Yo” exhibit where you can become a human yo-yo, oscillating up and down on cable-tethered handles, a “high-cycle” where you can ride a counter-balanced unicycle across a wooden beam suspended 15 feet off the ground and a bungee-harnessed trampoline where you can jump, flip and spin 20 feet into the air. There are also many sport-related physical challenges, such as an Olympic sprint track, a rock wall and a pitching cage.

The part I like best about Highmark Sportsworks? The exhibits have obviously been designed to nurture appreciation for the human body and the science behind it. And I think that’s cool.

Family Time at the Wheel Mill, Photo courtesy of the Wheel Mill
Family Time at the Wheel Mill, Photo courtesy of Harry Geyer

The Wheel Mill

Did you enjoy biking with your kids last summer? There’s no need to give it up over the next six months. The Wheel Mill is Pittsburgh’s first and only indoor bike park located in a former warehouse building in Homewood. Buoyed by the support of local cyclists and organizations like BikePGH, Harry Geyer opened the Wheel Mill in April of 2013. Every feature of this 80,000 square foot park has been carefully designed to mimic organic trail conditions. The park is also committed to sustainability–nearly 75% of the lumber and material used in its design have been reclaimed.

The Wheel Mill has terrain for both the experienced and the beginner cyclist, including children as young as age 3. As Harry says, “We always knew that we wanted children to be a part of the Wheel Mill. After all, biking seems like such a natural part of the childhood experience. Plus, for many kids, it’s their first taste of freedom and the responsibility that goes along with it. We want to help them make that leap safely.”

Some kid-friendly highlights: balance bikes and youth bikes to rent for only $8 per day (or you can bring your own), children’s biking lessons, summer camps, birthday parties and family-friendly events throughout the year. Plus, a giant foam room where you can take your bike off a jump and land in four feet of foam–which sounds like a blast to me.

The Climbing Wall

Used to love rock-climbing before you had kids? Now you can bring them along! Located in the Factory Building in Point Breeze, the 14,000 square foot Climbing Wall is a locally-owned and family-friendly business, welcoming children as young as age 6. As General Manager, Andrea Bureau, says, “We think that learning to rock-climb can be a very important experience for some kids. In comparison to more competitive team sports, it allows them to be active and athletic–but in a more self-directed and individually-paced environment.”

The Climbing Wall offers several rock-climbing options for kids. The most well-known is their Kids Climb drop-in program where children can learn fundamental rock-climbing skills under the watchful eyes of trained professionals. During these two-hour sessions, parents are welcome to observe, do some top-roping themselves or even run some errands. Also, families can always explore the 8,000 feet bouldering area with designated trails suitable for climbers of all ability levels. Finally, parents can complete a special adult climbing class to become belay-certified. They can then take their children top-roping at any time.

If you’re looking for other kid-friendly rock-climbing options, check out Climb North and KinderKlimb at REI Pittsburgh. Please note: in general, children are required to be at least 5-6 years old to rock-climb, except at the Highmark Sportworks building where they only need to be 30 pounds or greater.

Mellon Park Tennis Center, Photo by Tracy Certo
Mellon Park Tennis Center, Photo by Tracy Certo

The Mellon Park Tennis Center

Want to introduce your kids to tennis? Citiparks runs the indoor Mellon Park Tennis Center. Built in 2002, the “Mellon Bubble” was initially supposed to be a temporary, cold weather-only structure. It was so popular they decided to keep it open year-round. The insulated and heated Tennis Center has five courts with on-site showers. The Center runs drop-in beginner tennis classes for families on Saturday mornings. For $10 per class, kids ages 4-15 year old can get a lesson with a tennis pro.

The Center is also the home of the Inner City Junior Tennis Program, a wonderful free mentorship program for inner city youth. On Friday evenings, children ages 5-18 can practice their tennis skills alongside some of the region’s best tennis players and develop healthy relationships with positive role models.

RMU Island Sports Center
RMU Island Sports Center, Photo Courtesy of Dave Hanson

RMU Island Sports Center

Looking for a one-stop shop for your adventurous family? The RMU Island Sports Center is located on Neville Island about 9 miles from Downtown Pittsburgh. This 32-acre facility is owned by Robert Morris University and is used by its students and faculty. Thankfully, this indoor athletic haven is also open to the public as well.

It has a few claims to fame. First, it houses one of the region’s only indoor golf driving ranges. The “Golf Dome” is an absolutely enormous space with a state-of-the-art turf surface that makes it ideal for driving golf balls on those cold, bitter winter mornings. The driving range also happens to be a great place to introduce your children to the sport either through its a) all-ages Parent/Child Golf Class or its b) Junior Golf Academy for ages 8-14.

Also, the Island Sports Center is home to one of the region’s best indoor ice-skating venues. The Olympic-sized rink is the largest in the area and is known for being very well well-maintained. The rink offers public skate hours throughout the week and also open stick times for hockey enthusiasts. Finally, the Island Sports Center has an exceptional educational staff with world class skaters and even former Olympians teaching ice-skating lessons for children as young as 3.

Looking for other indoor ice skating rinks in the city? Check out Blade Runners Harmarville and Warrendale Ice Complex and the Ice Connection of Pittsburgh to the north, Ice Castle Arena, Iceoplex at Southpointe and Blade Runners Bethel Park Ice Complex to the south, Center Ice Arena to the east and Airport Ice Arena to the west.

Neville Roller Drome

Have fond memories of roller skating as a kid? The Neville Roller Drome is a favorite indoor roller rink in the city, also located on Neville Island. As owner Jim Park says, “Although the outside is unassuming–a little bit like Dr. Who’s Tardis–the Neville Roller Drome is Pittsburgh’s first and finest roller skating rink. We are committed to providing both a fun and family-friendly environment.”

Neville Roller Drome truly does cater to the needs of the entire family. For mom–a women-only skating aerobics class on Monday evenings. For date night–a Thursday evening Adult Skate Night. For family fun–skating lessons for kids and Radio Disney-infused Family Skates during weekends. There’s even special tween/teen skate times, roller derby and a soon-to-launch Tiny Tots Skate Session for the wee little ones.

Looking for other spots to skate in the city? Check out Romp N Roll and Skate Castle to the north and Eden Park Roller Rink to the east.

Foam pit at SkyZone Leetsdale, Photo courtesy of SkyZone
Foam pit at SkyZone Leetsdale, Photo courtesy of SkyZone

SkyZone Leetsdale

Wanna bounce? SkyZone Leetsdale is a 10,000 square foot indoor trampoline park located west of the city. The facility features two open jump courts, two dodgeball courts, a foam pit and a Skyplane basketball hoop. SkyZone is very family-friendly with no minimum age requirement to visit. As the General Manager Justin Werth likes to say, “If you can walk, you can probably jump at SkyZone.” SkyZone offers open jumping hours, dodgeball birthday parties, skyrobics fitness classes, a special needs night and a weekly toddler time. Rumor has it that a new SkyZone location may be coming to Monroeville soon.

Looking for another trampoline park? Check out Flight Trampoline Park in the South Hills. And if your kids enjoy bouncing on inflatables instead, check out Jump!Zone in Allison Park, BounceU in Warrendale and Planet Bounce in Canonsburg.

Fun Slides Carpet Skatepark
Fun Slides Carpet Skatepark, Photo courtesy of Candy Holsing

Fun Slides Carpet Skatepark

Looking for an off-the-beaten path active adventure? Consider this fun option located in both Greensburg and the North Hills. Invented by the children of a local furniture mover, “Fun Slides” are based on the EZ Moves Furniture Slides used to more easily drag furniture across rugs. “When we were kids, we used to strap our dad’s EZ Moves Slides to our shoes and skate across the carpets,” says Candy Holsing, co-owner of Fun Slides Carpet Skatepark, “Now that we’re adults, we used this inspiration to create Fun Slides, a similar device that straps to the bottom of athletic shoes.”

At Fun Slides Carpet Skateparks, local families can strap on the revamped shoe slides and skate on carpeted ramps, rails and jumps. There’s even “butt slides” for the 3-4 year old crew. Add in black lights, music and concessions and it promises to be an adventure.

The Aquatics Center at the Upper St. Clair Recreation Center
The Aquatics Center at the Upper St. Clair Recreation Center, Photo courtesy of Melissa Lindberg

The Aquatics Center at the Upper St. Clair Community and Recreation Center

Not ready to give up last summer’s poolside adventures? There’s a pearl for you hidden within the Upper St. Clair Community & Recreation Center. Their Aquatics Center is essentially an indoor water park–complete with a lap pool, whirlpool and a recreational pool with zero-depth entry, underwater benches, a lazy river, a water slide, and an interactive water play area. For only $12, you can get a day pass to visit the Aquatics area and the rest of the Rec Center. If you really love it, you can purchase a membership, too.

The Center also offers both private and group swimming classes for kids starting at six months of age.

Looking for other drop-in indoor swimming options in Pittsburgh? Check out the Kingsley Association‘s pool and the Oliver Bath House in the city, as well as the Carnegie of Homestead Athletic Club‘s pool to the east.

Gymsport Athletic Center

Finally, are you looking for ways to keep even your littlest kids active this winter? Since I know that many of the locations that I’ve mentioned might be better suited to the slightly older child, I also wanted to include one spot specifically catering to the toddler-aged crew. If you have tiny tots, I would suggest checking out Gymsport Athletic Center in Bridgeville.

Gymsport is home to one of the most well-known gymnastics schools in the area with classes for kids as young as 18 months. They also offer a fairly unique option among gymnastics schools–drop-in open gym times for kids 5 and under. This “Preschool Playtime” is offered Monday through Friday from 9-12pm. For $5/hour, your little ones can explore their “Jungle Gym,” featuring slides, a zip line, foam pits, a trampoline, a rock wall and more traditional gymnastics equipment like a balance beam, rings, tumble tracks and more. They have a similar program for older kids on Friday evenings.

Looking for other indoor play spaces for your littlest ones? Check out the Pittsburgh Toy Lending Library, the Wilkins School Community Center or the Seesaw Center.

I hope this article has given you some fun ideas for family-friendly outings over the coming months. We know it’s going to be cold. We know it’s going to be gray. But, it doesn’t have to get your family’s adventurous spirit down. Have fun and be healthy!

This article originally appeared on our partner site NEXTpittsburgh.

Featured photo: Highmark Sportworks at the Carnegie Science Center, Photo courtesy of Carnegie Science Center