articles

40+ Indoor Places to Play in Harrisburg & West Shore, PA

Find your family fun at local museums, attractions, bounce houses & more this summer!

By Kat Dinsmore, publisher, www.harrisburg.macaronikid.com December 1, 2022

Looking to find some indoor family fun? Find your family fun at one of the trampoline parks, museums, libraries, theaters, and more in the Harrisburg & West Shore area! 

The places listed below are some of the very best spots to enjoy family fun in Harrisburg, Mechanicsburg, New Cumberland, Linglestown, Lemoyne, Camp Hill, Wormleysburg, Marysville, Dauphin, New Kingston, Colonial Park and the surrounding communities. 

Do you have a favorite spot we are missing? Email the info to kathrynd@macaronikid.com to get it added to the list!


BOUNCE PLACES + ARCADES + GO KARTS


Autobahn Indoor Speedway offers a couple of different go-kart options, including a track designed for kids with additional safety features implemented.

Carlisle Sports Emporium features a large indoor arcade, skating rink, laser tag, indoor go-kart track, snack bar and more.

Get Air Trampoline Park has a variety of trampolines for all ages from toddler through adult.

Monkey Joe's is a walk-in bounce place offers inflatable bounces, obstacle courses, slides and a snack bar for toddlers, preschoolers and kids 12 years and under. 

Sky Zone Trampoline Park offers a variety of trampolines, dodgeball, basketball, toddler play area, foam pit, snack bar and more for all ages from toddlers through adults.


CREATIVE WORKSHOPS


aMused and Uncorked is a fantastic spot to pick up supplies to create a custom piece of art or sign.

Color Me Mine Harrisburg allows families to let their creativity take over as they paint custom pieces of pottery.

Color Me Mine Mechanicsburg allows families to let their creativity take over as they paint custom pieces of pottery.

Jubilee Cake Studio hosts fun cake and cupcake decorating worships.


ESCAPE ROOMS


Escape Games Live, Lemoyne gives families 60 ish minutes to find clues & solve puzzles in order to escape.

Escape Rooms at ABC East, Harrisburg doesn't pair you with other groups and instead lets you solve clues along the way with your friends and family.


HISTORY + MUSEUMS + BOOKS


Cumberland County Historical Society Museum offers a look at artifacts and information related to the history of Cumberland County with a museum, gift shop and research library.

Fort Hunter Mansion and Park invites families to tour the mansion and enjoy the park grounds to spark your imagination about a bygone era.

The Harrisburg Doll Museum is a quirky museum dedicated to dolls and toys from 1840 to the present day. 

Indian Echo Cavern allows the public to get a glimpse into the large cave system under Hummelstown, near the Swatara creek.

John Harris-Simon Cameron Mansion invites families to tour the historic mansion on Front Street that’s been vital to Dauphin County History.

Lykens Valley Children's Museum encourages kids to explore, learn, imagine and make memories together.

Mechanicsburg Museum Association shares the history of Mechanicsburg and it's inhabitants.

Midtown Scholar Bookstore + Cafe offers families a variety of special events, cafe, books by local authors, in addition to their large store filled with books you'll love.

National Civil War Museum invites everyone to take a look at the history of the Civil War, how it started, the Battle of Gettysburg and what has been learned from it. 

The Oakes Museum of Natural History is located at Messiah College and is open to the public on Saturdays to share a collection of Smithsonian quality African and North American mammals, eggs, birds, fish, seashells, minerals, insects, and fossils.

PA National Fire Museum is housed in an 1899 Victorian Firehouse and shares the history and apparatuses of firefighting.

State Capitol Building Tours are available as both guided and self-guided tours of our state capitol. 

The Susquehanna Art Museum houses thousands of interesting pieces of art in rotating art exhibits, as well as special events and talks for all ages.

The State Museum of Pennsylvania featuring a planetarium, thousands of artifacts and artwork related to the history of Pennsylvania and notable residents, gift shop and Curiosity Connection, a play area for ages 5 & under, the State Museum of Pennsylvania offers hours of educational fun.

U.S. Army Heritage and Education Center honors soldiers past, present and future by sharing historical data, artifacts, machinery and history related to strategic leadership, the global application of Landpower, and U.S. Army Heritage.

The Whitaker Center offers families a science center, theater and cinema, and three floors of hands on, interactive displays.


LIBRARIES


Cumberland County Libraries:

Dauphin County Libraries:

Perry County Library


MOVIE THEATERS + PERFORMANCE THEATERS + BOWLING


Colonnade Theatre offers live shows, movies, art & more

Gamut Theatre Group is home to the Popcorn Hat Players, a local theatre group that offers fantastic performances for families on beloved tales and fables.

Midtown Cinemas in Downtown Harrisburg is the perfect spot to catch indie, foreign and even outdoor movies.

Regal Cinemas 14 is offering family-friendly movies Tuesday & Wednesdays at 10am for only $1/person.

The Sunoco Theater at the Whitaker Center schedules a variety of live performances in downtown Harrisburg.

Kids Bowl FREE at several local theatres this summer.


ROLLER AND ICE SKATING RINKS + SPORTS FACILITIES + NATURE CENTERS


Carlisle Sports Emporium features a large indoor arcade, skating rink, laser tag, indoor go-kart track, snack bar and more.

Ned Smith Nature Center sits on more than 500 acres and offers families an up close view of nature as well as hosts a variety of local events.

Olewine Nature Center is located inside Wildwood Park and offers hands on displays for kids of all ages

Olympic Skating Center is a fantastic spot for Harrisburg & West Shore families to learn to roller skate and to enjoy open skate hours.

Yellow Breeches Sports Complex is home to a semi-professional ice hockey team, and a variety of sports for kids and adults.





Sign up now to join the more than 11k+ local families who receive Harrisburg & West Shore Macaroni Kid's weekly newsletter that is packed with events for families in the area.

To find the packed calendar of local events, check here.