Say it’s a rainy day in Pittsburgh. Or a snowy one. According to NOAA’s seasonal predictions, odds are today’s weather is one of those two types. 

Image via @mo_macel

You’d think that with so many gray-cloud days in our experience Pittsburghers would have figured out by now what to do on rainy or snowy days. But if you are like me you suffer from rainy-day-jà-vu and you know that you’ve been here before, but can’t for the life of you figure out what to do about it.  

Life’s too short, and Pittsburgh’s weather often too dreary, to let such a day go unlived. Which is why we’ve put together a list of some Classic Pittsburgh “Go-Tos” and some Off-the-Beaten-Path options to help you plan your next indoors-but-out-of-the-house rainy day escape. 

Classic Pittsburgh

Hit up a museum. The city is chock full of them. Great options: Carnegie Museum of Natural History, Carnegie Museum of Art, Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh, Andy Warhol Museum.

Hit up a cultural site. The city is also chock full of those. Great options: Phipps Conservatory & Botanical Gardens, The National Aviary, Heinz History Center, The Frick Pittsburgh, Pitt Nationality Rooms, Mattress Factory, Carnegie Science Center.

Off-the-Beaten-Path

If you’re like us then you’d rather stand out in the freezing rain than indoors with 1000s of others. Which is why we’ll let you in on our secret list of off-the-beaten-path options. 

Check out a niche museum. From sporty to kitschy and everywhere in between: Clemente Museum, Photo Antiquities Museum of Photographic History, Johnny Angel’s Ginchy Stuff and Music Museum, Bicycle Heaven, Center for PostNatural History, The Maridon Museum, Pittsburgh Glass Center, Duncan and Miller Glass Museum, Western Pennsylvania Model Railroad Museum.

Tour a brewery, winery, distillery. You literally have 100s of options with this one so pick your favorite or check out somewhere new and just settle in until the storm passes. Have you checked out Bierport yet?

Check out a church. Visiting churches isn’t just for European vacations. Pittsburgh even boasts a group of churches called “The Shrines of Pittsburgh” among which is the largest collection of relics outside of the Vatican located in St. Anthony Chapel on Troy Hill and the Maxo Vanka Murals at St. Nicholas Church in Millvale. 

Malls. Site-see “the historical sites of the future” by visiting a shopping mall like the Galleria of Mt. Lebanon, South Hills Village Mall, Ross Park Mall, or Pittsburgh Mills. Most of these have playspaces, which are great rainy-day lifesavers for parents of young kiddos. 

Entertainment Complexes. There’s nothing complex about it; get out your pent up energy at one of the area’s many booming funtertainment locations like Zone 28, Dave & Buster’s, Wildwood Sports & Entertainment Complex, PlanetBounce, Flight Fit n Fun, Altimate Air Trampoline Park, Urban Air Adventure Park, Games n’ At

Escape Rooms. If you are looking for a literal escape then choose an escape room adventure: Escape Room, Escape the Room, Break Out Games, The Great Escape Room.   

Go Bowling. Don’t underestimate the power of a good bowling experience: Arsenal Bowl, Sports Haven Bowl, AMF Lanes, Crafton Ingram Lanes, Kennedy Lanes, Pines Plaza Lanes, Enix Beer – Bowling

The next time it rains don’t suffer from a case of weather-induced amnesia. Come back to this list of things to do in Pittsburgh on a rainy day and choose your next indoor activity adventure.

Now get inside and live a little!

This content was provided by a local, independent contributor to Made in PGH, a lifestyle blog.
Mo Macel

Mo is a pun-loving Pittsburgher who likes to take photos and write. When not focusing on her kiddos, you'll find her pursuing happiness and working on living the American Dream via one craft beer at a time. She blogs at givegodyouryes.com and fullhipster.com.

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