Beating the Winter Blues in the Burgh

By Jen Irwin

​February and March in Pittsburgh can be long and dreary. Whether there’s snow on the ground or not, there are fun things to do indoors and outdoors. Here are some ways to beat the winter blues…

• Pins Mechanical Co.: A brand new, two-story entertainment complex in the Southside Works complete with duck pin bowling, pinball, vintage arcade games and an outdoor patio with firepits that will have you dreaming of summer nights. This spot is very similar to Shorty’s on the North Shore but it’s so much bigger. Pins is a family-family, dog friendly facility during the day and turns into 21 and over after 8 p.m. nightly. There are three bars, dozens of cocktails, draft beers and mocktails available. Drinks are game themed for a fun touch. Although Pins doesn’t serve food, you can order takeout and have it delivered to eat there. Be sure to take advantage of all the great selfie spots throughout the establishment. 
• Urban Air Adventure Park: New to the Waterfront area, Urban Air is where kids of all ages can go to take their cares away. Attractions include climbing walls, bumper cars, virtual reality, rope courses and trampolines galore. Visit www.urbanairparks.com to make reservations, book a party or buy passes in advance. Packages and prices vary.  
• Arsenal Bowl: Located in Lawrenceville and voted the best bowling and fun spot in Pittsburgh year after year, Arsenal Bowl has nightly themes, DJs, live music, trivia nights and specials. Reserve lanes or walk in and bowl but get there early, lanes go fast, especially on the weekends. 
• Tour Acrisure Stadium, PNC Park, or PPG Paints Arena: Get a behind the scenes look at where Pittsburgh’s three major sports teams play. Roam the halls and take pictures where your favorite players call home. Tour routes and areas visited vary based on date, time and events scheduled in the building. Book online and plan ahead because time slots fill up quickly. 
• Pittsburgh Winter Beerfest: Grab your pretzel necklace, clean your palate and head to the festival on February 24th - 25th at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center. 400 local, regional, and hard to find craft beers from more than 130 breweries will be on hand. Sample beers while enjoying live music and karaoke. 
• Seven Springs Mountain Resort: Pick your pleasure… Seven Springs has snow tubing, snowboarding, skiing, a spa and of course, the Foggy Google where you can cuddle up by the fire and enjoy hot toddies. If you’re craving outdoor winter activities but don’t feel like taking an hour drive, check out Laurel Highlands or Boyce Park. Both are closer to the city and offer a lot of the same activities on a smaller scale.
• Ice Skating: Schenley Ice Skating Rink sits in the heart of the city in Oakland and local parks have rinks as well including North and South Park. Don’t forget to check out the rink at PPG Place, it’s open through February. There are also several indoor ice rinks to check out if you can’t deal with the blustery cold including Ice Castle Arena in Castle Shannon.

There are so many things to do in the city during the long, winter months. Check out museums, breweries, trails and everything Pittsburgh has to offer while staying warm until spring blooms.