The best things to do in Salem

Serene venture featuring exhibits of native plants & wildlife, plus walking trails & workshops.

If you want a course that actually rewards good shots, Salem Hills Golf & Country Club brings 18 holes of classic Jack Kidwell design, bent grass fairways, and a 7,059-yard par 72 layout that plays fair but keeps you honest. Friendly for newcomers, satisfying for seasoned players.

From the Salem newsletter, October 27, 2026

Centennial Park Disc Golf Course delivers a fun, mid-length nine with a couple of legit par 4s and plenty of shot-shaping through mature trees, all set right in town. Moderate challenge, holes mostly 224 to 443 feet, and a loop you can finish in about 30 to 60 minutes.

From the Salem newsletter, October 19, 2026

Hunt Club Lanes keeps things easygoing and genuinely local, whether you’re a league diehard or someone who still celebrates hitting a pin. The crew is welcoming, the vibe is family-fun, and cosmic bowling nights add just enough glow to turn an ordinary evening in Salem into a mini event.

From the Salem newsletter, October 24, 2026

Legacy Lanes keeps it classic with smooth bowling lanes you can book online, plus the extras that turn a random Wednesday into a win... arcade and laser tag, a bar/grill with music, karaoke and DJs, and party packages when the crew needs an excuse to celebrate.

From the Mount Lebanon newsletter, October 28, 2026

Single-screen, circa-1920s movie theater with a balcony offers classic films & festivals.

Whether you're sneaking in a midweek game or corralling the entire crew, AMF Mt. Lebanon Lanes brings 52 lanes of classic bowling energy, a legit arcade, and a sports-bar menu that actually hits. League nights, party-ready lanes, easy online reservations...

From the Mount Lebanon newsletter, September 30, 2026

Whether Penn Hills weather is brutal or you just want data nerd bliss, Miller Mulligans lets you play over 230 iconic courses on Trackman-powered simulators, with shot-by-shot stats and games like Closest-to-the-Pin. Grab a bay with up to six friends, join a league, or book coaching to actually groove it.

From the Mount Lebanon newsletter, October 14, 2026

Cool Springs Golf is the local all-in-one setup, with a two-level, heated driving range packed with Toptracer, plus Full Swing and AboutGolf indoor sims when the weather stinks. Add mini golf, clinics, private lessons, and a legit pro shop with fittings, and you’ve got practice that actually sticks.

From the Mount Lebanon newsletter, October 20, 2026

Memphis Kiddie Park, America’s oldest kiddieland and a Cleveland landmark, has been celebrating kids since 1952 with pint-sized rides they can actually ride, mini golf for bragging rights, classic concessions, plus birthdays and group outings welcome.

From the Parma newsletter, October 22, 2026

Swap the couch this week for a quick wander through the rainforest, kid-friendly interactive zones, and animal encounters at Cleveland Metroparks Zoo, then refuel at dining spots or poke around the gift shop. Perfect midweek reset... basically a mini escape without the I-480 traffic.

From the Parma newsletter, October 27, 2026

Clover Hill Golf Course is a challenging 9-hole track with rolling greens, sly sand traps, and just enough water to make you think, rewarding precision more than power. Ideal for a quick local loop this week when you want real Pittsburgh golf without the fuss.

From the Butler newsletter, October 19, 2026

Youngstown Foundation Amphitheatre is our go-to for big summer nights, from touring artists to community celebrations, all set in green space overlooking the Youngstown skyline. Check the calendar this week and let the music do the heavy lifting.

From the Youngstown newsletter, October 8, 2026

Performing arts center for Broadway-style shows, concerts, dance productions, plays, comedy & opera.

Family-friendly place featuring optical illusions, holograms and interactive exhibits, plus gift shop.

Chain of movie theaters, some with multiple screens, stadium seats & self-service ticketing kiosks.

Bob O'Connor Golf Course is Pittsburgh’s walking-only, in-the-park escape with skyline views, The Bob 9 that suits beginners and accomplished golfers, the Palmer Loop to sharpen skills, and the Arnold Palmer Learning Center’s Trackman simulators when the weather is being... Pittsburgh.

From the Pittsburgh newsletter, August 14, 2026

Casual locale featuring three courses of indoor miniature golf along with a bar, drinks, food options, and friendly staff.

Salem Twin Cinema keeps it simple and fun with crisp digital projection, surround sound, and those glorious rumble seats that make action scenes hit different. Grab a value-packed snack, kick back in recliners or a VIP room, and enjoy an easy, no-fuss night out close to home.

From the Salem newsletter, October 28, 2026

Tucked inside St. Nicholas Church in Millvale, Maxo Vanka Murals deliver 25 floor-to-ceiling gut punches painted in 1937 and 1941, mixing immigration, social justice, love, loss and war. Book a public or themed tour, then brag you finally saw our city's most under-the-radar masterpiece.

From the Pittsburgh newsletter, September 5, 2026

From a 1930s Eliot Ness investigation to a fantasy quest and a sneaky clockwork heist, Perplexity Games Escape Room - Cleveland builds multi-room adventures that actually feel like adventures.

From the Cleveland newsletter, October 2, 2026

IMAX dome theater at Carnegie Science Center screening large-scale educational films for children.

Cleveland Cinemas lines up fresh releases alongside special screenings, including The Metropolitan Opera and other stage productions on the big screen, so your queue feels classy without any extra effort. Feeling extra this week, you can even rent a whole theater and make it your own.

From the Salem newsletter, October 10, 2026

Stylish venue for golfing enthusiasts of any level, featuring 11 simulators, a full bar and good eats.

Golden Star Theaters - Austintown Cinema cranks movie night up a level with its GSX Aurora Immersive Experience, where subwoofers in the seats make car chases and space battles rumble in your bones. Grab your crew this week and book a private screening for a legit hometown night out.

From the Youngstown newsletter, October 13, 2026

When you just want a crisp, well-kept loop without burning your whole day, Mt. Lebanon Golf Course is a historic 9-hole that plays year-round when the weather cooperates and keeps the focus on smooth fairways and honest greens. Friendly vibes, tidy greens, and the perfect excuse to sneak in a quick nine after work.

From the Mount Lebanon newsletter, September 23, 2026

If you’ve been meaning to catch a buzzy new release or something a little artsier this week, Atlas Cinemas Shaker Square 6 has you covered with first-run hits, indie and foreign picks, plus the occasional local film fest. All in an art deco setting that makes movie night feel special without trying too hard.

From the Cleveland newsletter, September 29, 2026

Two Donald Ross 18s with tree-lined fairways, sneaky streams, and over 100 bunkers keep your round honest, then the Practice Range and indoor Trackman bays help you groove it. Mill Creek Golf Course is the rare local combo of history and reps, so make it a this-week tune-up.

From the Salem newsletter, October 25, 2026

When you want a fast dose of hometown heart, The Roberto Clemente Tribute Mural delivers. Swing by on a walk or bike ride, take a breath, snap a photo, and let that quiet, proud feeling settle in... the kind that reminds you why you never leave.

From the Pittsburgh newsletter, October 7, 2026

Metro Parks Par -3 Golf Course keeps it simple and fun, with 18 bite-size holes (65 to 126 yards) plus putting and chipping areas that make sharpening your wedge game weirdly satisfying. Perfect for beginners, families, or a quick nine under two hours when you need a little fresh-air reset.

From the Youngstown newsletter, October 26, 2026

Harris Theater is rolling a new 4K restoration of The Piano and Mark Jenkin’s Rose of Nevada on 35mm, plus today’s Celebrating Elvis! with an impersonator and fun snacks. If you miss megaplex noise, stay home.

From the Pittsburgh newsletter, October 14, 2026

Trade the algorithm for actual vibes at Row House Cinemas. This week’s The Show Must Go On series rolls through Inside Llewyn Davis, Black Swan, All That Jazz, and Phantom of the Paradise, with a live folk set before Llewyn Davis that makes the Coens hit even harder.

From the Pittsburgh newsletter, October 28, 2026

When you just want a relaxed loop close to home, Frosty Valley Golf Links in Upper St. Clair nails it with a friendly 9-hole track, a big grass driving range and putting green, lessons, and low-key leagues that feel more neighborhood hangout than hard-core grind.

From the Pittsburgh newsletter, September 10, 2026

Chain of movie theaters, some with multiple screens, stadium seats & self-service ticketing kiosks.

Between gently rolling hills, a meandering creek, and tree-lined fairways, Youngstown Country Club brings that timeless Northeast Ohio golf experience you brag about all week, and if you’re not swinging, the elegant clubhouse, summer swimming, tennis, and a quietly legendary skeet range make it a solid pick for…

From the Youngstown newsletter, October 30, 2026

Chain of movie theaters, some with multiple screens, stadium seats & self-service ticketing kiosks.

Manor Theatre in Squirrel Hill keeps the neighborhood tradition alive with a newly renovated theater and a lineup heavy on imaginative indie, documentary, and foreign films.

From the Pittsburgh newsletter, August 12, 2026

RMU Island Rapids Outdoor Miniature Golf is the laid-back course on Neville Island where your short game gets to show off, then you can head to the Golf Dome’s indoor driving range for cathartic swings. Kid-friendly, date-friendly, and perfect when you need low-stress fun close to the city.

From the Pittsburgh newsletter, August 29, 2026

Level up your mini golf this week at Puttshack in the Strip District Terminal. Their tech-infused courses auto-score every ridiculous bank shot while you fuel up on chef-driven shareables and craft cocktails. Perfect for date night, friendly trash talk, or corralling the crew for something actually fun.

From the Pittsburgh newsletter, August 15, 2026

Carved into 180 rolling acres, Knoll Run Golf Course delivers a fun, par 72 layout for a casual twosome, league night, or your crew’s outing this week, then keeps you hanging with an on-site restaurant and roomy pavilions... basically a built-in 19th hole without the fuss.

From the Youngstown newsletter, October 16, 2026

Line up a round this week at Reserve Run Golf Course, the award-winning course designed by Barry Serafin with groomed fairways, a back nine that actually makes you think, and Another Round Bar & Grille to celebrate after. Consider it your midweek golf therapy.

From the Salem newsletter, October 7, 2026

Painted with Ohio City neighbors and a nod to the Browns palette, the Greetings from Cleveland Mural packs local landmarks, RTA love, and big postcard vibes. Quick stop this week for that instantly cheerful shot and a reminder of why Northeast Ohio still hits you right in the heart.

From the Cleveland newsletter, October 6, 2026