Spooky Nook Sports – Kid-Friendly Attractions

If you’re heading to Spooky Nook Sports in Manheim, Pennsylvania, there’s a good chance you’re going there with a team of young athletes. As the largest indoor sports complex in the U.S., youth sporting events take place there on a regular basis.

There are more than 12 different sports that Spooky Nook is equipped to host, including baseball, basketball, football, soccer, and volleyball. Spooky Nook can accommodate some relatively unconventional sports too, such as dodgeball, ultimate Frisbee, and fencing.

The 700,000-square-foot facility also features an arcade, climbing walls, and an on-site, full-service restaurant. These unique features make Spooky Nook a popular place to rent for kids’ birthday parties, as you could imagine.

Another great thing about Spooky Nook is its location. It’s only 10 miles from Lancaster and 20 miles from Hershey, two of Pennsylvania’s most iconic tourist destinations. You don’t have to travel that far to find kid-friendly fun, though, as Spooky Nook is surrounded by plenty of entertaining attractions. Read on to learn about some of the best.

Laserdome

Although it might sound like a sci-fi movie from the ‘80s, make no mistake; Laserdome is a totally modern, state-of-the-art entertainment center that appeals to kids and adults alike. And it’s only a five-minute drive from Spooky Nook Sports!

True to its name, Laserdome features a trio of laser-focused attractions. The most popular one is, of course, the 9,000-square-foot laser tag arena. It’s got an alien spaceship theme with one-of-a-kind murals done by local artists.

The other two laser-related attractions at Laserdome are Laser Maze and Music Zone. Laser Maze is a maze where players must stealthily make their way to the finish to try to beat the high score. Music Zone, on the other hand, turns the suspense down and the volume way up. This high-tech dance floor is equipped with surround sound and an epic 360-degree laser light show.

Those three attractions aren’t all that Laserdome has to offer, though. In fact, they’re only the tip of the iceberg. Some of Laserdome’s other attractions include the Racing Zone, the Xbox Zone, Pinball Alley, a mini disc golf course, and a roller coaster simulator.

Park City Center

Kids have loved hanging out at malls for generations, and they still do today. Fortunately, there’s one less than 10 miles from Spooky Nook Sports.

This nearby mall is Park City Center, the largest mall in Lancaster County. With more than 150 stores, it’s got everything from A to Z; or, rather, Abercrombie to Zumiez.

Some of Park City Center’s other stores include Bath & Body Works, Champs Sports, FYE, GameStop, H&M, Hot Topic, and Lids. The mall is anchored by a Boscov’s, JCPenney, and Kohl’s.

Like any good mall, Park City Center also features plenty of places for shoppers to grab a bite to eat. In fact, Park City Center’s had a food court since 1985. They were still a relatively new concept back then, believe it or not. Nowadays, the food court features options like Burger King, Charleys Philly Steaks, and Subway.

Go ‘N Bananas Family Fun Center

When kids still have energy to burn after stepping off the field at Spooky Nook Sports, take them to Go ‘N Bananas Family Fun Center. Spending a couple hours at this indoor amusement park is a surefire way to tucker them out.

Located just over 10 minutes from Spooky Nook Sports, Go N’ Bananas is one of the area’s most popular kid-friendly destinations. With 10 different attractions all under one roof, it’s no wonder why!

Kids of all ages can find something fun to do at Go ‘N Bananas. While little ones play their way through the Toddler Zone playground, older kids can try to beat some high scores in the Game Zone. They can also smash and crash on the Spin Zone bumper cars or monkey around on the only ropes course in Lancaster.

Young daredevils in search of even more thrills should definitely check out the XD Dark Ride. This interactive 7D theater is equipped with state-of-the-art features like full-motion seats, synchronized wind effects, surround sound, 3D graphics, and other stunning special effects.

All that fun is bound to work up an appetite. That’s why Go ‘N Bananas features the Congo Café, an on-site restaurant with a big, kid-friendly menu. On it you’ll find pizzas, sandwiches, wings, and more.

Wilbur Chocolate Store

A trip to the Wilbur Chocolate Store is the perfect way to reward kids after a long day at Spooky Nook Sports. This sweet shop is located less than 10 miles away in the nearby borough of Lititz.

The Wilbur Chocolate company got its start back in the 1860s, so they obviously know what they’re doing when it comes to chocolate. The store isn’t that old, but it has been around since 1972.

They’re best known for the Wilbur Bud, a chocolate candy thought to be the precursor to Hershey’s Kisses. The Bud, which debuted in 1893, predates Kisses by approximately 14 years. You can get free Wilbur Bud samples at their store.

Aside from free Wilbur Buds, another notable feature of the Wilbur Chocolate Store is the Candy Americana Museum, which has more than 1,000 candy-related artifacts on display. The store also offers a peak into the candy-making process with its open kitchen.

The selection at Wilbur’s is massive, as you could probably imagine. They’ve got a candy for practically every kind of chocoholic, including chocolate-covered marshmallows, pretzels, and nuts; chocolate bars, malted milk balls, and cherry cordials, just to name a few.

North Museum of Nature and Science

Need to kill a couple hours? The North Museum of Nature and Science is a budding scientist’s paradise, and it’s only a 15-minute drive from Spooky Nook Sports. Future archaeologists, astronomers, and engineers will feel right at home there too.

The North Museum of Nature and Science is home to a variety of exhibits, so don’t be surprised if you end up learning a thing or two yourself. Some of these exhibits include Explore the Past, where visitors can handle real fossils and bones, and the Explore Nature Gallery, which uses science to explain the world around us.

Exhibits aren’t all the North Museum of Nature and Science has to offer, however. The museum also features a state-of-the-art planetarium and a live animal room with toads, turtles, snakes, lizards, tarantulas, and more.

By the way, make sure to check out the museum’s gift shop while you’re there. It’s full of fun and out-of-the-ordinary souvenirs, from crystal growing kits to scale replicas of dinosaur skeletons. Helping to support the museum with your purchase is a nice added bonus.