Things to do with kids in Pittsburgh

Things to do with kids in Pittsburgh

1. SeeNorth Side

   Andy Warhol Museum

   This seven-floor museum is like no other art museum, to say the least. The collection covers Warhol's entire life, and as you walk through the galleries you'll hear the sounds of Velvet Underground, the Rolling Stones, opera singers, classic Hollywood movies and many other influences on Warhol's career as you view celebrity portraits, films, room installations, album covers, and many other works from one of America's greatest pop artists.

   Tue-Thu Sat Sun 10AM-5PM, Fri 10AM-10PM, closed Mon and major holidays·$20 adults, $10 students/children; half-price Friday evenings

2. EatStrip District-Lawrenceville

   Angelo's Pizza

   Well-known pizzeria owned and operated by a first-generation Italian family. Caters to many hospitals and businesses in the area. Hefty portions, hoagies, hand-crafted pizzas with fresh toppings, and one of a kind homemade “mayonnaise”.

   Mon-Sat 11AM-11PM·$7-$13

3. SeeNorth Side

   Carnegie Science Center

   A great place to learn about science, this huge (five floors) museum has exhibits aimed toward both children and adults dealing with many aspects of science and technology. Some of the highlight exhibits include a model railroad village, an aquarium, a robot exhibit, and numerous theaters and stages for science demonstrations, as well as a large-screen theater. Another attraction is a World War II submarine, the USS Requin, moored in the Ohio River just aside of the Science Center itself.

   Sun-Fri 10AM-5PM, Sat 10AM-7PM·$18.95 adults, $11.95 children; theater shows extra

4. SeeOakland

   Chatham University Arboretum

   Estate of the Mellon family, landscaped in part by the Olmsted Brothers (who landscaped Boston Common and New York's Central Park) with many different flowering trees - now part of the grounds of Chatham University.

   Free

5. SeeNorth Side

   Children's Museum of Pittsburgh

   A children's museum with a pretty wide variety of great, interactive exhibits, including a recreation of Mister Rogers' Neighborhood, a hall full of optical illusions, a waterplay area, a stage, a workshop full of pulleys and gears, as well as plenty of art and outdoor exhibits.

   Daily 10AM-5PM·$14 adults, $13 children/teens/seniors, children under 2 free

6. SeeOakland

   Frick Art & Historical Center

   A complex of museums and historic buildings including: Clayton (the home of industrialist and art collector Henry Clay Frick), the Frick Art Museum, the Car and Carriage Museum, and the Greenhouse.

   Tue-Sun 10AM-5PM·The grounds, museums, and greenhouse are free, tours of Clayton cost $12 adults, $10 seniors, $6 children

7. SeeOakland

   Frick Park

   A wonderful wooded park (and Pittsburgh's largest) with a network of trails ideal for walking the dog or bicycling. There are several entrances to the park, the main ones being at Reynolds St and Homewood Ave (across the street from the Frick Art & Historical Center) at the north end of the park, Beechwood Blvd just south of Forbes Ave and at Nicholson St on the west side of the park, and at Forbes and Braddock Avenues on the east side of the park. From any of the entrances you'll head down shady, wooded slopes to a small valley which runs south to the Nine Mile Run Watershed, where a small stream flows into the Monongahela River. The, off of Beechwood Blvd just south of Forbes Avenue, hosts nature programs for children and has a small pond and a woodland area for wildlife viewing. There is also a pair of excellent playgrounds in the park, one at Beechwood Blvd and Nicholson St and the other at Forbes and Braddock Avenues, along with softball fields and tennis courts.

8. DoSouth Side

   Gateway Clipper Fleet

   Offers a variety of sightseeing, dining, and entertainment cruises on the three rivers of Pittsburgh using old-fashioned paddle wheel boats. There are also dinner and dance night cruises, where you can eat galumkies (Polish stuffed cabbage) and polka away the evening on the river.

   One-hour sightseeing cruise $20 adult, $10 children (click on link to see schedules and prices for other cruises)

9. SeeNorth Side

   Mattress Factory

   The Mattress Factory is a museum of contemporary art that exhibits room-sized works called installations.

   Tue-Sat 10AM-5PM, Sun 1-5PM·$20 adults, $15 seniors/students, $10 veterans, children under 6 free; half-price Tuesdays

10. SeeNorth Side

    National Aviary

    The only "national" aviary in the entire country, this small but splendid place has lots of exotic birds to enjoy - eagles, penguins, lorikeets, parrots, flamingos, etc. A couple of exhibits allow you to stroll through with birds flying around you, and the aviary offers a constant program of feeding times and bird shows to enjoy throughout the day, bringing you even closer to their lovely birds.

    10AM-5PM daily·$14 adults, $13 seniors, $12 children (2-12), free for under 2; extra fee for bird shows

11. SeeNorth Side

    North Shore Riverfront Park

    Situated along the Ohio and Allegheny Rivers, this park offers a chance to get close to the rivers and enjoy excellent, unobstructed views of downtown. A trail runs the length of the park, which stretches from the Carnegie Science Center to beyond downtown, and there are numerous lawns and public artworks, as well as boat tie-ups and facilities for canoes and kayakers. The, just west of PNC Park, is a large interactive fountain which children often play in during the summer.

12. DoNorth Side

    PNC Park

    The Pittsburgh Pirates baseball team, known locally as the "Buccos" or "Bucs", play their home games here. Their ballpark is widely considered one of the most beautiful in the major league, with a stunning view of downtown past the outfield. If you don't make it for a game, you can still take a tour of the stadium on non-game days during the season; check the website for a schedule.

    Games afternoon and evenings; call for schedule·Tickets $15-250 (bleachers to club seats), Ballpark tours $9 adults, $7 seniors/children

13. SeeOakland

    Phipps Conservatory

    A Victorian glass conservatory with gorgeous indoor and outdoor floral and botanical displays. Dating to 1893, expansion through the years has resulted in 14 indoor rooms and several outdoor gardens, each with unique garden designs and excellent assortments of plants. There's also quite a bit of colorful sculpture throughout, including multiple pieces by Dale Chihuly, that help to decorate the already lush indoor displays. Renovations have been undertaken to make Phipps one of the greenest buildings in the world.

    Sat-Thu 9:30AM-5PM, Fri 9:30AM-10PM·$15 adults, $14 seniors/students, $11 children, children under 2 free

14. SeeStrip District-Lawrenceville

    Pittsburgh Zoo and PPG Aquarium

    A large zoo complex containing a wide variety of animals in big exhibits. There are lots of enclosures simulating natural spaces in Asia, Africa, rainforests, along with the PPG Aquarium. In the "Kid's Kingdom" area you can get up-close with animals like goats, deer, sea lions, bats, and meerkats. Busier on weekends; the zoo is laid out is a very linear fashion, with almost everything aligned along one loop, so expect crowds and viewing waits.

    9AM-5PM daily (until 4PM in winter and until 6PM in summer)·$15 adults, $14 seniors, $13 children, children under 2 free

15. SeeNorth Side

    Riverview Park

    A large wooded and hilly park with an extensive network of trails, a swimming pool, a playground, and great views of Pittsburgh.

16. SeeStrip District-Lawrenceville

    Senator John Heinz History Center

    An affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution and the largest history museum in Pennsylvania. Featuring 6 floors of permanent and changing exhibitions, this museum gives a very detailed look at the past 250 years in Western Pennsylvania, with displays on Pittsburgh-area innovations, people, and industries. Notable exhibits include artifacts from the French & Indian War, a hall dedicated to the Heinz company, a room full of old vehicles, and the Western Pennsylvania Sports Museum - a two-story exhibit dedicated to a wide variety of Pittsburgh-area sport legends.

    10AM-5PM daily·$20 adults, $18 seniors/military, $11 students, children 17 and under free; admission is good for two days

17. SeeOakland

    Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hall and Museum

    Housed in a historic Beaux-Arts temple inspired by the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus, the museum explores the evolution of equipment and technology as well as the effects that military conflicts have had on society, honoring and educating about the sacrifices made during wartime.

    Mon-Sat 10AM-4PM·$10 adults, $5 seniors/children, active military/veterans/children 5 and under free; family of military serving in a current conflict free

18. SeeOakland

    Stephen Foster Memorial

    Serves as a memorial, museum, and archive of the works of American folk songwriter Stephen C. Foster ("Oh! Susanna", "My Old Kentucky Home"). The Gothic Revival building also houses the two primary theaters for the university's Department of Theatre Arts. A schedule of shows is available on their website.

    Mon-Fri 9AM-4PM·Admission is free and guided tours are available for a small fee when reserved in advance ($5 adults, $2.50 seniors and children)

19. SeeOakland

    Warhola House

    This is the home where Andy Warhol lived for 15 years with his family, and where he developed much of his interest in the art that would later make him famous. The house was purchased by the Warhola Family in 2005 after decades of ownership by various other tenants. Since its purchase, it has undergone continuous restoration in order to preserve it as a historic site.

20. DoDowntown Not mapped

    Three Rivers Regatta

    August event around Point State Park and just across the river on the North Shore, this massive event plays host to a lot of music, food, stunt shows, boating events, and family activities.

21. SeeOakland

    Carnegie Museums of Art and Natural History

    Museum of Art. Museum of Natural History.

    Mon-Wed, Fri-Sat 10AM-5PM, Thu 10AM-8PM, Sun noon-5PM (closed Tue Labor Day-Memorial Day)·$25 adults, $20 seniors, $15 students/children/teens, children under 3 free (admission includes entry to both museums); 1/2 price after 15h

Listings from the Wikivoyage guide to Pittsburgh (CC BY-SA 4.0).