Family Vacation In Pittsburgh Pa

When it comes to family vacations, Pittsburgh PA is one of the most popular destinations in the United States. With its historical background, rich culture, fine arts, entertainment and many opportunities for family fun, Pittsburgh PA is the ultimate destination for a vacation on the east coast of the United States. This guide will give you the best tips and tricks how to plan your family vacation in Pittsburgh, PA.

Family vacations are an excellent way for families to bond and connect. Getting away from the day-to-day grind and working on a project can really bring people together. Your family vacation can be more fun, productive and memorable with this list of ideas in your arsenal.

Pittsburgh has been racking up the cool points lately, landing on “best cities” lists and topping rankings for top spots for sports, restaurants, and even tech. It isn’t just college kids flocking here. The Rust Belt city offers plenty of fun things to do for kids and families, including a thriving arts and culture scene.

Family Vacation In Pittsburgh Pa

The Pittsburgh Zoo is a longtime attraction for families, along with the Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh, but unique offerings like the Carnegie Science Center, National Aviary, and Andy Warhol Museum are a draw, too. We’ve long touted the city as one of our top Pennsylvania weekend getaways for families, but we recently revisited and enjoyed exploring old favorites and finding more fun things to do in Pittsburgh. Read on for a list of 40 things to do, see, and eat in Pittsburgh!

Top Things To Do in Pittsburgh

The location of Carnegie Mellon University in the city helps create a thriving tech scene, as well as churn out STEM-ready grads. Along with the other colleges in and near Pittsburgh, Carnegie Mellon, as well as its ​namesake entrepreneurs—Andrew Carnegie and Andrew Mellon—and other locals have helped shaped the city’s rich art and science offerings. It isn’t just high-brow galleries to peruse. Kids can get hands-on at so many of the city’s museums, gardens, and historical centers.

Build, tinker, and explore at the Carnegie Science Center. Photo by Richard Nowitz via VisitPittsburgh

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1. Carnegie Science Center
The Carnegie Science Center is the perfect place for curious minds to explore. Hundreds of hands-on exhibits with a focus on science and technology guarantee fun for kids of all ages. The Science Center features four floors of interactive exhibits, including Roboworld, the world’s largest permanent robotics exhibit. Popular add-ons include an actual Cold War-era submarine, an Omnimax theater with a four-story domed screen, and Laser Shows. The theater program is amazing, with live demonstrations throughout the day.

2. Carnegie Museum of Natural History
The expansive Dinosaur Hall at Pittsburgh’s Museum of Natural History boasts one of the nation’s largest dinosaur collections, and an impressive permanent immersive exhibition spanning through the Mesozoic Era. See paleontologists in action as they work in the lab! In addition to this feature, the gemstone collection is dazzling, and there are hands-on activities dispersed throughout the museum. Plus, the museum is connected to the Carnegie Museum of Art and admission covers both museums if you want to make a day of it. Or, short on time? Visit after 3pm for a discounted entry fee.

3. Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh
Kids learn through tactile play with a variety of media at the popular Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh. The Makeshop is an innovative studio space where a team of skilled makers and educators help translate kids’ visions into tangible objects. Let them run around at the indoor jungle gym to expend that energy!

4. Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens
The 19 distinct gardens, some indoors under a picturesque glass dome, at the Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens are simply stunning. Glass sculptures by Dale Chihuly decorate the floral beds in a whimsical fashion. Live butterflies fly freely in warmer months. Take the cobblestone path to explore a pretty hidden area behind Phipps.

RELATED: Poconos Family Travel Guide

Discover the city’s unique history at the Heinz History Center. Photo by Rachellynn Schoen via VisitPIttsburgh

5. Senator John Heinz History Center
An affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution, this museum is dedicated to Western Pennsylvania history. Kids can play in Kidsburgh, a kids-only, interactive play zone, as parents sip coffee in the café, monitoring the kids by television screen. There is a delightful collection of original antique vehicles, including a trolley, fire engine, and Heinz ketchup delivery truck. The fourth floor Special Collections Gallery is home to the largest original collection of items from Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood, including King Friday’s Castle, the Great Oak Tree, and McFeely’s Speedy Delivery tricycle.

6. Western Pennsylvania Sports Museum
Located in the Heinz History Center, this museum-within-a-museum captures the importance of sports to the city, home to the famed Pittsburgh Steelers. Learn about great sportsmen and women through sports artifacts and interactive exhibits. Lesser-known sports such as marbles and bocce are covered, too. Don’t miss the baseball card collection.

Contemporary art at the Mattress Factory gives all-ages something to think about. Photo courtesy of the Mattress Factory

7. Explore the Mattress Factory
The Mattress Factory is a contemporary art museum with an experimental lab component that makes each visit special. The rotating exhibits are sure to be unique.

See the historic Victorian-era Frick House. Photo by Frick Pittsburgh via VisitPittsburgh

8. Frick House
See what it was like in Victorian Pittsburgh at the Frick Historic House. This historic home was once home to the Frick family, and includes an amazing old car collection, beautiful grounds, and lovely home to explore. This is an extra special place to visit in the winter when they deck the halls in the original Christmas trimmings from the 1920s.

See hundreds of bird species, some colorful, at the National Aviary. Photo courtesy the aviary

9. National Aviary
Get nose-to-beak with more than 500 birds of more than 150 species from around the world, including parrots, owls, flamingos, and penguins.

10. The Andy Warhol Museum
As the largest museum dedicated to a single artist in the country, the Warhol Museum’s merging of art and pop culture is appealing to kids. Head down to the basement studio, where each afternoon kids can create their own pop art project. Other fun activities include a Warhol photo booth and screen test.

11. Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium
This venerable zoo has been around for over one hundred years. It is home to thousands of animals representing more than 400 species, including 22 threatened or endangered species. The underwater polar bear and otter experiences are good fun. Kid’s Kingdom is where you will find a petting zoo and animals native to Pennsylvania. The PPG Aquarium presents sea creatures of all types.

12. Explore in a safe space
The Seesaw Center is wonderful new indoor play center specifically designed for children of all abilities. Really wonderful for days when you need a little indoor play for your little one.

13. Watch a pro sports team
With the Steelers playing football, the Penguins ice hockey, and the Pirates baseball, all at in-town stadiums, watching the pros in this sports-obsessed city is an experience. Not to mention, the skyline views from PNC Park (home to the Pirates) are among the best stadium views in the nation. Residents have a deep affection for their teams. All of the teams share team colors, so whatever sport you choose to view, you will be surrounded by a sea of black and gold. And if the game is a winner, you can almost always expect fireworks.

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14. Ride the Duquesne Incline
Ride a hundred-year-old cable car straight up for a spectacular view of Pittsburgh’s three rivers and skyline. Any kid who likes trains should love this. The Duquesne Incline is open daily.

15. Hit the arcade
Play the latest video games plus old-school arcade games like skee-ball and foosball at Games N At, or teach kids the true classics at Pinball Perfection.

16. Take a River Cruise
With three rivers converging here, the Gateway Clipper Fleet of riverboats offers family-themed excursions that are a fun way to site see, including holiday-themed cruises, a Princess cruise, and a Superhero cruise.

17. Play
Pittsburgh has some really fun destination playgrounds with features that draw people from all over the city, like the Super Playground in Highland Park. Use the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy website to plan park time near your outings.

Raft your way right through downtown. Photo courtesy of the Laurel Highlands River Tours

18. Kayak
Rent an easy-to-handle kayak right in Downtown at Kayak Pittsburgh. Kids ages 3-12 are allowed in a tandem kayak with an adult. First-timers welcomed. The kayaks are rentable seasonally, usually through October, weather permitting.

Ride the coasters or just hope on the kiddie rides at the Kennywood Amusement Park. Photo courtesy the park via VisitPittsburgh

19. Kennywood Amusement Park
Kennywood is one of the oldest amusement parks in America and a favorite with roller coaster fans. There are six major roller coasters, from the classic Thunderbolt to the ultra modern Phantom. There’s also a kiddie park, shows, water rides, and classic rides.

20. Schenley Plaza
With food kiosks, a grassy field, shade and a beautiful carousel (not to mention free WiFi) everyone can recharge their batteries. In summer there are lots of free programs and events to catch, including Final Fridays featuring free concerts on the lawn.

21. Idlewild Park and SoakZone
This classic amusement park is set in the Laurel Highlands in Ligonier, about an hour from town. It is the third oldest amusement park in the country and consistently garners accolades. Adventure awaits at Story Book Forest and Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood-themed sections of the park.