Pittsburgh Activities with Kids

The National Aviary

The National Aviary is full of beautiful birds kids can learn about on vacation.

Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh

The Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh is a hands-on interactive children's museum that has consistently been voted one of the best spots for kids in the country. Located in the Allegheny Center neighborhood in Pittsburgh's Northside, the 80,000-square-foot space houses several ongoing exhibits as well as rotating exhibits, including interactive areas such as the Attic, the Garden, the Garage, the Theater, the Studio, Waterplay, and the Nursery. Iconic puppets like Henrietta Pussycat and Lady Elaine Fairchilde put on a show in the Fred Rogers and Us exhibit, while Thomas and Friends and Mo Willems are on show in the summer. The Children's Museum of Pittsburgh also presents a wide variety of programs for children of all ages in various fields ranging from rocket-building and robotics to quilting, Japanese paper cutting, and dancing.

10 Children's Way, Pittsburgh, PA 15212, Phone: 412-322-5058

Pittsburgh Zoo and PPG Aquarium

The Pittsburgh Zoo and PPG Aquarium is home to a plethora of animals representing more than 400 species, 22 of which are critically endangered. Located in Highland Park, the Zoo and Aquarium sit on 77 acres (31 ha) of parkland which feature a range of habitats and ecosystems for the facility’s animals to thrive, including the African Savannah, the PPG Aquarium, the Asian Forest and the Bears. Striving to foster active, lifelong connections between animals and people, the Zoo and Aquarium offer several educational programs and conservation projects to educate and inspire visitors to take an interest in the natural world, including overnights at the zoo, teen programs, and an exclusive wildlife academy.

7340 Butler St, Pittsburgh, PA 15206, Phone: 412-665-3640

Kennywood Amusement Park

Kennywood Amusement Park is a family-friendly play park with seven adult roller coasters (the eighth is in Kiddieland), water rides, and slides, themed rides, a kid’s playground, and a variety of shows. Founded in 1898, Kennywood Amusement Park is one of the oldest amusement parks in America and one of the country's best-loved traditional amusement parks, especially with roller coaster fans. The park features six major roller coasters, including the traditional Thunderbolt to the state-of-the-art Phantom. Old-school rides include the Turtle which has been around since 1927, while the Black Widow is a new thriller. Kiddieland provides fun for young visitors with an array of rides, while several food concessions around the park serve casual fare such as burgers, hot dogs, and ice cream.

4800 Kennywood Blvd, West Mifflin, PA 15122

Senator John Heinz History Center

The Senator John Heinz History Center is part of the Smithsonian Institute and is dedicated to the rich of Western Pennsylvania. Located on Smallman Street in the heart of Pittsburgh, the five-story museum features a variety of interactive exhibits and immersive experiences for children of all ages to enjoy, such as a collection of original antique vehicles, including a fire engine, a trolley, and Heinz ketchup delivery truck. Other attractions include an interactive play zone, an 11-foot ketchup bottle at the Heinz exhibit, and a Special Collection of extraordinary items from Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood like the Great Oak Tree, King Friday’s Castle, and McFeely’s Speedy Delivery tricycle.

1212 Smallman Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15222, Phone: 412-454-6000

Carnegie Science Center

The award-winning Carnegie Science Center inspires and entertains visitors from around the world by connecting science and technology with everyday life.

Located on along the banks of the Ohio River, the Center features a variety of popular attractions, including the newly constructed Buhl Digital Dome, the Rangos Omnimax Theater, an authentic Cold War-era submarine, the USS Requin, and roboworld™ - the world's largest permanent robotics exhibit. Explore hundreds of tiny historic local landmarks at the Miniature Railroad & Village, brave kinetic energy as a human yo-yo at Highmark SportsWorks, or head into space at SpacePlace, a walk-in replica of the International Space Station.

One Allegheny Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15212, Phone: 412-237-3400

The Andy Warhol Museum

Dedicated to the world-renowned Pittsburgh-born pop artist and cultural icon Andy Warhol, The Andy Warhol Museum is the largest museum dedicated to a single artist in the country. Located on the North Shore of Pittsburgh, the museum has 17 galleries that boast an extensive permanent collection of the artist’s works, ranging from the early to the formative years, including 900 paintings, 77 sculptures, 4,000 photographs, and close to 2,000 works on paper.

The collection also features over 1,000 published unique prints, and over 4,350 Warhol films and videotaped works. The basement of the museum houses a studio where visitors can create their pop art creations, and other fun activities include a Warhol photobooth and screen test.

117 Sandusky St, Pittsburgh, PA 15212, Phone: 412-237-8300

Highland Park

Highland Park is a beautiful urban park set within the neighborhood of the same name that features a large reservoir surrounded by grassy lawns, shady picnic areas, and a loop walking and jogging trail around the lake’s perimeter. Established in 1879 as a source of drinking water for the city, the reservoir soon became a favorite spot for the public to gather and was made into an official park 20 years later. Today, the park features sand volleyball courts, a swimming pool, and a bike track, and is home to the Pittsburgh Zoo and PPG Aquarium. A beautiful garden and Victorian-style gathering place with a fountain, reflecting pool, and benches for relaxing can be found at the entrance of the park.

Highland Park, Pittsburgh, PA 15206

Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens

World-renowned for being one of the ‘greenest’ buildings in the world, the Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens was founded in 1893 by steel and real-estate baron Henry Phipps and is one of the oldest and largest Victorian ‘glass houses’ in the country. Designated as a National Historic Landmark, the award-winning Lord & Burnham Conservatory is made up of 13 silvered, glass-encased domes that cover flourishing garden rooms filled with myriad exotic plants and flowers. The conservatory is surrounded by 2.5 acres of pristine landscape, which features lush, manicured gardens, tranquil ponds, and tinkling fountains. The Conservatory houses several permanent and seasonal exhibits throughout the year, including a fantastic garden railroad display in the Palm Court, an incredible collection of rare orchids and bonsai trees and a beautiful outdoor rose garden and lily pond.

1 Schenley Drive, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, Phone: 412-622-6914

Klavon's Ice Cream

Klavon's Ice Cream is a charming old-school spot that serves Penn State Creamery ice cream, milkshakes, sundaes, floats and other sweet treats in a casual, friendly setting. Located in the Strip District of Pittsburgh, Klavon's Ice Cream Parlor is a Pittsburgh tradition and has been serving delectable treats for more than 95 years. Opened in 1923 as a neighborhood apothecary and ice cream shop by James and Mary Klavon, the café has withstood the test of time, and after being transformed into a full-service ice cream parlor by the Klavon’s eight grandchildren and a cousin, Klavon's Ice Cream is still the neighborhood go-to for something sweet.

2801 Penn Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15222, Phone: 412-434-0451