084 Fun Family Activities to See & Do in Pittsburgh
Did you know that Pittsburgh is a great family-friendly vacation option with so many parks, museums, food, outdoor activities, and great day trips? Amanda Emmerling from Toddling Traveler joins Lisa to be your guide through all of the wonderful things to see, do, eat, and explore in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. We talk about parks you won’t want to miss, activities on the rivers, the many different museums you will want to visit, some of Amanda’s top food picks, neighborhoods you can check out, plus a great list of day trips that are a short jaunt from the city.
Join us to learn about all of the reasons you will want to add Pittsburgh to your family vacation destination list.
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“There are so many great things for families to explore in Pittsburgh!”
Outdoor Activities
There are so many great parks and playgrounds in Pittsburgh. Here are a few of Amanda’s favorites:
Also, be sure to visit the river areas in Pittsburgh. The three rivers are the Allegheny River and Monongahela River, which form the Ohio River. There are many fun water activities including boating, paddle boating, kayaking, or riding on the Gateway Clipper.
You can check out this article for a great list of things to do in the river area.
The Pittsburgh Zoo is a favorite destination for families.
Indoor Activities
Carnegie Museum of Natural History: Great dinosaur exhibits.
Heintz History Center: Be sure to check out the Mr. Roger’s section plus the sports history area.
Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh: Great option for kids under age 10 with many hands-on activities and events.
Snapology of Pittsburgh: Indoor lego building and learning center.
Sporting Events
The Steelers are the main show in town. If they are playing while you are in town, try to catch a game!
Food
Try a Primanti Sandwich at Primanti Brothers! It’s a sandwich filled with grilled meat, melted cheese, coleslaw, tomato slices, and French fries between two thick slices of Italian bread.
Get a Burnt Almond Torte at Prantl’s.
Burgertory: Casual place for burgers and milkshakes
Pork & Beans: Texas Style BBQ
Meat & Potatoes: American basics with a twist
Butcher & The Rye: Steaks, burgers, pasta, and more.
Pittsburgh Neighborhoods
Staying downtown is a great way to see a lot of great places but don’t forget to explore out in Pittsburgh’s neighborhoods too! Here are a few that Amanda recommends:
Lawrenceville: Great restaurants and parks
Shadyside: Boutiques, shops, tree-lined streets & cafes
Mt. Washington: Great views and restaurants. Ride the Duquesne Incline from downtown Pittsburgh up to Mt. Washington. You can walk around the town and then ride back to downtown.
East Liberty: Artists and farm to table food options
Southside: Colorful and funky college area
Good to Know
It’s best to have a car when getting around Pittsburgh. There are some public transportation options but it could be a challenge to navigate and get right to where you want to go.
The T-line train is a good option from downtown Pittsburgh to South Side.
Plan to spend at least a 3-days on your first visit to Pittsburgh. You could easily spend a week and not run out of things to do.
For the best chance of nice weather, plan to visit in late spring or early fall when the weather is mostly mild. It will be hot and humid in the summer and very cold in the winter.
Day Trips
Laurel Highlands: Many outdoor activities, resorts, shops, and restaurants.
Lake Erie: This is a 2-hour drive from Pittsburgh. Enjoy a day at the beach or water sports on the lake.
Frank Lloyd Wright’s Falling Water Home: This is a UNESCO Wolrd Heritage site where you can tour the home and grounds of this home designed by Frank Lloyd Wright.
Ligonier: Voted one of the “Most Charming Small Towns in America” by Country Living Magazine.
Niagra Falls: Since it’s a 4-hour drive, it wouldn’t make the best day trip, but would be a great weekend getaway.
Buttermilk Falls in Indiana Country, PA: Fun hike where you can walk behind the waterfall.
Be sure to check out all of Amanda’s posts on her site all about things to do in Pittsburgh with kids.
So many amazing things to do with your family in Pittsburgh! Thanks to Amanda Emmerling from Toddling Traveler for coming on the podcast and sharing so much valuable information.