10 Best Family Things to Do in Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh takes great pride in its sports legacy, so watching a live game is a must-do when you’re in the city. Fans of baseball can watch the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park, a classic-style ballpark flanked by the North Shore Trail.

Heinz Field is the home of American football team Pittsburgh Steelers, while the Pittsburgh Penguins of the National Hockey League often compete at the PPG Paints Arena. Whatever sport you choose to catch in Pittsburgh, you’ll surely be cheering and celebrating alongside the city’s loyal fans.

The Western Pennsylvania Sports Museum is dedicated to the region’s sports legacy. You can learn about famous baseball, golf, football, boxing and hockey champions through its many exhibits, which are spread across the second and third floors of the Senator John Heinz History Center.

As Pittsburgh is the home of the Pittsburgh Steelers, the museum has a gallery dedicated to the professional American football team. You can see game-worn uniforms and equipment from past Super Bowl championships, as well as Franco Harris’ Super Bowl IX ring.

Kennywood Amusement Park has been entertaining families since 1898, making it one of the oldest theme parks in the USA. There are over 40 classic and modern rides to enjoy, including rollercoasters, bumper cars, a 48-seat wave swinger, and artificial rapids.

Many of the rides date back to the 1920s – the Jack Rabbit is a roller coaster with a 70-ft, double-dip drop, while The Whip is a 16-car flat ride that travels on an elliptical track at high speed. Kennywood Amusement Park is in West Mifflin, about 9.7 miles southeast of Pittsburgh's Downtown area.

The Duquesne Incline is a 19^th-century funicular that takes you to the top of Mount Washington in Pittsburgh. It’s quite a steep climb, spanning 800 ft in length at a 30-degree incline.

The summit has an observation deck, from which you can enjoy panoramic views of Downtown Pittsburgh. For a small fee, you can use one of the telescopes to take a closer look at landmarks such as Point State Park Fountain and the Andy Warhol Bridge. Groups of 10 or more can enjoy a tour of the Duquesne Incline's upper station, where they can observe original hoisting equipment dating back to 1877.

Families with young kids can have loads of fun at the Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh. There are over a dozen permanent and rotating exhibits that are suitable for kids aged 10 and above. If you’re visiting with toddlers or infants, the museum has a nursery with toys made from natural materials.

MAKESHOP ­offers classes on woodworking, sewing, weaving and stop-motion animation for the whole family. The Kindness Gallery encourages your little ones to be compassionate with activities, such as sending messages using a teletype machine.

The Senator John Heinz History Center is an excellent place to learn about Western Pennsylvania and the renowned ketchup company. The building also houses the Fort Pitt Museum and Western Pennsylvania Sports Museum.

A highlight is the 11-ft ketchup bottle made with over 400 individual bottles. The gallery also has more than 100 historic bottles, a recipe book from 1869, and H.J. Heinz’s desk set. Children can have fun at Kidsburgh, an interactive play zone with a 12-ft spiral slide and interactive model of Pittsburgh.

Pittsburgh’s National Aviary is an excellent place to learn about birds from just about every continent, except Antarctica. The centre has over 500 birds of around 150 species flying and roaming around its walk-through habitats.

Tropical Rainforest is a beautiful space with over 400 plants and a 15-ft waterfall with tiered pools, with natural light coming from its glass ceiling. Here, you can see toucans, parrots, cockatoos, and even a two-toed sloth. The National Aviary also hosts animal encounters and live demos every day.

The Carnegie Science Center covers 4 floors of interactive exhibits focusing on science and technology. It’s an excellent place for those who are curious about robotics, astronomy, and the human body.

A must-visit is SpacePlace, where you can explore a 2-storey replica of the International Space Station, see the Zeiss Model II Star Projector, and learn about life in space. The Carnegie Science Center is also home to a real Cold War-era submarine, a planetarium, a children’s clubhouse, and plenty of sports activities to keep the little ones entertained throughout their visit.

The Carnegie Museum of Natural History in Pittsburgh is one of the country’s most important museums. It holds around 22 million specimens, of which 10,000 are displayed in its 20 galleries and most of which are interactive.

One of its most popular exhibits is Dinosaurs in their Time, where you can see real original fossils dating back to the Mesozoic Era. The immersive Discovery Basecamp gallery is popular with kids as they get to enjoy activities like climbing on massive ant statues and using a microscope to observe small specimens.

Go Ape Zipline & Adventure Park is right next to a 75-acre lake in North Park. It has a 40-ft-tall forest canopy that’s divided into 5 sections. You’ll need to use rope ladders, over 40 tree-to-tree crossings, 5 zip lines, and 2 Tarzan swings to complete the obstacle course.

Each session at Go Ape starts with harness fitting and a safety brief to help you learn the ropes. It takes around 2 to 3 hours to tackle the treetop obstacle course – you’ll be treated to expansive views of Alleghany County’s largest park.