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Greater Pittsburgh Attractions

Some of the prime family attractions are away from downtown. They will require some planning but minimal effort, so prioritize your preferences. A sports themed weekend should include both the new 64,475- seat Heinz Field (replacing Three Rivers Stadium) as well as PNC Park, the new 38,000-seat home of the Pittsburgh Pirates.

If time allows, some other adventures to round out your stay should include the National Aviary(412/323-7235), now home to the African Penguin Exhibit, Pittsburgh Children's Museum (412/322-5058), The Frick Art and Historical Center(412/371-0600), and Sandcastle Water Park (412/462-6666). Combine the Waterpark with a stop at Dave and Busters, a 60,000 square foot restaurant and entertainment facility for the whole family, or Kennywood Park(412/461-0500).

If your family's goals are learning and amusement, a must is the Carnegie Science Center (One Allegheny Avenue, 412/237-3400). One of four of Pittsburgh's Carnegie museums and next to the new Heinz Field, this spectacular imaginarium modestly bills itself as one of the top science centers in the country. As a leader in science and technology education, the Center attracts more than 650,000 visitors each year to its four massive floors of more than 300 hands-on exhibits, a four-story Omnimax Theater, interactive planetarium, a real submarine, three live demonstration theaters and the world's largest science and sport exhibition, which is currently undergoing a $5 million renovation and will reopen in Fall 2009.

The secret to its success is the ability to connect science and technology to everyday life by old-fashioned fun, doing, touching and inspiring curiosity. I confess that I found myself distracted and occupied as much as my children. Some of my favorite interactive exhibits included the numerous and varied quickie science experiments, how and why displays, the marine reef aquarium, the real submarine, the largest and most intricate model railroad and village (more like a country), planetarium and live demonstration theatres. In the separate UPMC SportsWorks building, the physics of sports and human movement is emphasized by actual participation and amusement park-like virtual reality rides. The SportsWorks by itself is wondrous enough to see alone as an entire day's activity.

Excursions in Nature

If this experience does not satiate the family's thirst for knowledge, then the next item on the agenda must be the 77-acre natural-habitat Pittsburgh Zoo and PPG Aquarium (412/665-3640). Located in a slower-paced suburb, a car is a must to comfortably reach this home to 3,000 animals and 22 endangered species. My favorite attractions were the indigenously designed aquariums, the gorillas and the kids' touching areas.

If you are making the effort to travel to this region, combine this excursion with another worthy experience in the nearby Oakland District for efficiency. Both the Phillips Conervatory and Botanical Gardens or the Carnegie Museum of Natural History make a memorable add-on. The Museum (location for the IMAX film of "T-Rex" Back to the Cretaceous) offers a good old-fashioned dinosaur and paleontology experience and the Gardens will satisfy the needs of any budding gardener or botanist.

Any visit to Pittsburgh absolutely must include a ride up one of the two historic incline railways along the south ridge of the river providing you with one of the most spectacular urban panoramic views I have ever seen. Although a tad farther, I recommend the Duquesne Incline (1220 Grandview Avenue, 412/381 1665) for the best view. Bring a camera, exact fare change and an appetite, and plan to dine at one of several restaurants at the top.

The advantage of the other incline, Monongahela, is its association with the renowned Station Square (800/859-8959) district at its base. The site of the ornate restored Pittsburgh and Lake Erie Railroad headquarters, this domed riverfront shopping and restaurant playground is also home to an amphitheater and outdoor museum at what is billed as the largest excursion boat operation with six self-contained riverboats, families can board the The Good Ship Lollipop. A river cruise on one of these floating entertainment centers where the kids can run around while you plan your return trip, is the most serene way to conclude the Kidsburgh experience.

Details, Details

The Greater Pittsburgh Convention and Visitors Bureau
(800/359-0758 or 412/281-7711)
Is your one-stop shop for all the information you need including, hotels, reservations, attraction addresses, phone numbers, admissions, restaurants and links to other sources.

We enjoyed the Ramada Plaza Suites
1 Bigelow Square, (412/281-5800)

Other information sources include:
www.city.pittsburgh.pa.us/portal/tourism.html
www.carnegielibrary.org/subject/pgh

Read through a list of things to do in Pittsburgh, PA based on reviews from across the web at www.uptake.com.