Pittsburgh With Kids
As a family that loves to travel, we're always on the lookout for new destinations to explore, especially ones that offer unique experiences and memorable moments for our family of four.
Last summer, we didn’t have a whole week to vacation, so we decided to save on travel time to make the most of our time together. We landed on visiting Pittsburgh, which is within a three-hour drive from Cleveland. My husband and I had made a quick 24-hour-anniversary trip earlier in the year, and I had been secretly pining to get back as I felt my kids would enjoy it as much as we had.
With its rich history, vibrant culture, and an array of family-friendly attractions, we knew Pittsburgh would offer the perfect blend of adventure and relaxation for our short vacation.
Check out a quick 2-min recap of our trip below. And for a more detailed synopsis of our trip, keep reading!
Our Accommodations
We stayed at the Drury Plaza Hotel Pittsburgh, located in a historically renovated Federal Reserve bank. We loved exploring the old Federal Reserve portions of the building. My kids thought it was so fun turning the locks in the old safes, and my husband and I really enjoyed the beautiful architecture and the stunning views from the rooftop patio.
We’ve stayed at various Drury Hotels in different states because we’ve found that they make family vacations easy for us. They have complimentary breakfast, kickback from 5:30-7p which include free drinks and evening snacks that are basically like dinner meals. Plus, there’s free nightly popcorn and a 24/7 coffee bar. 🍿 🍻
The Drury Plaza Hotel Pittsburgh also had a pool, hot tub, and gorgeous rooftop views. 😍 We did have to pay for overnight parking, which is an additional expense not included with the booking.
Day 1 - Pittsburgh Children’s Museum
Our first day in Pittsburgh was a whirlwind of excitement, starting with a visit to the Pittsburgh Children's Museum. Nestled in the heart of the city, this hands-on museum promised a day of fun and learning for the whole family.
Upon stepping inside, we were greeted by a world of wonder and imagination. From the Garage, a two-story space that resembled a real-life workshop, to the Waterplay area where kids could experiment with flowing water and rain, every exhibit sparked our children's curiosity and creativity in fun ways.
One of our favorite exhibits was the Makeshop, where our kids had the chance to roll up their sleeves and get crafty. Using real tools and materials, they transformed their ideas into tangible creations, guided by friendly staff who encouraged them every step of the way.
We were impressed by the Pittsburgh Children’s Museum's emphasis on hands-on learning and interactive play. Whether our kids were building, experimenting, or exploring, they were fully engaged and always on the lookout to discover something new.
By the end of our visit, we had barely scratched the surface of all the museum had to offer. But as we left, our hearts were full, and our minds were buzzing with memories of a day well spent.
Pittsburgh Children’s Museum
10 Children’s Way, Allegheny Square, Pittsburgh, PA 15212
Day 2 - Kennywood Amusement Park
Our second day was a thrill at Kennywood Amusement Park. This park, which has been on my bucket list for a long time, didn’t disappoint! It offered a great mix of rides for all ages, ensuring that everyone in our family had a fantastic time.
Also, I would be lying if I didn’t say I was actually coming for the Golden Nugget ice cream. 😆
We felt that Kennywood had a good mix of moderately intense rollercoasters for our 9-year-old son, like Racer and Phantom’s Revenge, and easier introductory rollercoasters for our 7-year-old daughter, like Jack Rabbit and Pittsburgh Plunge.
Kennywood Amusement Park
4800 Kennywood Blvd, West Mifflin, PA 15122
Day 3 - Pittsburgh Zoo
For our third day, we split into two groups. My husband and son went to the Pittsburgh Pirates vs. Cleveland Guardians game, while my daughter and I went to the Pittsburgh Zoo.
We really love the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo and have visited other zoos that couldn’t really compete with it. However, we really enjoyed the Pittsburgh Zoo and felt it was on par with our hometown zoo.
Their aquarium was amazing. We loved the polar bear exhibit (they swam right over our heads!), and we felt like we got to see lots of different animals in well-kept environments. My daughter also really enjoyed the kids' play space.
Pittsburgh Zoo
7370 Baker St, Pittsburgh, PA 15206
Day 3 - PNC Park
Our boys are HUGE baseball fans–and they were really looking forward to visiting PNC Park. We actually planned our trip around this game so that the boys could visit PNC Park when the Cleveland Guardians were in town.
The boys went early so they could walk around the ballpark. My son is a big Roberto Clemente fan, so he was very excited to get a picture with Roberto’s statue. They visited the kids' area and brand new team shop, and my son got his very own baseball card!
They sat in right field for the game and said the views were great.
PNC Park
115 Federal St, Pittsburgh, PA 15212
Day 4 - The Strip District & The Duquesne Incline
We spent part of the fourth day in the Strip District, which was super fun. When my husband and I were in Pittsburgh last time, we happened upon Pamela’s Diner, a local favorite. My husband got the Pittsburgh Hash and said it was the best breakfast he’d ever had. So I knew this visit we would have to make our way over to Pamela’s at some point.
Pamela’s Diner in the Strip District is super cute with its old-school diner vibes and tasty comfort food. Be warned, it gets busy early. So be prepared to wait to get a table. We waited about 35 minutes to be seated–but it was worth the wait!
Pamela’s Diner
60 21st St, Pittsburgh, PA 15222
After visiting Pamela’s Diner, we visited Puttshack. This indoor-themed mini-golf course was so much fun. They call it tech-infused mini-golf because the ball actually has a microchip inside of it. This means it automatically keeps score and also allows you to interact with the different elements at the different holes.
Puttshack
1729 Smallman St, Pittsburgh, PA 15222
We also took some time to browse the Strip District's various shops, which I loved doing. I just wish I had more time to browse–but with kids, you know how that goes! We also visited the famous sweets shop Grandpa Joes, which definitely left us all jonesing for some tasty treats.
After we explored the Strip District, we made our way to The Duquesne Incline. If you’re looking for one of the best views in Pittsburgh, you should definitely visit the Duquesne Incline.
It was a bit intimidating on the ride up (my 7-year-old was more scared than I thought she’d be) because of the heights and the sound of the old cables cranking. But my oh my–the views! It’s so beautiful, and riding the century-old cable car is unlike anything we’ve ever done before.
You do need to have the exact fare in cash as they don’t accept credit or debit cards and do not give change. So make sure you check their website for pricing before visiting and plan accordingly. We parked near South Shore in the paid parking lot (1197 West Carson St. Pittsburgh, PA. 15219) and then got our tickets in the station. We had to wait about 20 minutes to get onto the cable car.
After riding to the top, we walked outside of the building to take in the views from the overlook next to the station. Then we hopped back in the cable car and rode it back down.
Duquesne Incline
1197 WEST CARSON STREET, PITTSBURGH, PA. 15219
Day 5- Moon Park and Pins Mechanical Co.
On the last day of our trip, we found the coolest playground in Pittsburgh! I could obviously be wrong, as I haven’t been to that many Pittsburgh playgrounds, but I don’t see how anything could have been much cooler!
Moon Park has FOUR playgrounds and a splash pad. Two of the playgrounds are space-themed. One of them actually looks like you landed on a planet, and it has aliens coming out of it. My kids had so much fun at these playgrounds, and whenever we bring up Pittsburgh, they ask when we can go back to visit these playgrounds.
MOON PARK
1350 Joe DeNardo Way, Moon Twp, PA 15108
After we finally managed to pull them away from Moon Park, we made one last stop at Pins Mechanical Co. We love the Pins Mechanical Co in Cleveland, so we were all looking forward to visiting the Pittsburgh location. And, sure enough, we had a great time.
We played a couple of games of Duck Pin Bowling, my kids (and us!) slid down the giant slide, and then had tons of fun playing old-school arcade games. Pins is always running specials and having events, so be sure to check their website for location-specific pricing and events.
One important thing to note is that Pins is always open to people 21 and older after 9 p.m. So, if you’re planning to visit with anyone under 21, make sure to visit earlier in the day.
Pins Mechanical Co.
407 Cinema Dr, Pittsburgh, PA 15203
That’s our trip! If you have been debating whether visiting Pittsburgh is worth it, I can confidently say that it was worth it for our family. We loved our time there and would be happy to visit again sometime in the near future.
