Pittsburg PA

Seriously, Wild Woman, "Why would you want to go to Pittsburgh?" Do we not live up to Reston? Give me a break!

Jaime,

There is a lot to do here. It's more of what does your family like to do?

We have
amusement parks - Kennywood and Idlewild

waterparks - Sandcastle and Idlewild

Riverboat cruises - Gateway Clipper and Just Ducky Tours

views of the City & Three Rivers - Mt Washington, Point State Park, North Shore Riverwalk

Inclines - Duquesne and Monongahela Inclines

Museums - Carnegie Science Center, Carnegie Museum of Art & Natural History, The Warhol Museum, the Mattress Factory, Heinz History Center, Children's Museum, Frick Museum, Fort Pitt Museum, Toonseum

Baseball - PNC Park/Pittsburgh Pirates & Washington Wild Things

Kayaking - Venture Outdoors

Parks - South Park, North Park, Point State Park, Schenley Park, Frick Park, Hartwood Acres

Zoos - Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium, Living Treasures, National Aviary

Phipps Conservatory

University of Pittsburgh Nationality Rooms

Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh (Oakland main branch)

Station Square and Strip District

Carnegie Mellon, University of Pittsburgh, Duquesne, Chatham, Carlow, Point Park, Robert Morris

There's plenty to do here. That's was what came off the top of my head. If there is anything specific you're looking for or you have trouble finding information about any of the above, let me know.

ETA: Wild Woman, that was not sarcasm in your post, you were being snarky. We have an award winning city, and nobody should be knocked for wanting to visit us.

I don't live far from Pittsburgh and there is lots to do there with kids. Why visit? Because it's a metropolitan city with a huge science museum that my kids absolutely loved, as well as a kids museum with a large portion dedicated to Mr. Rogers, since that's where he was from. That was certainly enough to keep us engaged while we were there - and when the kids get older, you can do overnights at the science museum, which was a lot of fun and far cheaper than staying in a hotel.

ETA: forgot the "where to stay part.
If your budget allows it, look at the Priory (Northside) or Monaco (downtown). Really would need to know NSE or W. Most activities I've suggested are either downtown or north side.
There is a Spring Hill Suites right near PNC park that would be convenient.

Lol WW! You must not be personally familiar with the city as several of us are!
Among other things, Da Burgh has been voted:
•Most liveable US city
• Must See View
• Most Generous City
• Most Safe & Secure
• Most Youthful
• the Comeback City
• A Foodie Fantasy
• Smartest
• Most Bike-able
• also the best city to start a business
• O. of the Top 7 Family Destinations in the country
• it was listed by Nat Geo, along with O. Thai beach and an African volcano as a "Best Trip inThe World"!

So...anyhooooo- with a 1 and a 5 year old? I'd suggest:
• Start with the best view of the city and the 3 rivers from Mt. Washington, grab an ice cream at the top
• take an incline ride from Mount Washington to Station Square
• From Station Square, take an amphibious Just Ducky Tour of the city
• Carnegie Science Center on the North Shore definitely
• the Andy Wathol museum is also on the north side of the city
• check out Heinz History Center in the strip district
• grab an ice ball from Gus & Yai Yai near Allegheny center
• Pittsburgh Aviary on the north side as well
• the Children's Museum of Pittsburgh
• visit the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium -- don't miss the polar bear exhibit!
• The Carnegie Museum of Natural History is great if you can fit it in
• Check out the Waterfront area with great places to eat, movie theater (looks like a palace!) and the kids can make their own pizza at Pizzeria Uno.
• Nearby Idlewild is a great park/water park for a day trip or visit world class Kennywood Park and ride the Thunderbolt!

How long to you have in Pittsbugh, backside that's only a scratch on the surface!

Nationality classrooms at Cathedral of Learning at Pitt are fun, as is Randyland, catch a game at PNC Park (playground area, shaded, for the little ones), Mattress Factory for modern art (kids love this place!), Phipps Conservatory also a great experience.

ooh dear Lord....people - it's called SARCASM!!!! Get over it....

why would you want to go to Pittsburgh for vacation???

There is a Zoo.
There's an Aviary
I hear the baseball stadium is great...

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g53449-d2721...

Good luck!

I second BDs response. And WW I lived in northern Virginia before I moved here so it's not like I'm naive.

What kids of things do you like to do? I can come up with different lists depending of you prefer outdoor stuff (hiking biking boating zoo water park amusement park) or indoor stuff (natural history museum with dinosaurs and a place where kids dig for fossils, science center with hands on kids areas, children's museum). There is a free children's festival coming up of you will be in town soon.

With the ages of your kids my top recommendations are the children's museum for a day and a visit to station square on a good weather day - restaurants with outdoor seating, kids can watch the trains and the dancing fountain and you can walk on the trails to trails path and ride the incline all from that starting point. There is a Sheraton at station square if you want to stay there too.

The baseball stadium is great and there is a playground inside the gates so you can go there with the little ones if they get antsy during the game. If you stay at station square you can take the ferry to the stadium and back.