Top 20 Places to Take Kids in and around Pittsburgh - 2022
2022's Best Places for Kids in the Pittsburgh area!
Every May and June, thousands of local parents, grandparents, and caregivers weigh in on their favorite local places to take kids. Typically, we showcase the Top 20 winners... but this year, in honor of KidsOutAndAbout.com's 21st birthday (we originally launched in June of 2001), we bring you the Pittsburgh area's
TOP 21 Places to Take Kids!
Of course, there are literally hundreds of wonderful places to take your kids in our area, not just this year's winners! Get great ideas here at KidsOutAndAbout.com! What is listed below are just the starting point: Browse through our site and calendar to find lots more, sign up for our free weekly e-newsletter, and be sure to visit our Everything That's Free page.
1. The Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium
The Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium strives to foster positive, lifelong connections between animals and people. Whether through our exhibits, educational programs, or our many conservation projects, our goal is to make certain the Earth remains a suitable home for all life by our discovery of the interconnectedness of the natural world.
2. Kennywood Amusement Park
Kennywood is America's Finest Traditional Amusement Park! Located just outside Pittsburgh, PA, Kennywood offers a unique mix of classic rides and modern thrills, including six roller coasters, a 14-ride Kiddieland, and several attractions that cannot be found anywhere else.
3. Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh
Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh is a place that delights and inspires children, where they can take off on fantastic flights of imagination daily, and return to earth to splash in a river, hammer a nail and design a puppet. From toddlers to teens, the Children's Museum offers innovative experiences for all families and children. Purchase tickets and learn more at https://pittsburghkids.org/
4. Idlewild & SoakZone
With something for everyone, Idlewild & SoakZone is rated the Best Kids Park in the World by Amusement Today magazine, and rated Best Park for Families by the National Amusement Park Historical Association. With two parks in one, this is what family fun is all about!
5. National Aviary
The National Aviary is America’s premier bird zoo. Located on Pittsburgh’s historic North Side, the National Aviary’s diverse collection comprises more than 500 birds of 150 different species from around the world, many of them threatened or endangered in the wild. The National Aviary’s large walk-through exhibits create an experience unlike any other – an intimate interaction between visitors and free-flying birds, including opportunities to handfeed and meet many species rarely found in zoos anywhere else in the world.
6. My Local Library
Of course, the libraries in the Pittsburgh area are not really ONE place, but MANY places... but it's important to emphasize how valuable libraries are for family learning and fun. The libraries in our area are wonderful about posting their events to the KidsOutAndAbout calendar so you always can get ideas for free things to do with your kids that celebrate education and imagination. KidsOutAndAbout.com takes this opportunity to salute the wonderful children's librarians who serve our community with such dedication. They're proud that locals voted them to the list of the best places to take kids this year!
7. Carnegie Museum of Natural History
To use our collections and scientific expertise to create knowledge that inspires an understanding of natural heritage, communicate the unity and interdependence of humanity and nature, and advocate for the protection of the earth and its inhabitants, while encouraging participation in the natural sciences.
8. Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens
Explore the beauty and wonders of nature at Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens. Encompassing 15 acres including a historic 14-room glasshouse and 23 distinct indoor and outdoor gardens, Phipps features stunning seasonal flower shows, exclusive art exhibits, renowned orchid and bonsai collections, a delightful butterfly house, immersive Tropical Forest and some of the greenest buildings in the world. Located in Schenley Park just a few miles from downtown Pittsburgh. Learn more and plan your visit at phipps.conservatory.org.
10. Heinz History Center
An affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution, the History Center is the largest history museum in Pennsylvania. The 275,000 sq. ft. museum features six floors of long-term and changing exhibit space, including the Western Pennsylvania Sports Museum.
12. Go Ape! Zip Line & Treetop Adventure
The Go Ape Treetop Adventure course creates a one-of-a-kind outdoor experience. This exciting high ropes course includes suspended obstacles, rope ladders, Tarzan swings and some truly epic ziplines. More than a simple canopy tour, the Treetop Adventure takes between 2-3 hours to complete. Perfect for every outdoor adventurer and even those wanting to take a first step into aerial adventure.
13. Pittsburgh Botanic Garden
Pittsburgh Botanic Garden offers family friendly activities, spaces for solitude and endless natural beauty. Bundle up and visit the Garden and explore over 65 acres of display gardens, woodlands, and exhibitions. Pittsburgh Botanic Garden also offers a full schedule of educational programming, wellness programs, and exciting community events.
14. DelGrosso's Amusement Park
DelGrosso's Park is the home to Family Fun and Famous Food. The ride park has over 30 rides and attractions and the Laguna Splash water park feature a lazy river, wave pool, 5 speed slides and two children's play areas.
15. Gemini Theater Company
The mission of Gemini Theater Company is to cultivate creativity, imagination and originality through the performing arts. We just celebrated 25 years of programming in the Pittsburgh area! Gemini Theater provides families with children and teens a variety of experiences to participate in shows and education programs, emphasizing an environment of inclusion, equity, respect, and IMAGINATION! From our interactive performances to our theater workshops and classes, there is something for almost ANY child or teen who has an interest in the theatre arts. Is everybody ready?
16. YMCA of Greater Pittsburgh
The Greater Pittsburgh community will be vibrant and inclusive, providing hope, access and belonging where all are prepared to succeed and to live and lead with a sense of purpose.
More than 150 years of innovating programs and delivering transformative responses to urgent social challenges has produced and reinforced a set of basic beliefs about how and why our YMCA effects meaningful, enduring change. One Y for ALL is grounded in these beliefs.
19. Conneaut Lake Park
Conneaut Lake Park is a summer amusement park, located in Conneaut Lake, PA. Featuring unique and historical rides, it has long served as a regional tourist attraction. It is particularly loved by coaster enthusiasts for its classic Blue Streak wooden roller coaster. Conneaut Lake is Pennsylvania's largest natural glacier lake and is a popular summer destination for recreational boaters due to there being no horsepower limit on the lake. Come and experience a park that is a real alternative to today's frenetic and agitated lifestyle.
20. Little Lake Theatre Company
In the spring of 1949, Edith Disney and her son, Will, discovered an old barn on the side of a lake in Washington County. An amiable farmer named Mr. McDowell agreed to lease the barn on his working farm to the Disneys for use as a space to present live stage plays. The original stage, surrounded by wooden folding chairs, was located in the center of the barn floor, forming the area’s first theater-in-the-round.
Winners in Special Categories
In the second part of our survey, we asked readers to select their favorites in three categories. Here were their choices.Top Arts Educator: Cynthia's School of Dance & Music
Cynthia’s School of Dance & Music was founded in 1988. Our mission as dance and music educators is to build confidence in the lives of young children, teens and adults through Dance, Music, Fun and Laughter in a Positive Environment. We offer classes for ages 2 – Adult in Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Hip-hop, Musical Theater, Piano and Voice. The Senate of PA recognized Cynthia’s at the 30th Anniversary celebration as an entity which, through adherence to the highest standards of service, contribute in a meaningful way toward a better and more productive society. Call for current schedule at 412-367-3330, www.cynthiasschoolofdance.com and visit us on FB.
Top Sports Educator: Soccer Shots - Pittsburgh
Soccer Shots is the premier intro-to-soccer program for 2 to 8 year olds. Public & private (daycare, preschool, etc.) sessions available. Our caring team positively impacts children’s lives on and off the field through best-in- class coaching, communication and curriculum. Our coaches are the best-trained in the business. Our expert-approved curriculum is age-appropriate and aligns with childhood education standards.
Top STEM Educator: The Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium
The Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium strives to foster positive, lifelong connections between animals and people. Whether through our exhibits, educational programs, or our many conservation projects, our goal is to make certain the Earth remains a suitable home for all life by our discovery of the interconnectedness of the natural world.
