Thank you to Kennywood Park for hosting our family’s visit. All opinions are my own.
When we decided to spend a few days in Pittsburgh at the end of the summer, a visit to Kennywood Park was at the top of our list. Our kids love amusement rides and wanted to try a new area park this summer. Kennywood was founded in 1898 and opened as a trolley park recreation area in 1899. It is located in West Mifflin, which is about 20 minutes southeast of downtown on land that was previously known as the Kenny farm. It is one of two parks that has been designated as a National Historic Landmark because it features rides and structures that are more than 100 years old. Kennywood has been recognized by Theme Park Magazine and Golden Ticket Awards, and this classic amusement park reminded me of our annual trips to Geauga Lake outside of Cleveland when I was young. Our family loved our day at Kennywood Park in Pittsburgh and hopes to make this trip an annual tradition.
Kennywood Park entrance
Kennywood Amusement Park – An Ideal Vacation Destination
Our visit to Kennywood Park was a marvelous, nostalgic day spent riding rides together. It was only about a 2.5 hour drive from Cleveland and very affordable for Ohio visitors. A current promotion for Ohio residents offers $34.99 admission. We added visits to several area attractions during our three-day, two-night stay in the Steel City and had a lovely time.
Raging Rapids
Kennywood’s Best Rides
Kennywood’s Thrill Rides
Swing Shot
While we did not ride Steel Curtain on this visit due to the length of the lines and kids not yet ready to attempt record breaking coasters, there are many other thrill ride options. I get nauseous when there’s too much spinning or swaying, but there’s something about my stomach dropping that reminds me of childhood. I rode Cranky’s Drop Tower with my boys twice, and Kennywood also offers 18 water and thrill rides.
Kennywood’s Roller Coasters
Kennywood features seven roller coasters, including Steel Curtain, which opened in July 2019. Steel Curtain is named to honor the Pittsburgh Steelers’ 1970s defensive line and is a record breaking coaster that features the world’s largest inversion, a 197 foot corkscrew that recently received a rave review in cleveland.com. The Steel Curtain is the first amusement attraction themed off of a professional sports team, but I predict that the trend is likely to catch on across other top amusement parks. Maybe Kennywood was inspired by Cedar Point’s 2014 offer to name a roller coaster after LeBron James if he returned to Cleveland? The yellow and black Steel Curtain will serve as the anchor of Steelers Country, a themed-area honoring the famous football team.
Steel Curtain
Kennywood’s roller coasters are a big draw, and the lines for each were long. Because we visited on a popular summer day with limited time, we only rode the Thunderbolt, a wooden roller coaster that dates back to 1924 and was last renovated over 50 years ago in 1968. I enjoy wooden coasters, and Thunderbolt offered the perfect thrill level for my two boys and me. The only unusual “rule” is that single riders are not permitted. For safety reasons, each rider needs to have a partner. One of us had to locate another singleton on each of our two rides. We made sure to get on at the same time, and my younger son happened to find another nine year old boy, and they chatted as they waited and throughout the ride.
Thunderbolt
Kennywood Family Rides
With kids in all three major height categories – under 48 inches, under 54 inches and over 54 inches, we appreciate that Kennywood offers some fun rides that we can enjoy as a family. Our first ride of the day was the Merry-Go-Round. There are also several rides in Kiddie Land and Thomas Town that the whole family could ride together. Auto race was a particular favorite, and the five of us piled into three separate cars and rode around the track one after another.
Elephant Parade
Kennywood’s Kiddie Land
Kennywood’s Kiddie Land featured 15 classic rides for kids under 48 inches. The section reminded me of Memphis Kiddie Park, a Cleveland-area amusement park geared specifically to young children. My older son was able to join our youngest on several rides in Kiddie Land, and we all hopped on to the Crazy Trolley together. My kids’ favorites included Elephant Parade, Orbiter and Whirlwind. My daughter rode with her two arms stretched high into the sky on almost every ride at Kiddie Land. She’s still a little nervous about kiddie coasters, though and skipped Lil’ Phantom. Maybe next year….
Orbiter
Kennywood’s Thomas Town
Kennywood’s Thomas Town section opened in 2018 and featured the Journey with Thomas train ride and four other family attractions. We really enjoyed this revamped space. My oldest was a pretty serious fan of Thomas when he was about three. He watched the videos, read the books and even owned some Thomas trains, or at least a few of the ones featuring his name. We took him to a Day Out with Thomas event back in 2011, and he was over the moon. By the time our daughter was born three years later, both boys had pretty much moved passed their Thomas fascination. Videos were out of rotation, and while we still own a few Thomas story books that we have read to our daughter, they have never been her favorites. As soon as we entered Thomas Town, our daughter jumped right in with great enthusiasm. The kids first rode Flynn’s Fire Training, a unique ride that gives riders the opportunity to shoot water while moving up and down in a protective basket. We had never seen anything like this, and we loved it, even if my husband ended up soaked.
Flynn’s Fire Training
Diesel drivers is definitely for the under five crowd. My daughter dubbed it “too slow.” However, we enjoyed several trips on Harold’s Helicopter Ride together. My daughter also loved the Journey with Thomas train ride and repeated, “Chugga, chugga choo-choo,” for the entire ride.
Journey with Thomas
While my husband took our daughter on Journey with Thomas, the boys and I rode Cranky’s Drop Tower twice. I loved the view of Kennywood as we traveled up and down the tower. Thomas Town also includes an indoor play area for younger kids. We hadn’t expected a need for socks, and my daughter was quite worried when she learned that she couldn’t climb the indoor structure without them. We did see one mother take off her own socks and give them to her son, but neither my daughter nor I were wearing socks. Luckily, Kennywood predicted this dilemma, and the attached gift shop sold single pairs of Thomas-themed socks for a mere $4. My daughter was absolutely thrilled with her “souvenir” and now asks to wear her James socks every day.
Souvenir socks
Kennywood’s 4-D Theater
Kennywood’s 4-D Theater plays two 4-D films daily. We caught a shortened 15-minute version of San Andreas, a 2015 thrill movie that we are now likely to request from the library. Watching a short film is a great way to get out of the sun for a few minutes, and the 4-D experience made us feel like we were on a ride.
Where to Eat when Visiting Kennywood
Kennywood offers many dining options. My friend recommended Parkside and Potato Patch, but our entire family got a collective hankering for shakes and sandwiches when we saw the Johnny Rocket sign. It ended up being a longer than expected wait to get our food, but our shakes, chicken, burgers and fries complimented our amusement park experience perfectly.
Kennywood’s Johnny Rockets
Kennywood Park Vacation Logistics
Kennywood Hours: Kennywood hours vary by month and day, and the Kennywood calendar is available online.
Kennywood Admission: Kennywood gate prices range from vary for weekday and weekend visits and are available on the Kennywood website. Kennywood discount tickets are available on the website and at Giant Eagle grocery stores.
Time Spent at Kennywood: We spent about 7.5 hours at Kennywood Park. It was nonstop fun, but we were definitely exhausted at the end.
Kennywood Height Requirements: Each ride has its own posted height requirements.
Kennywood Weather: It’s always important to check the weather and be prepared before visiting Kennywood. Don’t forget to apply and reapply sunscreen.
Kennywood Events: Kennywood Park offers a variety of events throughout the season. The Fall Fantasy Parade occurred during our visit. We caught a bit of the parade but on our way to take advantage of the short line for Thunderbolt.
Kennywood Park Map: Make sure to pick up a map before setting off to explore Kennywood.
Live show in Thomas Town
A Family Day at Kennywood Park
Kennywood Park in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania is the perfect location for a family outing because it blends classic carnival rides with record breaking thrill rides. Our first family trip to Kennywood was a highlight of the summer because we all love riding rides and sharing quality family time together.
Thank you to Cedar Point for hosting our family’s visit. All opinions are my own.
We are so lucky to have Cedar Point amusement park in Ohio. Cedar Point in Sandusky is consistently recognized as one of the world’s best amusement parks and always winning awards for its roller coasters. It is the only amusement park with six roller coaster that are taller than 200 feet and the only park that features coasters in all four height classifications. On top of that, the classifications of giga and strata were coined during the development of the Millennium Force and Top Thrill Dragster, respectively. When Cedar Point constructs a new coaster, it seems to always break at least one world record. It’s no surprise that Cedar Point, which is located on Lake Erie, is known as “America’s Roller Coast.”
Cedar Point Amusement Park Awards
Cedar Point received Amusement Today’s Golden Ticket Award for “Best Amusement Park in the World” every year from 1997-2013. It’s the most visited seasonal amusement park in the nation and boasted about 3.6 million visitors in 2017. And, its historic, too. Cedar Point is the second oldest continuously operated amusement park in the U.S. behind only Lake Compounce in my husband’s former hometown of Bristol, Connecticut. My husband was pleased to know he’s visited the two oldest amusement parks in the U.S., especially considering Cedar Point and Lake Compounce are two of the only seasonal amusement parks he’s visited. Cedar Point also has several buildings listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Cedar Point Theme Park – An Ideal Vacation Destination
Cedar Point is a vacation destination that attracts visitors from all over the world. The Sandusky area has many options for accommodation to support Cedar Point, including three hotels with indoor water parks and Cedar Point’s Hotel Breakers. We met one family who was visiting on a five day pass with dining plan. While we generally have to travel to see top tourist spots, we’re able to make a day trip to Cedar Point from the eastern suburbs of Cleveland on about a half a tank of gas. Before school starts each year, we ask the kids about their favorite parts of summer, and Cedar Point always ranks at the top of the list, even the year we took an amazing trip to Iceland.
We scheduled our visit to Cedar Point on what turned out to be the hottest day of the summer. Meteorologists warned of the dangers of the high heat index throughout the entire region. We were glad we planned to visit later in the day, and the souvenir cup with unlimited refills was a non-negotiable necessity. We stayed hydrated and avoided any attractions with long lines and made sure to visit air-conditioned buildings whenever we felt hot. Much to my daughter’s dismay, we also decided to skip one of her favorites, Snoopy Bounce, because it required too much physical exertion on this hot day.
Cedar Point Weather
It’s important to check the weather and be prepared before visiting Cedar Point. Even though rain was not in the forecast when we headed to Cedar Point, we threw a few umbrellas under our stroller to use as shade during this day of extreme heat. We had been fortunate during our recent trips to Cedar Point and visited on only dry days, but at about 9 p.m., an unexpected and ominous storm cloud appeared overhead and significantly darkened the beautiful blue sky we enjoyed the entire day. It brought with it a cooling breeze and then a downpour of rain and consistent lightning. When the unexpected rain shower began, we felt very lucky that we were some of the few prepared Cedar Point visitors. We stopped for dinner hoping the storm would pass, and the rides would reopen, but due to safety concerns and ongoing lightning, most of the rides understandably closed early. Only a few fixed to the ground remained open.
Unexpected storm clouds rolling in behind Maverick, Cedar Point’s steepest roller coaster
Cedar PointNights
From July 12 through August 18, the Cedar Point Nights event offers an ultimate nighttime beach party with five hours of live entertainment from local bands at the Lakeside Beach Musical Festival. Visitors can take advantage of Cedar Point’s low priced admission after 5 p.m. and enter the park for only $25 per person. We unfortunately missed the Musical Festival because of the unexpected storm but have enjoyed the evening live entertainment during visits in prior years. In addition to the nightly beach party, the Cedar Point theme park lights up after dark. Giant Wheel, Cedar Point’s Ferris wheel illuminates against the skyline and has more lights than any other ride in the park. While the boys waited in line for the Dodgem cars, we were totally transfixed by the light show. My daughter’s favorite parts were the heart and smiley face.
The illuminated Giant Wheel
The dodgem cars were brightly lit at night, which added to the smash up fun.
Dodgem cars at night
Cedar Point Best Rides
Cedar Point Thrill Rides
Cedar Point’s roller coasters constructed since 2000 are for serious thrill seekers. They include:
Millennium Force, which debuted in 2000 as the original giga roller coaster by exceeding 300 feet;
Top Thrill Dragster, the steel accelerator coaster completed in 2004 as the original strata coaster remains one of only two roller coasters, in the world that exceeds 400 feet;
Maverick; which was completed in 2007 as Cedar Point’s steepest roller coaster;
GateKeeper, which was constructed in 2013 as the world’s highest, fastest and longest wing coaster;
Valravn, which opened in 2016 as the tallest, fastest and longest dive coaster; and
Steel Venegance, which was completed in 2018 as a partial reconstruction of the Mean Streak and opened as a hybrid hypercoaster setting 10 world records.
Our boys have yet to attempt any of these these, but maybe next year.
While we did not ride any of Cedar Point’s newest roller coasters on this visit, my boys and husband enjoyed some of the thrill rides, including MaXair, Skyhawk and Ocean Motion. I get nauseous when there’s too much spinning or swaying, so I am happy to wait with my daughter and take pictures, amazed that my family is flying through the air. Skyhawk, the world’s highest swinging thrill ride, had a model seat outside the entrance for riders to test out, and my daughter thought that was the coolest thing ever. She spent a solid 10 minutes opening and closing the lap bar.
Skyhawk, the world’s highest swinging thrill ride
My favorite “thrill ride” is the Wave Swinger, a classic swing ride that is far more mellow than the others in this category. I stored my flip flops in the bin and let my feet dangle in the wind. It was a glorious ride, dampened only slightly by the storm clouds that appeared.
Cedar Point’s Classic Roller Coasters
In my teens and 20s, I was a roller coaster enthusiast. I regularly visited Cedar Point on a May weekday when the park was practically empty and the coasters all had minimal waits. I loved the thrill of my stomach dropping and raced from coaster to coaster trying to ride them all in a single day. I’m not so brave in my “old age” and have been happy to settle for the record-breaking coasters from many years ago. The roller coasters I remember most fondly from childhood are from Cedar Fair’s now defunct Geauga Lake: Double Loop, Big Dipper and Corkscrew. At Cedar Point, Gemini, the Blue Streak, Corkscrew and Iron Dragon fit into this category. We’ve ridden all as a family but didn’t get to all of them on this trip due to the unexpected storm. The great thing about Cedar Point is that the newest coasters draw the biggest crowds, and our wait time for the coasters we wanted to ride rarely exceeded five minutes.
I still have a soft spot for Gemini, the 1978 steel hybrid was one of the tallest, fastest and steepest roller coasters in the world when it was constructed. Two cars run on side by side tracks, which makes this one of the highest capacity rides in the park. There is one main hill and a bunch of smaller hills and various twists and turns, but the highlight for me is the dual tracks and experiencing the coaster as a race with a large group of excited visitors. While steel roller coasters seem to be much more popular, this hybrid wooden coaster with a steel track seems like the perfect compromise. I rode the Gemini with my two sons, and my oldest agreed that it was his favorite, too, which was a proud mama moment.
The Gemini against the bright blue sky
Cedar Point Junior Roller Coasters
Cedar Point truly caters to visitors of all ages and interests and features two junior roller coasters. We decided to ride the Woodstock Express. My four year old daughter wasn’t 100% convinced that she wanted to try a roller coaster, but we encouraged her because the boys both overcame mild fear to ride at about her age. Unfortunately, her least favorite ride turned out to be the Woodstock Express junior roller coaster. This roller coaster is 38 feet high and 25 miles per hour and was a bit too much for her. In hindsight, the Wilderness Run, which was formerly known as the Junior Gemini and has a 19 feet drop and top speed of 6 miles per hour would have probably been a better bet. Even though the Woodstock Express was not even a little bit fun for her, I think she’ll try the Wilderness Run next year.
Waiting for the Woodstock Express
Cedar Point Family Rides
With kids in all three major height categories – under 48 inches, under 54 inches and over 54 inches, we appreciate that there are a number of fun rides that we can enjoy as a family. We typically start and end each day at Cedar Point with a ride on the Midway Carousel. While I took my sons on the Cedar Creek Mine Ride, my husband and daughter rode the Antique Cars together. There are also many rides in Cedar Points three children’s areas that the whole family can ride together. We always make sure to ride the Kiddie Kingdom Carousel and also enjoy the 4x4s, Camp Bus, Snoopy’s Express Railroad and Charlie Brown’s Wind Up. Peanuts 500 was my daughter’s favorite ride.
The Midway Carousel is the perfect way to start and end a day at Cedar Point
Cedar Point Kid Rides
Over the years, many parents have told me that they are putting off a trip to Cedar Point until their kids are older. Even if Cedar Point has a roller coaster reputation, it really does not disappoint when it comes to the youngest visitors. There are three areas with kiddie rides – Kiddie Kingdom, Camp Snoopy and Planet Snoopy, which consists of rides relocated from Geauga Lake after it closed. In most of these kiddie rides, kids spin around an axis on some mode of transportation. The Mustangs, police and motorcycles may seem really similar for adults, but my four year old daughter was delighted running from ride to ride, wanting to try them all. We may not miss the kiddie areas when our daughter outgrows them, but we’re glad that Cedar Point offers so many options for its youngest visitors.
Cedar Point’s Town Hall Museum
My proudest mama moment of our visit may have been when my daughter pointed to the Town Hall Museum and said she wanted to check it out. My kids really appreciate and enjoy museums, but I wouldn’t have expected her to notice the museum at Cedar Point and want to explore when it was surrounded by rides. We not only appreciated the air conditioning but learned about the history of Cedar Point’s roller coasters during our short visit. The model replica of Steel Vengeance was impressive, and we compared the redesigned coaster to the nearby Mean Streak model.
Where to Eat when Visiting Cedar Point
Cedar Point Restaurants
Cedar Point offers many dining options. We often opt for Chick-fil-A or Panda Express and also make sure to purchase a souvenir cup with unlimited refills. It’s so important to stay hydrated.
Restaurants Near Cedar Point
On our way to and from Cedar Point, we regularly stop for a meal at Costa Azul at the Rye Beach Road exit off of OH-2 in Huron, Ohio. Costa Azul serves authentic Mexican cuisine and even accommodated my older son’s entire soccer team after a state championship tournament game at the nearby Sports Force Parks at Cedar Point Sports Center.
Cedar Point Vacation Logistics
Cedar Point Tickets: As of July 2019, Cedar Point admission is available online starting at $49.99 for adults for weekday passes and $45 for children under 48 inches. Guests who love roller coasters and dislike lines should consider purchasing the Cedar Point fast pass. Tickets for entry after 5:00 p.m. costs $25. Cedar Point discount tickets are available from a number of vendors, including Groupon.
Cedar Point Hours: Check the Cedar Point schedule.
Cedar Point Height Requirements: Each ride has its own posted height requirements.
Cedar Point Park Map: Don’t forget to pick up a map before setting off to explore Cedar Point. Even though we visit almost every year, we always find ourselves referring to the map for important location information.
Cedar Point ParentSwap: We requested a Parent Swap authorization at Guest Services by the Main Entrance. After I rode Iron Dragon with the boys while my husband waited with our daughter, I showed the authorization to the operator. After we reunited, my husband and younger son walked up the exit ramp and got on the next train.
Cedar Point Kidtrack: At Guest Services, we signed up for a Kidtrack wristband for my daughter. I wrote my name and phone number on the inside. If we were ever separated, the contact information would help us reunite faster.
Cedar Point Pre-K Pass: Cedar Point offered free season passes for children ages three to five for the entire 2019 season. Registration closed on June 3, 2019, but make sure to look out for the program in 2020.
A Family Day at Cedar Point
Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio is the perfect location for a family outing because it blends classic carnival rides with world record thrill rides. Our annual trip to Cedar Point is a highlight of the summer because we all love riding rides and sharing quality family time together.
Thank you to the Carnegie Science Center, the National Aviary, the Andy Warhol Museum, the Duquesne Incline, the Senator John Heinz History Center, the Carnegie Museum of Natural History, the Carnegie Museum of Art, the Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens, The Frick Pittsburgh and the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium for providing complimentary tickets for my family and to the Drury Inn for hosting our stay. All opinions are my own.
Pittsburgh is known for its steel production, bridges and sports teams. It’s only about two hours from our home in Cleveland and where my college roommate lives, so we regularly visit several times each year. In the 19th century, Andrew Carnegie became one of the richest people in the world by modernizing steel production in the heart of downtown Pittsburgh, where the Monongahela River joins the Ohio River. Now called the “Steel City,” Pittsburgh used to be known as the “Smoky City” because of so much pollution from the mills. Very little of its industrial past remains in this city now known for its hills, bridges, parks and biking and jogging trails. In our many visits, we have found so many gems. Here are some of the best things to do in Pittsburgh with kids:
Best Things to Do in Pittsburgh’s North Shore
Pittsburgh’s North Shore boasts picturesque views of Pittsburgh’s downtown, sports venues and world-class museums. It’s just a short drive (or even walk) from downtown.
#1: Carnegie Science Center With Kids
The Carnegie Science Center is my boys’ favorite museum, and they’ve been to dozens all over the world. While the “science” portion of the Carnegie Science Center is pretty impressive, the real draw for my kids is Highmark SportsWorks®, which is housed in an adjacent building and uses more than 30 interactive sports exhibits to show how physics, anatomy, biology and chemistry control sports.
We visit the Carnegie Science Center several times a year and generally aim to arrive right at the 10:00 am opening and head straight to the Ropes Challenge in Highmark SportsWorks® because the line can get quite long by mid-morning. The Ropes Challenge consists of a series of challenges, including a rope bridge, rolling logs and a horizontal net and culminates with a zip line. I think it’s the zip line that makes this my boys’ favorite “exhibit” ever. The Ropes Course is for children who are at least 48 inches, but the SkyTykes Ropes Course offers younger kids an age-appropriate version that my daughter loves. Other highlights in the sports complex include a 24-foot rock climbing wall (which even my four year old daughter tried out), a batting cage, a 10-meter dash and various challenges for endurance and balance.
Roboworld is considered the world’s largest permanent robotics exhibition and features more than 30 interactive displays. Our favorites include a robot who shoots baskets with impressive precision and another who challenges visitors in air hockey.
The Miniature Railroad & Village is a fun but unexpected exhibit at the Science Center. This enormous village with model trains includes scenes of western Pennsylvania from the 1880s to the 1930s and includes over 250,000 trees. Of course, our favorite miniature was Fallingwater.
Much of the Carnegie Science Center is geared for kids age six and up, but there are many fun exhibits for toddlers and preschoolers, especially the Little Learner Clubhouse. My daughter has visited numerous times between the ages of one and four and always has a blast with her brothers. We recommend the Carnegie Science Center as one of the most fun things to do in Pittsburgh for kids.
Carnegie Science Center Facts: The E-motion cone, which is a large inverted cone on top of the Science Center was installed in 2000. It is lit up at night with colored lights that signal the weather forecast for the next day. Red means warmer, blue means cooler, and green means no change. The cone flashes when precipitation is expected, and the color yellow indicates severe weather.
Carnegie Science Center Hours: The Carnegie Science Center is generally open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Because of its proximity to the Steelers’Heinz Field, the Carnegie Science Center is closed when the Steelers have home games with 1 pm or 4 pm kickoff times and may close early for evening games.
Carnegie Science Center Admission: General admission costs $19.95 for adults, $14.95 for seniors and $11.95 for children ages 3-12. Children under three and ASTC members are free.
Carnegie Science Center Parking: Parking is available in the lot in front of the Carnegie Science Center for $5.
#2: National Aviary With Kids
The National Aviary in Pittsburgh is home to over 500 birds from more than 150 species and a fun thing to do in Pittsburgh with kids. The National Aviary offers walk-through habitats that allowed us to see the birds up close. My kids, who were not sure what an aviary was when I told them about our planned trip, learned so much about different bird species. I was thrilled to find two bald eagles in the first habitat.
The African penguins were definitely a highlight of our visit. Because African penguins are used to a temperate climate, they live in their outdoor habitat all year. Visitors can view them through windows from the inside of the National Aviary. As an added bonus, kids can reach special windows to see the penguins up close by climbing through tunnels.
Each penguin has a band with his or her name. There are daily penguin presentations for visitors to learn more about these amazing birds.
My oldest son particularly enjoyed the wetland habitat. He was fascinated by how the flamingos marked their territory by spreading their wings. We also saw peacocks and other birds wandering on the pedestrian path with us.
We were excited to participate in the lorikeet feeding. We each got a dish of nectar and entered the habitat to feed. While this was something that pushed me out of my comfort zone, it was pretty amazing to hold a lorikeet on my wrist and watch it eat. I barely felt its feet on my wrist, and it quickly polished off the nectar in my bowl. A limited number of tickets are available at each entrance for the feedings. We arrived just before the 11:30 a.m. feeding and took our place at the end of the line. We only had to wait a few minutes for our turn, but the birds were “slowing down.” Next time, we’ll make sure to arrive at least five minutes early.
My boys each had a turn on Birdly, a full-body immersive virtual reality flying simulator that allowed them to experience flying like a bird in Manhattan for 2.5 minutes. After a quick demonstration, they learned how to maneuver up and down and turn and really felt like they were flying. This was probably the most unique part of our visit to the aviary, and they would love more opportunities to fly.
National Aviary Facts: The Helen M. Schmidt FliteZone Theater was part of the National Aviary’s 2009 $17.5 million expansion project and is the world’s first only indoor theater constructed for the presentation of live, free-flight bird shows.
National Aviary Hours: The National Aviary is generally open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.
National Aviary Admission: Admissions costs $17 for adults and $16 for seniors and children 2-12. Children under 2 are free.
National Aviary Parking: Parking is available in the lot behind the Aviary and costs $5. Metered parking is available in front of the National Aviary.
#3: Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh With Kids
The Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh is an interactive museum for kids that we have visited several times with kids ages 1 through 10. It’s geared for the eight and under crowd, but my oldest enjoyed visiting the Museum with his brother and sister and creating on draw bots in the MAKESHOP®. The project involved hot glue, tape, boxes, motors and a lot of trial and error to anchor markers to a motor and make them move on their own. This was definitely my boys’ favorite exhibit at the Museum. My daughter was too young to create a draw box on her own, but she enjoyed spectating and working on a draw bot with one of the Museum guides (who did most of the heavy lifting).
Other hands-on opportunities for creation are available at the Studio, which is housed in a former planetarium and is a beautiful and bright space to inspire creative juices, and smocks are available. Many craft projects are available for kids who love art and parents who appreciate prepared projects and easy clean up.
Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh Facts: Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood was filmed in Pittsburgh from 1968 to 2001, and the Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh maintains some great memorabilia.
Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh Hours: The Children’s Museum is generally open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.
Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh Admission: Admissions costs $16 for adults and $14 for children 2-18. Children under 2 are free.
Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh Parking: Parking is available in the lot behind the Museum and costs $6 for non-members.
#4: The Andy Warhol Museum With Kids
Our children love art museums, and we’ve visited over a dozen around the world, but none dedicated to the works of a single artist or pop art. The Andy Warhol Museum is the largest museum in North America that is dedicated to a single artist and is one of the Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh. Andy Warhol was a Pittsburgh-born pop artist who died in the 1987. The Museum opened in 1994 in a renovated warehouse and now contains an extensive collection of paintings, prints, sculptures, photographs and films.
The Factory on the Museum’s underground level also provides kids an opportunity to try watercolor painting, blotted-line drawing, acetate collage and silkscreen printing. There is also a children’s play area for the youngest guests to explore and create.
During our visit to The Andy Warhol Museum, we learned about the life and works of Andy Warhol. Our children particularly enjoyed the bright colors and the portraits. The portraits reminded me of my visit to Casa Lever, a New York restaurant that features a collection of original Warhol portraits. A few months after our visit, my sons identified Andy Warhol in a Burger King commercial during the Super Bowl.
Andy Warhol Museum Facts: The Museum’s 17 galleries contain 900 paintings, almost 2,000 works on paper, more than 1,000 prints, 77 sculptures and 8,000 photographs, films and videotaped works.
Andy Warhol Museum Hours: The Andy Warhol Museum is generally open Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and 10 am to 10 pm on Fridays. The Museum is closed on Mondays.
Andy Warhol Museum Admission: Admissions costs $20 for adults, $10 for students, children and seniors. Children under three are free. Admission is half price on Fridays from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Andy Warhol Museum Parking: Parking is available in the lot behind the Museum and costs $6 for non-members.
#5: Water Steps With Kids With Kids
The Water Steps are a popular attraction in the North Shore Riverfront Park on the bank of the Allegheny River. The Water Steps are a perfect location for kids to cool off during the summer months and enjoy Pittsburgh’s beautiful cityscape views. We visited with local friends who gave us the heads ups to bring swimming attire and towels for the kids.
It was a bit of a trek along the waterfront from the Carnegie Science Center, but the kids loved splashing around with their friends in the water, which reaches about 18 inches deep in parts.
Great way to cool off
Water Steps Facts: Over 1,500 pieces of sandstone from a Butler County quarry were used to construct the Water Steps.
Water Steps Admission: There is no admission charge to visit Water Steps.
Water Steps Parking: We walked to the Water Steps from the Carnegie Science Center. The best bet for parking is to find a meter nearby or use one of the lots near Heinz Field.
Water Steps Kid Warning: My three year old was able to easily climb up and down the stairs on her own, so I was able to watch from the side of the Steps. However, young toddlers would probably need hovering parental presence in the water.
#6: Tribute to Children With Kids
We visited Tribute to Children, including the Fred Rogers Memorial Statue, during our walk from the Water Steps to the Carnegie Science Museum. Our kids are not really familiar with Mr. Rogers, who was a Pittsburgh native, but were intrigued by this statue of a man who was part of our childhood. I also tried to explain the tenuous connection to Daniel Tiger, a favorite television show of my daughter’s. This 2009 statue by Robert Burks was created after Fred Roger’s 2003 death from stomach cancer and depicts him tying his shoes. The statue is located on the River bank in front of the arch of pier with a keyhole design.
Tribute to Children Facts: Tribute to Children was a gift from the people of Pittsburgh and Allegheny County honoring children and celebrating the life of children’s entertainer, Fred Rogers.
Tribute to Children Admission: Admission is free to visit Tribute to Children.
Tribute to Children Parking: We walked to Tribute to Children from the Carnegie Science Center. The best bet for parking is to find a meter nearby or use one of the lots near Heinz Field.
#7: PNC Park With Kids
PNC Park is the home stadium of the Pittsburgh Pirates. This Major League Baseball field is located along the Allegheny River. A baseball game is fun, family activity and great for kids of all ages. Few baseball stadiums have a comparable cityscape view.
PNC Park Parking: Parking is available on the North Shore and downtown.
Things to Do in Pittsburgh’s South Shore
#8: Duquesne Incline With Kids
The Duquesne Incline in Pittsburgh is an amazing example of living history that combines a trolley ride up Mount Washington, engineering genius and an amazing city view. The beautifully detailed original trolley cars sit on platforms that keep them level while transporting Pittsburghers and visitors up and down Mount Washington without a driver. The 794-foot wooden track is not only an engineering masterpiece but also a work of art.
At the station at the top, there are historical exhibits that provide an overview of the history of Pittsburgh and its inclines. The David H. Miller Working Museum offers visitors the chance to see the Incline’s hoisting machinery up close. The Incline still uses its original hoisting equipment that features giant cogs with wooden gear teeth.
The highlight of the Incline is the magnificent view of Pittsburgh’s “Three Rivers” – the confluence of the Allegheny River and the Monongahela River, which together form the Ohio River and the Pittsburgh’s “Golden Triangle” central business district. Other highlights include views of the outline of Fort Duquesne, the Steelers’ Heinz Field, the Pirates’ PNC Park, the Carnegie Science Center and many bridges (up to 18 can be visible).
Duquesne Incline Hours: The Duquesne Incline is open every day (including Thanksgiving Day when we visited). The Incline is open on Monday through Saturday from 5:30 a.m. to 12:30 a.m. and on Sundays and Holidays from 7:00 a.m. to 12:30 a.m.
Duquesne Incline Admission: Adults tickets cost $2.50 each way and tickets for children ages 6-11 cost $1.25 each way. There is no charge for children under 6 and seniors over 64. The Duquesne Incline accepts only Port Authority bus tickets or cash and requires exact change.
Duquesne Incline Parking: There is free parking available at 1197 West Carson Street and paid parking at the Station Square lot across from the lower entrance.
#9: Point of View Park With Kids
We somehow missed Point of View Park when we visited the Duquesne Incline. Point of View Park is a short walk from the Duquesne Incline’s Upper Station. It’s a favorite spot of a friend of mine who has family in Pittsburgh. He proposed to his wife, took wedding pictures and announced his first child at this scenic overlook. Point of View is a bronze sculpture depicting a 1770 meeting between George Washington and Seneca leader Guyasuta in which they were examining land for settlement. We’ll definitely be making a stop here on our next trip to Pittsburgh.
Photo credit: Bryant Eckert
Point of View Park Facts: The landmark public sculpture was created by James A. West
Point of View Park Hours: Point of View is open 24 hours.
Point of View Park Admission: There is no admission fee to visit Point of View Park.
Point of View Park Parking: There is no dedicated parking lot for Point of View Park but street parking available nearby.
Things to Do in Pittsburgh’s Downtown
#10: Senator John Heinz History Center With Kids
During our August 2019 trip to Pittsburgh, we visited the Senator John Heinz History Center, which is associated with the Smithsonian Institution. We thoroughly enjoyed our lovely morning at the Heinz History Center. It was a quiet and somewhat dreary morning at the end of summer when we arrived at the renovated warehouse in Pittsburgh’s Strip District. We walked from our hotel in the central business district. We started in the Great Hall where the kids loved the Heinz Hitch, a horse drawn wagon that traveled to national events and the street car.
The Heinz Hitch
My daughter spotted the slide from across the Hall and found her way to the Kidsburgh exhibit in a loft overlooking the Great Hall with stairs leading up and a slide to return to the Great Hall. She would have been content to stay in the Kidsburgh exhibit for the entire morning and rode the slide countless times before we set off to the Western Pennsylvania Sports Museum.
Kidsburgh slide
My boys are sports enthusiasts, but they don’t particularly follow Pittsburgh sports. Unlike most Clevelanders, we harbor no ill will against Pittsburgh’s sports, either. Because we have close friends from Pittsburgh, we regularly support area sports teams when they aren’t competing against Cleveland. My boys closely examined the exhibits in the Western Pennsylvania Sports Museum and gained a new respect for the Steelers, the Penguins and the Pirates. My older son commented, “I didn’t realize how good Pittsburgh sports teams really were.” Clevelanders may have waited for decades to win a national championship, but it happens fairly regularly for Pittsburgh, especially in football and hockey. Without a doubt, the table hockey game was the highlight of the Sports Museum. My boys came back for a second round at the end of our visit.
The Discovery Place offered many opportunities for hands on learning and exploring at different innovation stations. My favorite was a pattern challenge.
The Discovery Place
We learned all about Heinz ketchup in the Heinz exhibit, which features the world’s largest collection of Heinz artifacts. We now know the significance of the 57 and the famous ketchup is celebrating 150 years. The 11-foot ketchup bottle created from 500 individual bottles was also memorable.
My favorite exhibit was Mister Roger’s Neighborhood. The famous children’s show I remember from my childhood was filmed in Pittsburgh, the hometown of Fred Rogers. This exhibit featured sets, puppets, props and other artifacts. I felt like I was stepping back 35+ years and right into the Mister Roger’s set. My kids are not familiar with Mr. Roger’s, but my daughter is a fan of Daniel Tiger, a 21st century spinoff of the famous children’s program.
King Friday XIII’s Castle
We had a memorable visit to the Senator Heinz History Center and learned a great deal about Western Pennsylvania.
Heinz History Center Hours: The History Center is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily and closed for New Year’s Day, Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas each year.
Heinz History Center Admission: As of August 2019, Admission for adults costs $18, for children ages 6-17 and students with a valid school identification costs $9 and for senior citizens over 61 costs $15. There is no admission for children age five and under.
Heinz History Center Parking: There are several options for nearby parking with daily rates as low as $3.
Time Spent at the Heinz History Center: We spent about 2.5 hours, including lunch at the Cafe.
#11: Point State Park With Kids
The Point State Park (aka the “Point”) is a state park in downtown Pittsburgh located on 36 acres at the point of the confluence of the Allegheny River and the Monongahela River form the Ohio River. The Point is the tip of Pittsburgh’s “Golden Triangle.” We walked to the Point from our downtown hotel and also viewed the Point from along the edges of the Three Rivers, and we have spotted it from the Duquesne Incline, the Carnegie Science Center, the Fred Rogers Memorial Statue and the Water Steps.
At the Point, stones are used to depict the outline of Pittsburgh’s oldest structures, Fort Pitt and Fort Duquesne, which were used in the French and Indian War. The fountain in Point State Park sprays water up to 150 feet during the warm weather months. The kids enjoyed the view of the area bridges, the Duquesne Incline, the Carnegie Science Center and Heinz Field from the tip of the Point.
Walking on the Fort Duquesne outline.
Point State Park Facts: Fort Duquesne was originally built by the French. Its occupants burned and abandoned the Fort before the British seized it. The British built Fort Pitt near the destroyed Fort Duquesne.
Point State Park Kid Warning: The Point abuts rivers on all sides without a barrier, so it’s important to keep a close eye on young children.
Point State Park Hours: The Park is open daily from sunrise to sunset.
Point State Park Admission: There is no admission charge to enter the Point State Park.
Point State Park Parking: Point State’s parking lot is located along Commonwealth Place across from the Post Gazette building.
Things to Do in Oakland
#12: Carnegie Museum of Natural History With Kids
The Carnegie Museum of Natural History has a premier dinosaur collection, Dinosaurs in Their Time, which features a Diplodocus carnegiifossil discovered in 1899. This dinosaur exhibit also includes two Tyrannosaurus Rex skeletons and a triceratops skeleton and is the world’s largest collection of Jurassic dinosaurs.
One of two Tyrannosaurus Rex skeletons
During our last visit, we attended the Live Animal Encounter at the Earth Theater and enjoyed seeing live animals up close. Another favorite is the 1,300 gemstone specimens in the Hillman Hall of Minerals and Gems are artistically displayed and fascinated my kids.
Carnegie Museum of Natural History Facts: Carnegie gifted a cast of its diplodocus skeleton to England at the request of Edward VII, and “Dippy” was featured in Hitze Hall of London’s Natural History Museum for many years before being replaced by Hope, a blue whale skeleton, in July 2017.
Carnegie Museum of Natural History Hours: The Museum is generally open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday and from 10 am to 8 pm on Thursday. The Museum is closed on Tuesday.
Carnegie Museum of Natural History Admissions: Admission for adults is $19.95, seniors 65 and over is $14.95 and children ages 3 to 18 and students is $11.95. Children 2 and under are free.
Carnegie Museum of Natural History Parking: The Carnegie Museum of Natural History shares a building the with Carnegie Museum of Art, and adjacent surface-lot parking is available. Museum weekday visitors receive a voucher to reduce the cost of parking, which is currently $7 for 2-4 hours. Evening and weekend parking costs $7.
#13: Carnegie Museum of Art With Kids
The Carnegie Museum of Art was founded by Andrew Carnegie in 1895 and is housed in the same building in Oakland as the Carnegie Museum of Natural History. The most unique feature of the Carnegie Art Museum is the Hall of Architecture, which is the one of the world’s largest collection of plaster architectural casts. Andrew Carnegie financed a tinted cast of the West Portal of Saint-Gilles-du-Gard, which may be the world’s largest architectural cast. The Hall also includes almost 140 other full-size plaster casts. After our recent visit to Paris and Italy, we particularly enjoyed examining the plaster casts of the Venus de Milo, the Winged Victory of Samothrace and other icons that reminded us of architecture and sculptures we saw on our trip.
Like most major art museums, its impressionist gallery includes paintings by Vincent Van Gogh and Claude Monet. Van Gogh’s Wheat Fields at Auvers Under Clouded Sky is one of his famous series of wheat field paintings.
Our favorite sculpture was Phyllida Barlow’s 2012 untitled: upturnedhouse, 2.
Carnegie Museum of Art Hours: The Carnegie Museum of Art is generally open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday and from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Thursday. The Museum is closed on Tuesday.
Carnegie Museum of Art Admissions: Admission for adults is $19.95, seniors 65 and over is $14.95, children ages 3 to 18 and students is $11.95. Children 2 and under are free.
Carnegie Museum of Art Parking: The Carnegie Museum of Art shares a building the with Carnegie Museum of Natural History, and adjacent surface-lot parking is available. Museum weekday visitors receive a voucher to reduce the cost of parking, which is currently $7 for 2-4 hours. Evening and weekend parking costs $7.
#14: Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens With Kids
Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens was an amazing gift to the city of Pittsburgh from real estate magnate Henry Phipps. It was the perfect destination for extra doses of oxygen and vitamin D. The pathways through the different rooms made it easy for me to keep an eye of all three kids simultaneously, and we didn’t mind making our way at my daughter’s snail’s pace.
The kids were all awe-struck by all the beautiful gardens and truly enjoyed each and every room. The indoor and outdoor gardens were all beautifully curated and maintained. A few of our favorites include: the Cuban taxi (an unexpected but joyous find at a conservatory, especially because of the sign encouraging kids to hop inside), the Butterfly Forest, the Serpentine Room and the Desert Room.
Butterfly picture captured by my 10 year old son
The Phipps includes several glass chandeliers by artist Dale Chihuly, whose work was featured in a special exhibit in 2007 to 2008. The Phipps purchased several chandeliers from the exhibit for its permanent collection, including Goldenrod, Teal and Citron located in the Welcome Center and the Desert Gold Star, located in the Desert Room. The Chihuly pieces usually located in the Palm Court had been removed during the renovation.
Desert Room and Chihuly’s Desert Gold Star glass chandelier
Phipps Conservatory Facts: The Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens was founded in 1893 and is celebrating its 125th anniversary this year.
Phipps Conservatory Hours: Free parking is conveniently located in the center island on Schenley Drive.
Phipps Conservatory Admission: Free parking is conveniently located in the center island on Schenley Drive.
Phipps Conservatory Parking: Free parking is conveniently located in the center island on Schenley Drive.
My boys are really love cars and found the Cars & Carriages Museum very exciting. The 1914 Ford Model T Touring was a highlight. The Frick’s car collection is so large that only about half of its cars are exhibited at any one time.
Ford Model T Touring
After spending the morning at the Phipps Conservatory, the kids were also excited to check out the Frick Greenhouse. This active greenhouse is a renovation and reconstruction of the greenhouse used by the Frick family from 1897 until the 1970s.
The Greenhouse at the Frick Pittsburgh
My college roommate recommends the tea at the Café at the Frick, and we’ll definitely have to try some during our next visit. Find out more about the visiting the Frick Pittsburgh.
Frick Pittsburgh Facts: Industrialist Henry Clay Frick and his wife, Adelaide Howard Childs Frick lived at Clayton with their four children from 1883 to 1905. Their daughter, Helen Clay Frick guided preservation efforts at Clayton and returned to live here shortly before her 1984 death. The property opened to the public in 1990.
Frick Pittsburgh Admission: There is no admission charge to enter the Frick Art Museum, the Car and Carriage Museum or the Scenic Grounds and Greenhouse. Tours of Clayton cost $15 for adults, $13 for seniors and students, $8 for children 16 and under. Babies in arms are free. Admission fees are charged for special exhibitions. Tour and tours of Clayton.
Frick Pittsburgh Hours: The Frick Pittsburgh is generally open Tuesdays through Sundays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on Fridays from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Frick Pittsburgh Parking: Free parking is available in the adjacent lot located off of Reynolds Street.
Things to Do in Highland Park
#16: Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium With Kids
The Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium is one of the few major zoo/aquarium combinations in the U.S. and is a great place for kids to learn about mammals and aquatic life. The Pittsburgh Zoo includes more than 10,000 animals (including 1,000 bats) and 20 threatened or endangered species. We have visited the Pittsburgh Zoo twice – once when my boys were age two and four and a second time when our three kids were age five, nine and eleven. The Pittsburgh Zoo is enormous, but my five year old was a real trooper and had a work out walking quite a few miles on her little legs.
The African Savanna was one of our favorite areas of the Zoo. As always, my daughter was thrilled by the flamingos as we entered the Savanna. We were lucky that the black rhinoceros were very active. The black rhinos, which are actually light gray, are an endangered species, but several calves have been born in recent years in Pittsburgh.
Black rhinos
We moved on the the African elephants, the largest mammals that live on land and the Masai giraffe, the tallest mammals living on land. While exploring the African Savanna, we worked up enough of an appetite that we decided to take a break and eat some sundaes from Swahili Ice Cream. It was the perfect late morning snack.
Kids Kingdom was another highlight of our visit. My daughter could have spent hours at the Animal Connection playground and was particularly ecstatic to crawl through all the tunnels like the naked mole rats. I could never find her when she was actually in the tunnels, but we chatted back and forth while she explored.
Animal Connections playground
My kids really enjoy getting a good view of aquatic animals. The sea lion exhibit was a highlight, and the indoor aquarium was the perfect place to end our Pittsburgh Zoo visit. By the time we reached the PPG Aquarium, the August sun was beating down, and the air conditioning was glorious. My kids spent a long time at the side of the touch tank. My boys each carefully touched the sting ray several times. My daughter desperately wanted to but always pulled her hand out of the water just when the sting ray got close enough.
Sea lions
The Pittsburgh Zoo was definitely a great outing with kids.
Pittsburgh Zoo Facts: The Zoo had a very rare elephant born in captivity (less than 20 have been born since 1995) in 2017, but the calf unfortunately died at three months.
Pittsburgh Zoo Hours and Admission: The Pittsburgh Zoo’s hours and admission varies by season.
Pittsburgh Zoo Parking: Parking is available at the Pittsburgh Zoo is free for visitors.
Things to Do in West Mifflin
#17: Kennywood Park With Kids
Our family had so much fun at Kennywood Park, a traditional amusement park located about 20 minutes southeast of downtown Pittsburgh in West Mifflin. Kennywood opened in 1899 and is one of two parks in the country that has been designated as a National Historic Landmark because it features rides and structures that are more than 100 years old. Kennywood made me nostalgic for Geauga Lake, an amusement park outside of Cleveland that I visited annually when I was young. Our family loved our day at Kennywood Park in Pittsburgh and hopes to make this trip an annual tradition.
Wave Swinger
Our visit to Kennywood Park was a marvelous, nostalgic day spent riding rides together. It was only about a 2.5 hour drive from Cleveland and very affordable for Ohio visitors. A current promotion for Ohio residents offers $34.99 admission. We added visits to several area attractions during our three-day, two-night stay in the Steel City and had a lovely time. While we did not ride the new Steel Curtain roller coaster on this visit, there were no shortage of thrill rides for our family. Even though I get nauseous on any ride that spins or sways, but I still do love that feeling of my stomach dropping. I particularly enjoyed the Thunderbolt, a classic wooden coaster that is almost 100 years old and last renovated over 50 years ago. The Thunderbolt offered the perfect thrill level for my two boys and me, and we rode it twice.
Thunderbolt
With kids in all three major height categories – under 48 inches, under 54 inches and over 54 inches, we appreciate that Kennywood offers some fun rides that we can enjoy as a family, including the Merry-Go-Round and several family rides in Kiddie Land and Thomas Town. Auto race was a particular favorite, and the five of us piled into three separate cars and rode around the track one after another.
Journey With Thomas
My daughter would have been happy to spend our entire day at Kiddie Land, which featured 15 classic rides for kids under 48 inches and Thomas Town, Kennywood’s new 2018 theme area. My daughter rode with her two arms stretched high into the sky on almost every ride. She’s still a little nervous about kiddie coasters, though and skipped Lil’ Phantom. Maybe next year….
Orbiter
Kennywood Hours: Kennywood hours vary by month and day, and the Kennywood calendar is available online.
Kennywood Admission: Kennywood gate prices range from vary for weekday and weekend visits and are available on the Kennywood website. Kennywood discount tickets are available on the website and at Giant Eagle grocery stores.
Time Spent at Kennywood: We spent about 7.5 hours at Kennywood Park. It was nonstop fun, but we were definitely exhausted at the end.
Kennywood Height Requirements: Each ride has its own posted height requirements.
Kennywood Weather: It’s always important to check the weather and be prepared before visiting Kennywood. Don’t forget to apply and reapply sunscreen.
Kennywood Events: Kennywood Park offers a variety of events throughout the season. The Fall Fantasy Parade occurred during our visit. We caught a bit of the parade but on our way to take advantage of the short line for Thunderbolt.
Kennywood Park Map: Make sure to pick up a map before setting off to explore Kennywood.
Where to Stay in Pittsburgh With Kids
Drury Inn Pittsburgh Airport Settlers Ridge With Kids
When we planned a last minute trip to Pittsburgh over Thanksgiving weekend last year, we booked a night at the Drury Inn & Suites Pittsburgh Airport Settlers Ridge because we scored a great deal through Priceline. Airport hotels are rarely memorable, and we were really just looking for a hotel with last minute availability that had a pool and didn’t break the bank. We didn’t realize that the Drury Inn Settlers Ridge was a newly constructed hotel that had just opened in May 2018, and we were wowed when we entered the lobby that featured ultra-modern decor. Hotel renovations are common, but with renovated hotels, there are often vestiges of dated interiors somewhere on the property. At the Drury Inn Settlers Ridge, everything is clean and neat. We really felt as if we were staying at a luxury hotel.
Lobby area
Drury Inn Guest Room
Our double queen room featured two comfortable beds, granite counter tops and modern interior. We particularly closely examined all the framed Pittsburgh-inspired wall art. Our room also had a refrigerator, which was perfect for our left overs. Everything was clean and fresh, and the beds were oh so comfortable.
Our guestroom
The bathroom featured a large granite vanity with plenty of space for everyone’s toiletries, tiled floor and enormous mirror. There were dispensers in the shower with shower gel, shampoo and conditioner that eliminated the unnecessary waste that usually comes with those trial sized bottles. While I’m often fumbling around in the dark trying to find the bathroom light switch without waking the rest of the family, the motion sensing light in the bathroom was the perfect solution. Towels, tissues and a hair dryer were all easily accessible and well-organized.
Drury Inn bathroom
Drury Inn Kickback
We checked in as the Kickback was beginning. All Drury Inn properties host a nightly happy hour with free food and beverages between 5:30 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. Daily menus are available on the Drury Inn’s website. My husband and I each received drink vouchers and drink cards to purchase additional drinks for a whopping $.75 each.
Drury Inn Kickback voucher
The quality and quantity of the heavy appetizers and drinks was unexpectedly good, and there was plenty of space for the crowd in the dining room. We planned to have a quick snack before heading to the pool but ended up having seconds and thirds at our trendy circular booth. After removing decades old wall paper in two homes, I found myself kind of coveting the printed geometric patterns and trying to figure out where I might be able to add a papered accent wall at home. The kids were so excited about the Kickback and the indoor pool that they decided that they didn’t want to leave the hotel and convinced us to order pizza instead of going out for dinner. For Drury Inn visitors who decide to do the same, we recommend Vocelli Pizza in Robinson. Vocelli will deliver to the Drury Inn, but we opted for carry out. Just remember to ask for paper plates and napkins.
Dining area
Drury Inn Pool
After dinner, it was pool time. Our neighborhood pool had closed for the season several months earlier, so the kids were ecstatic to get wet and dip their toes in the hot tub. Unlike most hotel pool decks that seem to always be desperately in need of a renovation, I was happy to chaperone my kids in this new pool with beautiful tiles.
Drury Inn Settlers Ridge pool
The Drury Inn keeps its popcorn, soda and coffee machines running until late in the night, and water is always available. Drury Inns also offer all guests daily hot breakfasts. We were truly amazed by the value that this hotel offered and have recommended it to several friends.
Breakfast
We were thrilled when Drury Inn offered to host our return visit to its Settlers Ridge location in August 2019. After a long day at Kennywood Park, we missed the Kickback and were too exhausted for a swim, but we thoroughly enjoyed our double queen suite. The bedroom area was set up virtually identically to our double queen room. The two room suite and extra pull out couch better accommodated our family of five than the standard room. There were also flat screen hotels in each room and a large sitting area. We thoroughly recommend the Drury Inn Settlers Ridge and are certain to return.
Find Out More About Pittsburgh Family Activities
We recommend a visit to Pittsburgh with kids. Interested in finding out more about Pittsburgh kids’ activities? Check out our other blog posts about Pittsburgh and nearby Fallingwater.
WGWK believes it is safe to say that a day at the zoo is something all kids can enjoy! When traveling, viewing animals in beautiful habitats is a nice break from city sightseeing for the little ones. We asked our fellow family travel bloggers for their favorites world zoos and came up with this list of world’s best zoos with kids:
Assiniboine Park Zoo – Winnipeg, Canada
Hailing from Winnipeg, Canada, we have been to the Assiniboine Park Zoo countless times. Until recently, it was just another zoo. But in mid 2014, after years of hard work, this Zoo got a makeover and a brand new world class exhibit called Journey to Churchill was unveiled. Journey to Churchill focuses on Arctic animals and is the most extensive of its kind in the world when it comes to showcasing northern animal species. It has been dubbed “the Gateway to the Arctic”. The animals in this exhibit are polar bears, muskoxen, Arctic wolves and foxes, to name a few. The exhibit occupies ten acres and recreates the landscape of the animals’ natural habitat of the Subarctic and the Arctic. There are currently nine polar bears living at Assiniboine Park Zoo. Most have been rescued as very young cubs after being orphaned in the Canadian North. We all know that polar bears are endangered species. This exhibit not only serves as a new home to these animals that would have otherwise perished, but it also provides the public with educational opportunities on how to protect them. Our son’s favourite part is observing these animals up close as they swim above his head in the aquarium tunnel called the Sea Ice Passage. Don’t miss this unique zoo experience when in Winnipeg.
Recommended by Bea from Pack Your Bags. Find out more from Bea about Assiniboine Park Zoo.
Auckland Zoo – Auckland, New Zealand
New Zealand’s Auckland Zoo is one amazing zoo! We love it because the animals are well cared for, and a lot of them are rescued animals that wouldn’t survive in the wild. Families who visit during the school holidays will also find something different going on as there are special exhibits and learning experiences, including the opportunity to be a zookeeper for a day (for kids and adults).
Even out of school holidays, it’s great fun. First, we love the vet hospital there, which cares for the zoo animals, but also for injured wildlife. Visitors can see what’s going on through the glass window, and there is usually a zookeeper stationed outside the glass to explain to visitors what is taking happening. We also love the daily elephant walks that take place every day! As the elephant walks by with its keeper, visitors can view the animals up close. And, of course, in the spring, there is the opportunity to see lots of baby animals! We were lucky to see the red panda cubs, a giraffe calf, and many more during our visit!
Recommended by Thais Saito from World Trip Diaries. Find out more from Thais about Auckland.
Belize Zoo – Belize
The Belize Zoo started off as a conservation center and still has a huge effort in conservation of animals in Belize. All the animals are native to Belize. They may have encountered issues in the wild and have been rescued by the center. For example, they have a jaguar who they rescued as a cub when she got separated from her mother and a jabiru who fell out of its nest and can no longer fly. They also have a center for “problem jaguars” – jaguars who hunt too close to human settlements because they may be old and injured. Instead of being shot and killed, these problem jaguars are brought to the center to be cared for and studied. My kids thought the Belize Zoo was very cool especially seeing the big cats – the jaguars and the pumas. We spent two weeks in Belize but never saw many of the native animals exhibited at the zoo in the wild.
For families with a young animal-lover in their life, a trip to Australia offers the opportunity to see many unique creatures! The Land Down Under has so much more than just kangaroos and koalas. We spent the first day of our epic two-month visit to Australia at Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary in Tasmania, where injured or endangered animals are sheltered and nurtured. During our awesome guided tour (which is included in the admission price), we visited with wombats, echidnas, quolls and the infamous Tassie devil… and of course it was a great opportunity to get up close with koalas and ‘roos as well.
Recommended by Melissa Conn of The Family Voyage. Find out more from Melissa about family travel in Australia.
Chester Zoo – Chester, England
We’ve visited a few zoos with our son, but the Chester Zoo, the UK’s most visited zoo, is one that stands out. Not only is it a very large zoo, at approximately 125 acres, with big enclosures for the many species of animals and birds that can be found there, but it is also highly involved in conservation. The most exciting part for us was the Islands at Chester Zoo. This part of the Zoo, opened in 2015, has areas representing six South East Asian Islands including Bali and Sumatra. It is a truly wonderful part of the Zoo and transports visitors to South East Asia with atmospheric music and explorer huts – a true delight to visit. From Sumatran tigers and orangutans, to Visayan warty pigs, the Islands are not to be missed. Chester Zoo has so much to see and do and is best given a full day to explore. Even then visitors may still miss some of the zoo as it’s that big. This is what makes Chester Zoo one of our favourite zoos of all time.
Cotswold Wildlife Park is one of the star attractions in the Cotswolds. The Wildlife Park is just outside the town of Burford in Oxfordshire, in the grounds of a manor house surrounded by beautiful gardens. The Park is home to some amazing animals and is sure to enchant kids of any age. Visitors can get up close to giraffes in the giraffe house and meet the friendly lemurs and critically endangered Bactrian camels. The Wildlife Park is probably the only place in the world to see a white rhino grazing in front of a Victorian manor house!
Don’t miss the daily talks and animal feeding times – visitors can even sign up to be a keeper for the day. The children’s farm is always a hit as kids can pet some of the more tame animals. There’s also a miniature train ride, which is a great way to get an idea of the park’s layout and appeals to smaller children. The Cotswold Wildlife Park is a charitable trust and part of several breeding programmes for endangered species as well as promoting conservation in the wild. This means visitors can be sure that they are supporting animals worldwide when they visit.
Pandas are the emblem of China and currently considered a national treasure. Only in China do pandas live outside of captivity, yet seeing any pandas in the wild in China is nearly impossible, because it’s a vulnerable species and there are less than 2000 in the wild. That’s what makes the Dujiangyan Panda Base such a special place. Although the Center may look like a regular zoo at first look, this non-for-profit, government-funded organization is dedicated to saving pandas from extinction through controlled breeding techniques and specially designed wildlife reinsertion programs.
We visited Dujiangyan Panda Base on our trip to Chengdu. At Dujiangyan, along with seeing the pandas up close with few interruptions from other tourists, we learned about the Center’s conservation programs. Best of all, visitors can volunteer for the panda keeper program and spend a day working alongside zookeepers and scientists caring for the pandas.
The Melbourne Zoo’s vision is to be the world’s leading zoo-based conservation organization, and it is well worth a visit. In addition to featuring enclosures with natural habitats where visitors can get close to a wide-variety of international and foreign animals, the park-like grounds are themed to look like different regions of the world. While seeing the elephants and tigers, visitors will think they are wandering through a safari town in India.
The Zoo does incredible conservation work through targeted campaigns to teach and educate visitors about sustainability. The orangutan area has a lot of great information about palm oil products and the threat wild orangutans face from loss of habitat from palm plantations. Another recent campaign entitled “Wipe for Wildlife” encouraged visitors to make the switch to toilet paper made from recycled materials. The Melbourne Zoo is Australia’s oldest zoo and has re-invented itself as a wonderful place to learn about wildlife right in the city centre.
Recommended by Dawn Nicholson from 5 Lost Together. Find out more from Dawn about Melbourne With Kids.
National Zoo and Aquarium – Canberra, Australia
Our local zoo, the National Zoo and Aquarium, is the perfect animal experience for young families as it is packed full of cool and interesting animals but is compact enough for little legs. The Zoo itself is beautifully constructed with pretty walkways and creative gardens and enclosures for all the animals. The Zoo offers great memberships where kids under three are free of charge, so when my kids were little for the price of one adult membership, my two young daughters and I had many outings to the zoo.
Over the last few years the National Zoo and Aquarium has undergone quite a transformation and expansion with the award-winning Jamala Wildlife Lodge opening. Guests can stay overnight in luxury lodgings and be immersed in the wildlife experience as they watch lions, bears and other awesome animals through the floor to ceiling glass windows of their lodges. As for the animals – a favourite is hard to pick. I love the white lions, giraffes and cheetahs. The kids, are always enthralled by the cheekiness of the otters and the meerkats!
Ocean Park is a part-zoo, part-aquarium, part-theme park and is a favourite day out for Hong Kong’s families. The two biggest attractions here for animal lovers are the Grand Aquarium and the four resident Giant Pandas. The Giant Aquarium has loads of sea creatures to fascinate children – from hammerhead sharks, to manta rays, starfish and lionfish. There’s also a separate three-level Shark Mystique if they want more. Beyond the pandas, there are also penguins, walruses, sea lions and seals to visit, in addition to rainforest creatures such as the sloth, capybaras and giant anaconda.
Unusually Ocean Park mixes up animal viewing with thrill rides. There are rides for everyone here – from the carousel and frog-hopper for the little ones, to the floorless Hair Raiser roller coaster that sends you looping and plunging at
88km/h for the really fearless. Visitors to Ocean Park should not miss the cable car, which offers some of
the best views of the south side of Hong Kong Island.
Recommended by Marianne from Mum on the Move. Find out more from Marianne about Ocean Park.
Singapore Zoo – Singapore
The Singapore Zoo is often rated as one of the top 10 zoos in the world, and once we arrived, we could certainly see why. It is well set out, and all the enclosures are open range with no visible fencing or bars. It is spread over 64 acres in the Mandai Rainforest, 30 minutes taxi ride from central Singapore. Singapore Zoo is so large that there is a shuttle bus system to move the 1.7 million annual visitors around the park, which is great for little ones so they don’t get too tired early in the day.
Singapore Zoo is famous for its orangutan enclosure which is free range and the orangutans move from tree to tree often right above your head. The zoo also offers the opportunity to have breakfast with the orangutans at Ah Meng Restaurant. Visitors sit and enjoy a generous buffet breakfast while the orangutans come to visit and have their breakfast at the same time. After breakfast visitors can stand up close to the orangutans and have their photo taken, but can’t touch them.
There are various feeding times and educational shows about conserving land and looking after endangered animals. My kids really enjoyed the shows and it was nice that they incorporated an educational message while keeping it fun for the kids.
Recommended by Sally Lucas of Our 3 Kids v the World. Find out more from Sally about the Singapore Zoo.
Taipei Zoo – Taipei, Taiwan
The Taipei Zoo features around 300 animals, including those from tropical, rainforest and safari environments for an admission of about 6 USD. Our Taiwan sojourn became extra special because we got to see a 276 pound panda for the first time. Our little one, Sophia, had a chance to get face-to-face with a panda that had acted aloof because of noisy visitors for a couple of hours prior to our visit.
Inside the Zoo, we rode the Maokong Gondola up the mountain, and we were mesmerized with the aerial view of the beautiful forest and the city lights. We were waiting for the Crystal Cabins, the glass-bottom cars where visitors can vividly see the breathtaking views from thousands of feet above ground, but we ended up riding a regular cabin. We still experienced the same excitement when the ride reached the highest peak. So far, this is the best zoo adventure we have ever had, and we’ll definitely come back to this astonishing place.
Taronga Zoo Sydney is an iconic Sydney landmark. Sitting on the Sydney Harbour, historic Taronga Zoo was officially opened on 7 October 1916 and has become one of the city’s main attractions. Spread over 69 acres and boasting over 350 different species of animals, Taronga Zoo showcases both native Australian animals and a range of exotic animals including tigers, chimpanzees, giraffes and gorillas. A daily highlight for all visitors is the Free Flight Bird Show, which is not to be missed.
The Taronga Zoo offers visiting families the incredible Keeper for a Day program on weekends and school holidays where children can learn about animal husbandry and the behind the scenes workings of a zoo. Those wanting a once in a lifetime experience can enjoy the Roar and Snore experience at stay at the zoo overnight. One of Taronga Zoo’s highlights every year is its inclusion in the Vivid Sydney festival in May, in which the Zoo is lit up with a number of animal-themed installations around the grounds and accessed in the evening moonlight.
Whilst visitors can drive to the Zoo, the ultimate experience is to catch a ferry from Circular Quay across to the Zoo and enjoy the sights of the Sydney Harbour along the way. The Zoo is a not for profit establishment with all money raised funneled back into the Zoo’s important conservation projects.
Recommended by Leah Smileski from The Kid Bucket List. Find out more from Leah about the Sydney Zoo.
Toronto Zoo – Toronto, Canada
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The Toronto Zoo can be reached with a metro-bus combination from downtown Toronto. With 287 hectares, it is the largest zoo in Canada, and visitors should come prepared to walk a lot. The animals get a lot of space at this zoo, which is nice, but sometimes they are hard to spot, especially for young children. For the past five years the main zoo attraction has been the pandas, but they were moved to Calgary in March 2018. There are still plenty of other animals to see and the Zoo’s Africa Savannah section houses lions, zebras and very cute pygmy hippopotamuses. What made the Toronto Zoo special for us was its large exhibit of Canadian wildlife. We got to see grizzly bears, cougars, elk and other animals without having to travel to Alaska or other more remote parts of Canada.
As we wandered aimlessly around the Berlin Zoo looking for the panda we wanted to see, we grew more and more impatient. Soon as we saw a keeper, we asked for directions and were told that the panda was no longer at the zoo. All four of us were so upset that when we added Vienna on our itinerary, there was one place that was top of the list….the Vienna Zoo. Little did we know how amazing the entire Zoo would be for our family.
There was so much to do other than seeing the animals. My daughters were a little younger then and just looking at animals was something that Marley could not always do whereas Willow was amazed by the enclosures and all the different animals that were housed there. Marley could let off some steam in the play areas located all over the Zoo.
The paths were nice and wide for prams with not many hills to tire out those little legs. What I liked the most was that the enclosures were a sight in themselves. They all looked fantastic and really well-kept. We even got to see the pandas at play while we were there! We also found a restaurant just inside the Zoo that had a great menu for us to all sit and have a proper meal after wandering the Zoo for a few hours. No deep-fried stuff…we all had a great main meal at a really good price too.
We went on a cold wintery day, and we didn’t find that we were cold as we were sheltered from the wind by the Zoo. There was little rain, but there were plenty of places to take cover if we needed to. The Vienna Zoo is the world’s oldest zoo, a great place to visit, and kids love it!
Recommended by Bec Wyld from Wyld Family Travel. Find out more from Bec about the Vienna Zoo.
Xcaret Park – Playa del Carmen, Mexico
Xcaret Park has dozens of exhibits, including a huge aviary, a butterfly pavilion, an aquarium complete with big lagoons containing sea turtles, manatees and sting rays as well as Jaguar Island, which includes both black and spotted jaguars. With wildlife around every corner, visitors can spend half the day enjoying the fauna and the other half enjoying the underground rivers, attractions and cultural displays of Mexico. Our family has enjoyed ourselves every time we’ve visited, and the kids always say they want to go back.
Recommended by Charles Kosman from The Barefoot Nomad. Find out more from Charles about Xcaret.
Zoo Berlin – Berlin, Germany
A world-class zoo with respected animal care and preservation programs, Zoo Berlin is “home to the world’s largest variety of species”. The Zoo is extensive and houses nearly 20,000 animals of about 1,400 species, and many of the enclosures appear like the animals’ natural habitat. There is also a petting zoo, a nocturnal house, and a bird house where colorful birds fly freely. Entry to the aquarium portion requires an extra fee.
Millions of annual visitors enjoy learning about animals and conservation at Zoo Berlin, and they can also view daily animal feedings. Most signs are in English as well as German. An interactive app is available to download, with zoo schedules, map features, and animal information. A variety of food and beverages is available at restaurants and kiosks. One restaurant looks onto a large playground with a climbing structure for kids.
Amidst all the activity, there are beautiful, wide, garden-like pathways. These promenades extend along manicured grass and low hedges, interspersed with groupings of roses abloom in summer, and fountains that spout and splash. Plenty of benches invite a rest under the shade of nearby trees. In the big city of Berlin, the zoo offers a peaceful day out.
Recommended by Sandy Nielsen from Sleeps5. Find out more from Sandy about Berlin.
We love visiting zoos with kids, and there are so man of the top zoos of the world that we have not yet visited. If you want to read about more amazing zoos, check out our post on the Best U.S. Zoos With Kids and other zoos we have visited during our travels.
Like most kids, my kids lovezoos. We have been regular visitors of the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo since my oldest was a few months old and even had an annual membership there for years. Zoos are generally great for families – they are a stroller paradise, and even the youngest babies are mesmerized by the animal habitats. They also offer great educational opportunities – my kids learned about many animals by watching them in their habitats. They could identify armadillos as toddlers and knew that giraffes like to eat lettuce because they’ve had the opportunity to feed them on several different occasions. With zoos in almost every metropolitan area in the U.S., we asked our fellow family travel bloggers for their favorites and came up with this list of the best U.S. zoos with kids:
Bronx Zoo – Bronx, New York
A trip to New York City conjures up thoughts of big buildings and the urban jungle. But a short subway ride away, up in the borough of the Bronx, is one of the most iconic, world-famous zoos. The Bronx Zoo is very large with various exhibits and attractions. The Zoo is open year-round and features outdoor animals like bears, sea lions, tigers, and wild dogs along with indoor exhibits such as the aviary, giraffe house, monkey house, world of reptiles and our favorite, the Madagascar exhibit.
In addition to the animals, my family loves the attractions at the Bronx Zoo – from the newly renovated children’s zoo, to the bug carousel and the World Asia Monorail! We have visited the Bronx Zoo often, and always have trouble seeing everything in one day!
The Dallas Zoo includes 100 acres of not only animal exhibits, but educational and interactive exhibits for all ages! This zoo is perfect for kids of all ages! Our family favorites include the Lacerte Family Children’s Zoo and the Wilds of Africa Adventure Safari Monorail. We’ve spent hours in the Children’s Zoo playing, exploring, hand feeding birds, splashing in the creek that runs through the nature playground and petting the farm animals – it’s the perfect spot to let the kids explore! The monorail also provides the perfect break for those tired feet as it gives everyone a birds-eye view of five African habitats that visitors can’t visit by foot. This ride provides amazing views of hippos, chimps, crocodiles, penguins, and many more animals, along with a beautiful ride through a waterfall!
For elephant fans like us, the Giants of the Savannah habitat is a big hit – it’s the only multi-species zoo exhibit in the US to mix elephants with other species like zebras, giraffes, and ostriches, in the same habitat!
One of our favorite zoos is the Denver Zoo. We love being able to witness the baby animals. Over the past few years, we have seen infant red pandas, gorillas, bongos and zebras. But, one of our favorite experiences has been watching a baby giraffe growing up. Dobby was a surprise birth. He was born during the time when everyone’s focus was on April the giraffe giving birth in 2017. Surprise! Nobody knew that Dobby’s mom was pregnant until she gave birth in February to the reticulated infant giraffe. We have enjoyed watching the little guy (well, big guy now) growing stronger and taller.
Disney’s Animal Kingdom is the most unique zoological theme park that we’ve ever experienced! In fact, it is an enriching cultural experience. We have done complete cultural lessons for our “ABCs” (our four children) just by spending intentional time in the themed areas! From admiring the architecture, taking part in cultural traditions, dining on authentic food, and even hearing stories from cast members about their home country, it is full of depth and richness.
As for the amazing animals, they are relatively free roaming in their natural environments. Visitors meet most of them on an open-air safari tour or on exotic jungle trails woven throughout the park. Kids can also take part in a free Wilderness Explorers program where they can earn badges for attending brief lessons about the animals. It is great for engagement, a special souvenir, and is an awesome learning experience.
And then, lastly, there are the world-renowned rides and attractions! Each ride is amazing, and a lot of people come just for the rides. However, we encourage visiting families to spend a whole day there and really take their time exploring the details of the park. There is so much depth and richness to uncover.
Among the greatest features of Fort Worth Zoo is the “Wilder Vision,” backed by a $100 million project spanning ten years including an additional ten acres of exhibit space, experiential dining, new ways to observe and interact with animals, and conservation efforts. Our favorites activities at the Zoo include:
Eating With Crocodiles: With only a glass barrier separating visitors and the wild, dine in an underwater viewing area at Crocodile Café.
Interacting with animals: Feed free-roaming giraffes on the African Savanna, offer cockatiels and parrots birdseed in the walk-through Parrot Paradise Aviary, or cuddle snakes in the award-winning 30,000 square foot indoor/outdoor Herpetarium.
Splashing in the wild: Play at the 14,000 square foot animal-themed Safari Splash water park.
Untamed Learning: Kids can participate in formal educational classes taught by certified teachers for all ages including preschool, middle school camps, a high school career camp and full day summer camps. Amy Coslik, Fort Worth Zoo Animal Projects Coordinator and mother of two states: “The camps provide opportunity to learn about and work in all areas of the Zoo, including our one-of-a-kind Nutrition Services department…responsible for feeding all 7,000 animals at the Zoo.” Programs highlight enrichment for animals and conservation while using electronic resources and hands-on techniques.
Omaha’s zoo, the Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium, is located just off I-80 and is an easy stop for families heading across the country or spending a little time in Nebraska. Kids will love some of the largest displays of their kind, constant development of new exhibits, and a friendly Midwestern vibe. A large aquarium houses jellyfish, penguins, and a shark tank with a tunnel to walk through.
There’s also a sting ray touch tank for some hands-on time with animals. Another highlight is the new African Grasslands exhibit with elephants and giraffes, part of which is under the “Skyfari” aerial tram that runs across the campus. Then visitors can head over to the world’s largest indoor desert, the Desert Dome, which is an iconic Omaha landmark. There are also cats and apes and sea lions and bugs. For another reason to go, the team at the zoo conducts world-class research and conservation efforts that are truly unique. Visitors’ patronage supports plant and animal restoration locally and abroad.
It’s a must see for anyone passing through Omaha!
The Lincoln Park Zoo is a completely free park. Visitors can walk right in at any of the six gates. There’re no turnstiles, no actual gates and no wristbands. We took the CTA bus route No. 151 from the AC Marriott Hotel near the Magnificent Mile and were dropped off right in front of the LincolnPark Zoo sign. While the indoor buildings don’t open until 10 a.m., the gates open at 7 a.m., which allows for families to view animals when they are most active. A visit to this zoo during our recent 2-night trip to Chicago was a perfect break from the typical Chicago sights. This is a decent sized zoo, with a variety of animals and an amazing view of Lake Michigan and the Chicago skyline. Visitors can spend a few hours or pack a picnic and turn it into a full day visit. Pro tip: Don’t miss the climbing structure or the otters, which are located in the building near the Pritzker Family Children’s Zoo.
While not possessing the grandeur of the National Zoo, Baltimore’s Maryland Zoo is a kid-friendly and logistically easy day out. Visitors need a car to get to the Zoo, as it is not walkable from downtown Baltimore. Those with young kids should take the shuttle to the main entrance as the walk is long, and kids will tire out. My suggestion is to first head to the Polar Bear Watch, which is near the entrance and gives kids the quick gratification of watching the bears up close, swimming and playing with toys. Afterwards, move on to African Journey, where kids can feed giraffes and watch elephants play in water with one another. Then, on to Maryland Wilderness.
Kids enjoy the nooks and crannies of the zoo, including oversized bird nests for climbing, lily pads to jump across, tree slides, a bat cave and even a petting zoo area. There is also a small merry-go-round for younger kids.
The Maryland Zoo does offer a couple of unremarkable food stands with pizza, hot-dogs, salads, burgers and chicken fingers. A nice alternative is to pack a picnic lunch. The Zoo is nicely shaded and plenty of grassy areas beckon a blanket and a relaxing lunch.
It is the only sub-tropical zoo in the continental United States. Because of south Florida’s climate, many animals from tropical places feel right at home here.
Visitors will be hard pressed to find animals in cages. Because of this zoo’s commitment to animal welfare, the displays are mostly open air, yet very safe for the public.
Visitors can explore the zoo on a Safari Cycle (a pedal-powered bicycle/vehicle that can accommodate up to 8 people). This is a perfect way to see this massive zoo.
Visitors can watch animal feedings or even feed the giraffes, rhinos, camels, giant tortoises and parrots themselves.
The zoo is very large (750 acres) and thorough visitors who wish to come back within ten days of their original visit receive reduced admission.
The Philadelphia Zoo was the first zoo in the U.S. dating from 1859. Despite its history and architecture, there’s nothing old-fashioned about this Zoo. It has a 4-D Migration Theater and research centres as well as see-through mesh walkways that go above the treetops all throughout the 42-acre facility. My kids loved watching animals (mostly monkeys) scamper overhead on the walkways. It’s easy to get to the Philadelphia Zoo – there’s good parking facilities, which are great for a city-centre zoo. Nearby there is also the 2000-acre Fairmount Park which, is wonderful for a roam when the kids need to let off some steam.
Recommended by Shobha George of Just Go Places. Find out more from Shobha about visiting Philadelphia.
Riverbanks Zoo & Garden – Columbia, South Carolina
With over 2,000 animals, eight different gardens, and even a few historical landmarks, Riverbanks Zoo & Garden in Columbia, South Carolina is one of our favorite zoos! Why? Well, mainly because of a very simple reason: it is so easily walkable. After visiting zoos throughout the United States, we have truly come to appreciate a zoo that has exhibits located close enough together that little feet can walk with ease. Riverbanks Zoo has attractions including train rides, zip lines, and even a splash zone which is always fun for kids of all ages. But, our family favorites are the animal demonstrations like the penguin presentation and feeding the giraffes!
The SanDiego Zoo is world famous and for good reason. Not only is this 100-acre zoo huge, but it’s home to more than 3,500 animals representing more than 650 species. The SanDiego Zoo offers several options to help visitors see as many animals as possible. For walking, a stroller is a must, and stroller rentals are available on a first-come, first-served basis. To get to the other side of the zoo, there is the Skyfari Aerial Tram, which offers some incredible views at the same time. For tired legs, there’s a double-decker bus that provides guided bus tours that cover most of the zoo, while the Kangaroo Bus is a hop on/hop off bus with four different stops throughout the zoo. Transportation aside, what truly makes the SanDiego Zoo exceptional is the host of different animals to see. Not to be missed are the pandas, koalas, orangutans, and polar bears.
In addition to all that, the SanDiego Zoo is located within the beautiful Balboa Park. Though the zoo is likely to take an entire day to visit, there is also plenty more to see nearby.
Recommended by Celine from Baby Can Travel. Find out more from Celine about the San Diego Zoo.
Smithsonian’s National Zoo – Washington, D.C.
The Smithsonian’s National Zoo is a family favorite, and it’s a free admission zoo that is open 364 days per year. The 163-acre large park located in Washington, D.C. offers 18 distinct areas and is home to over 2,000 animals, 25% of which are endangered. Not to be missed animals include the endangered Giant Pandas (follow the panda camera from home), The Great Ape House (see the first orangutan born at the National Zoo in 25 years), the American Trail and the Great Cats. We recommend taking public transportation to the National Zoo and enjoying it in the early morning when the pandas and other large animals are most active. The National Zoo is built on a hill, so take that into consideration when planning a trip with young children. While the zoo is free, food is very costly so plan accordingly and visit around meals or bring a picnic and lots of water. Visitors should plan on a minimum of three hours to enjoy this Zoo, but a full day at the massive National Zoo would not be difficult to imagine.
Recommended by Ruth Mendes from Have Kiddos Will Travel. Find out more from Ruth about Smithsonian’s National Zoo.
We love visiting zoos with kids, and there are so many of these top zoos in the U.S. that we have not yet visited. Make sure to check out our post on the Best International Zoos With Kids and other zoos we have visited with kids during our travels.
Our trip to Costa Rica with kids did not involve much by way of pre-planned activities. Although our vacations are typically scheduled down to the minute to maximize experiences, our stated goal in traveling to Costa Rica was to spend time together, relaxing as a family. That said, there was one thing that we knew, with absolutely certainty, had to be done: ziplining.
Ziplining is so essential to any Costa Rica experience that I knew we had to do it. Admittedly terrified of heights, I had no interest in ziplining, but my almost nine year old is a bit of a daredevil and I knew he could persuade his dad into nearly anything. That said, the difficulty with ziplining as an activity was that we also have a very active not quite four year old, who very much so believes that he can and should be able to do whatever his big brother is doing. After a bit of poking around online, I settled on an outing to Diamante Eco Adventure Park with kids!
My best description of the Park is that it is essentially a Costa Rican amusement park/zoo all tied up into one. The Park offers a number of activities, including ziplining, horse back riding, and ATV rides, to name a few. The Park also offers numerous animals, a butterfly conservatory, and even a hot buffet lunch, if you’re so inclined.
The cost of admission is not cheap and varies depending on what activities you want to participate in. The plan was for my husband and oldest son to zipline, while my younger son and I visited with the animals, so we knew we needed to at least have those two options available to us. After perusing the various passes, I decided that the Adventure Pass made the most sense, as it includes ziplining, admission to the animal part of the Park, access to the beach, and a buffet lunch. The plan was to spend the day there so even though it was seemingly rather expensive at $118 for an adult and $95 for my older son (children under 5 are free), we went ahead and purchased our tickets.
The drive from our hotel to the Park took about one hour. About 20 minutes from the Park, we started spotting large and colorful signs that pointed us in the correct direction. Upon arrival, we confirmed with the security guard posted at the bottom of the driveway that we were visiting for the day, at which point we drove up to the parking area outside the main entrance.
After parking, we spotted the shuttle bus and quickly climbed on. The main entrance is located at the top of the hill directly above the shuttle bus in the above picture. I had some difficulty during the ticket purchasing process in terms of trying to figure out exactly how the day would go. Specifically, the online ticket purchase requires you to select a time for your zipline adventure. We were running slightly behind schedule and so we arrived 10 minutes after our selected time. I was quickly assured this was not a problem as we were checked in and queued for zip lining.
There are five ziplines at the park, but unfortunately, my son was just shy of the 85 pound minimum required to go on the Superman, which the Park claims to be the longest biplane in Costa Rica. Because he was unable to do the Superman, there was one other zipline he could not go on, as he had to return via the Superman. Although this meant that he was only able to go on three ziplines, his spirits were not dampened as he got weighed and outfitted.
waiting in line for the first ziplineThe Superman zipline, complete with photographer hanging out in a shaded spot to capture a photo for later purchase.Lockers for storing items.
With my husband and oldest son off on their zipline adventure, my youngest and I set out to explore the animals. It was a quick shuttle bus ride to the zoo entrance and we were off.
my little one loved the butterflies
My little one and I enjoyed the various habitats, in particular the frog room. It was an open room with various frogs located around the room. We simply wandered around and tried to peek behind plans and leaves to find resting frogs/toads. We also loved the butterfly conservatory, but it was extremely stressful and it was completely packed with butterflies and I was terrified my little one would step on one. Luckily, we managed to spent quite a bit of time there, admiring the various species of butterflies, without causing any harm.
My kids also enjoyed the scorpions, which they shined on with provided black lights.
We were in the zoo for about 40 minutes when my husband and older son joined us. The last station on their abbreviated circuit of three ziplines conveniently dropped them off in the middle of the zoo. We spent about 90 minutes walking the zoo before deciding it was too hot and time for lunch.
Back at the main entrance, we scoped out the buffet and sat down for a bite to eat.
View of the ticket counter from our lunch seat. Although barely visible, the lunch buffet is set up to the left.
The buffet options were modest, but there was plenty for everyone. The meat options included BBQ chicken and ribs, and plenty of rice and beans and fries. My kids also happened to love the pizza (of course).
After lunch, we decided it was time to leave. Although we had planned to visit the beach, it was clear that the heat had gotten to my youngest son and that he was struggling to keep it together. A quick shuttle bus ride down to the parking lot and we settled in for the hour long ride home.
Final thoughts?
I enjoyed our visit to Diamante Eco Adventure Park and it was a good way to spend the day. My oldest got to experience the zipline and my youngest enjoyed seeing “Costa Rica animals,” as he affectionately called them. Every single employee at the Park was helpful – from the hostess that greeted us to the individuals scattered throughout the zoo, offering to give us a mini tour of the various habitats. In fact, my husband and oldest were so taken in by the “cats” habitat that the employee there ended up giving them a 20 minute tour and explanation of the animals and their daily routines.
In hindsight, I did not have to pay for the full Adventure Pass and could have saved a few dollars by opting for the Discovery Pass (which does not include ziplining, lunch, or beach access) and is $76 cheaper. But, since we had originally planned to visit the beach and knew that we would be eating lunch at the Park regardless, we went ahead and purchased the more expensive pass just to have more options available to us. That children under five are admitted for free definitely helped ease the pain in that regard.
If you’re thinking about visiting the Diamante Eco Adventure Park with kids, I can highly recommend it. It’s a clean facility and the employees are all top notch. From the extremely affable hostess to the focus on safety with respect to the ziplines, our family was able to enjoy a day outing with plenty of fun and entertainment for everyone.
I hope you enjoyed following along on our Costa Rica With Kids adventure!
It’s Spring Break time, and many families will be heading to Florida. With Disney World, Universal Studios and thousands of miles of beaches, Florida may be the family vacation capital of the world, but there are also so many great spots that do not get as much attention as the world-famous theme parks. We asked traveling families for their family favorite hidden gems in Florida and found these amazing places to put on our list!
Fun in the Sun While Swimming in the Hotel Pool in the Middle of Winter
Ever planned an action filled family vacation only to ask the kids what their favorite part was and for them to respond: swimming in the pool? Seriously, this has happened to me more times than I could count including on our last two visits to Disney. As a result, during our last pre and post cruise trip to Orlando, I decided to focus on exploring hotel pools, and it was a huge hit. My four kids and I (hubby joined us for cruise only) enjoyed water slides, splash pads, lazy rivers and poolside dance parties while Connecticut was hit with a Nor’easter.
Ohana Character Breakfast at Disney’s Polynesian Resort
Our family enjoyed a mouse free Orlando trip, and I wanted to give our youngest an opportunity to feel like he went to Disney World without breaking the bank and spending thousands of dollars on a pre and post cruise Orlando stay. The Ohana Character Breakfast at the Polynesian Resort with Mickey, Lillo, Stitch and Pluto provided us with a delicious meal, character signatures, pictures and interactions without paying park admission and spending time waiting in the hot sun.
Rainbow Springs State Park is a stunning state park only an hour and a half from Orlando. The water is warm year-round, making it the perfect place to go swimming with kids. One of the coolest experiences is diving into the crystal-clear water with a snorkeling mask, which is sure to entertain kids (and adults) of all age. It’s only $2 for entry per person with children under six getting in for free, so it’s a great deal for families looking for a budget day trip in Florida. It’s also possible to go tubing down the river, but advance reservations are required.
The Glazer Children’s Museum in Tampa makes for a fabulously fun and educational day out for the whole family. The focus is on making learning fun, and all exhibits are interactive and entertaining. We learned all about the weather system of Florida (and got slightly wet in the process!), took part in our very own stage show (costumes included) and tried out various careers in the imaginative play area. Probably my favorite children’s museum yet! There’s even a splash fountain outside to cool off from the Floridian heat!
Bo’s Ice Cream is a small, unassuming ice cream shop in Tampa that’s full of possibilities. Open since 1954, it has a variety of choices from a simple chocolate cone to extravagant sundaes and milkshakes, all at a decent price. It’s not unusual for the shop to be packed, but they have a convenient drive-thru window as well as benches for parents to share the moment with their kids. The tradition of going to Bo’s has been handed down through the generations – there’s nothing wrong with an ice cream cone!
Dinosaur World in Plant City, Florida is about a 30 minutes drive east of Tampa. The park is lush with tropical foliage and filled with life size displays of all kinds of dinosaurs sure to please any dino-philes, including our five year old boy who is absolutely obsessed with dinosaurs.
There are playgrounds for big kids and little tykes, as well as numerous covered picnic areas. We were allowed to bring in snacks, and we saw many families with coolers. There are also fossil digs and cave shows that occur every hour. We didn’t have time for the cave show, but the three kids (ages 3, 4, and 5) all enjoyed the fossil dig. They were allowed to pick 3 fossils and take them home.
The park itself is well planned and situated. It was 81 degrees that day in February, but I could imagine a sweltering summer day and the need to escape the heat. The park has several covered exhibits to fit this need. Overall, Dinosaur World is a fun and leisurely destination, especially for travelers needing a break from the lines and crowds associated with larger theme parks.
Recommendation from Chanta C.
Weeki Wachee Mermaid Show
The mermaid show in the town of Weeki Wachee, Florida could be the last of its kind. For an entrance fee of $13, visitors sit in front of a large glass-fronted natural spring where half a dozen mermaids (and mermen) perform the story of Hans Christian Anderson’s Little Mermaid underwater. They lip sync, dance, and act without weights and seemingly without needing to breathe. Occasional turtles, fish and manatees also make an appearance. It was very mesmerizing and made me want to desperately believe in mermaids. The Weekie Wachee Mermaid Show is a throwback to the old glory days of road trips. Just like other small road trip attractions though, it’s in danger of disappearing forever. Go see it before it does.
Recommended by Jill of Jack and Jill Travel. Find out more from Jill about the Weeki Wachee Mermaid Show.
Shelling in Sanibel Island
Sanibel Island in Southwest Florida is a perfect spot for family vacations and a place that kids love as much as Mom and Dad. Separated from the city of Ft. Myers by a palm tree-lined causeway, Sanibel is quiet and secluded, with paved bike paths running the length of the island. But the most fun on Sanibel is combing the white sandy beaches for amazing seashells – little gifts of the sea – that wash up everywhere. They’ll capture kids’ hearts and imaginations for days. Don’t forget to bring mesh bags for shells and goggles for diving in the crystal clear shallow water!
Nestled in the shade of over 100 different species of palm trees, the Sarasota Jungle Gardens provides a wonderful opportunity for families to learn about native Florida wildlife. A variety of different shows are hosted throughout the day, and visitors can hand feed a flock of friendly flamingos after walking the Jungle Trail, which is also home to a turtle pond and a petting zoo. Willing volunteers can also become a perch for one of their many resident birds or hold a young alligator. Families will also enjoy the large shaded play area for kids and an on site restaurant with a variety of snacks and cold treats for sale, perfect for a hot Florida day.
Recommended by Leslie Stranathan. Check out Leslie’s YouTube video about Sarasota Jungle Gardens.
Hollywood Beach Hike
During a recent last minute long weekend in Hollywood, Florida with my boys, my sister and my nephew, my sister and I longed for the excitement of the “Hollywood Broadwalk” about two miles north of our Hallendale Beach hotel. I was cautiously optimistic when I proposed a “beach hike” to Hollywood to our crew. We began our journey alongside the ocean, and soon I was carrying everybody’s sandals and water bottles. Though we guessed it would take forty minutes, we enjoyed letting the kids set the pace, playing catch with the ocean waves and a found coconut, destroying abandoned sandcastles, and appropriating cast-off water guns. They watched couples canoodle in the water and prospectors explore with metal detectors.
Before we knew it, the Broadwalk, a 2.5 mile broad pedestrian way, with its array of iffy restaurants, bike rental shops and even a farmers’ market appeared before us, and we brushed the sand off of our toes. It was time for fish and chips. We chose Bonny & Read’s based primarily on its large sunny deck – a spot where we could order our food and enjoy a drink while the kids played on the beach playground-directly in our line of sight, while the sun set.
I confess that while they enjoyed setting off as the sun set on the beach, my kids weren’t up for the roundtrip, but even in a Lyft, felt proud of themselves for the mileage they covered… as they negotiated the next ice cream stop.
The Nokomis Beach drum circle is a unique experience for the whole family. It’s held each Wednesday and Saturday evening year-round on Nokomis Beach beginning two hours before sunset. We needed to arrive early to find a spot for our blanket and chairs near the front of the large crowd that eventually surrounded the circle.
Our children loved playing with juggling sticks, drums, hula-hoops and dancing with people of all ages inside the drum circle as the sun began to set. A drum circle on Nokomis Beach is definitely a unique experience in Florida.
Take a one-hour airboat tour of the Florida Everglades to get up close and personal with alligators in the Everglades swamps of South Florida. Kids of all ages will enjoy the thrill of gliding past marsh grasses as an expert guide educates them about the wildlife. Be sure to keep the little ones on the inside seats of the boat, because these alligators are real! After the airboat ride, the team from Animal Planet’s “Gator Boys” will present a 20-minute show with the alligators as part of the Everglades Holiday Park of Fort Lauderdale!
Recommended by Cindy Loe of One Perfect Day In Travel. Find out more from Cindy about the Florida Everglades.
Glass Bottom Boat Tour
Ever wondered what life would be like as a marine animal? We experienced it up close in Key Largo during the Glass Bottom Boat Tour from John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park, America’s first underwater park. Apart from Hawaii in the USA, the largest living coral reef is spread across the coast of Florida. The 2½ hour boat tours traverses through the vast mangrove plantations then deep into the ocean for a glimpse into the underwater world. We all huddled around the glass and were charmed to see the beautiful fish, the coral reef, and the diverse aquatic ecosystem. It was a sight to see the excitement on kids’ face. It’s the best way for kids and non-divers to espy this underwater world.
Pro Tip – Travelers who suffer seasickness should avoid or take medication before the tour.
Recommended by Neha Kulshrestha. Check out Neha’s recent post on South Florida.
Key Biscayne
Key Biscayne, a barrier island just a few minutes east of Miami, is a great place to visit for a few hours, a day or even stay for a week. The Key has much to offer kids and adults of all ages: a public beach, a State park, biking, canoeing, food, golfing, kayaking, kiteboarding, paddleboarding, sailing, shopping, skateboarding, snorkeling, tennis, wakeboarding, walking and windsurfing.
At the southern end of Key Biscayne is Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park, home to a historic lighthouse built in 1825. Guided tours of the lighthouse and lighthouse keeper’s cottage are given year round. The park has 2 restaurants, picnic areas, a mile long beach, nature trails and a playground. A reef located six miles off shore also protects this beach from heavy surf.
Recommended by Tracy McKenna.
Crandon Park Beach
More than just a beautiful beach, Crandon Park Beach on Key Biscayne has a great nature center and an amusement center. At the nature center be sure to check out the touch tank as well as other displays throughout the center. Self-guided nature walks allow visitors to explore the mangroves, sand dunes and seagrass beds. There are opportunities to see a heron or osprey, maybe even come across a sea star, puffer fish or sea turtle. The beach is protected by an offshore sand bar which prevents crashing waves, perfect for young children.
Recommended by Tracy McKenna.
We can’t wait to try out some of these Florida hidden gems during our next winter or spring break trip. Be sure to check out our entire category of blog posts on things to do and places to visit in Florida including Florida cities to explore with kids.
Chicago is a city of iconic architecture, stunning lake views, renowned museums and recent renovation practically everywhere. With its metropolitan atmosphere and dash of Midwestern charm, Chicago is not surprisingly one of our favorite cities. It is a quick flight away from Cleveland, so we are lucky to visit the Windy City almost every year and have taken children aged two months to five years. We are definitely planning a long overdue Chicago trip with all three kids in 2018.
When traveling to Chicago by plane, there is easy access to downtown on the “El” (elevated) train from Midway on the Orange Line or O’Hare on the Blue Line. We usually arrive at Midway during morning rush hour and always take the El downtown. Once downtown, we walk almost everywhere or occasionally take an Uber.
We have stayed in many hotels in Chicago, but here are a few of our centrally-located favorites:
The Ritz Carlton, Chicago – This is probably my favorite hotel in the US. It is located in the Water Tower Place right next to the John Hancock Center on the Magnificent Mile and has indoor access to the mall. The rooms are impeccable, and the lobby is an absolute delight. The hotel completed a $100 million renovation in July 2017, and its delightful lobby has been completely transformed. The fountain was replaced with a floor to ceiling art installation.
Palmer House – A Hilton Hotel – We have stayed at this historic hotel several times. It is located in the center of the Loop and was also recently renovated. The lobby magnificently maintains its original splendor with a stunning mural on the ceiling and seems right out of Downton Abbey.
Hyatt Regency Chicago – This is Chicago’s largest hotel with comfortable guest rooms located in two towers. Also recently renovated, the lobby features BIG Bar’s stunning liquor tower.
There are so many fun family activities in Chicago, but here are our top five.
#1: Navy Pier
With about 9 million visitors each year, Navy Pier is a major Chicago tourist attraction. It’s a bit of a hike to get there from downtown, so we hopped on one of the seasonal free trolleys after dinner on our last night in Chicago.
The Pier was constructed in 1916 as a commercial-shipping pier and redesigned as a tourist attraction in 1995. The Ferris wheel is the obvious centerpiece of the Pier. We enjoyed a night ride in 2013 on the pictured Ferris wheel that was retired in 2015. The new bigger and better $26.5 million DW60 opened in May 2016.
The carousel on the Pier was a big hit with our kids. We were lucky that there was almost no line, and we able to ride many times in a row.
Navy Pier offers fun for all ages, including a mall, the IMAX Theatre, the Chicago Children’s Museum, a house-maze, the Smith Museum of Stained Glass Windows, the Chicago Shakespeare Theatre and an 18-hole minigolf course in the summer. You’ll also find the expected souvenir shops, restaurants and bars.
#2: River Cruise
Chicago architecture was world-famous long before the Trump International Hotel and Tower became the fourth tallest building in the world upon its completion in 2009. The city practically had a blank slate after the Great Chicago Fires of 1871. Chicago’s architectural icons include the skyscrapers such as the Willis Tower (the world’s tallest building from 1974-1998 and formerly known as the Sears Tower) and the John Hancock Center, the neo-Gothic Tribune Tower (home of the Chicago Tribune), Frank Lloyd Wright’s Rookery Building, the art deco Merchandise Mart and the mixed-use Marina City with an exposed parking ramp that has been likened to Sagrada Familia.
With many of the landmark buildings located along the river, several tour companies offer architectural river boat tours. The most popular is offered through a partnership between the Chicago Architecture Foundation and Chicago’s First Lady Cruises. We planned to take that tour with our three and five year old sons but waffled after learning that children are discouraged and also require a full price ticket. We opted for the more family-friendly Mercury Skyline Cruiseline, which offers a narrated architectural tour and a bit of cruising on Lake Michigan.
Trump TowerMarina City TowersCity view from Lake Michigan
#3: The Field Museum of Natural History
The Field Museum is one of the world’s largest natural history museums. It opened in 1893 and was named to honor its first major benefactor, Marshall Field, the founder of the Chicago-based department store who donated $1 million to the Museum in 1894. It is located on Museum Campus along Lake Michigan.
The Field Museum boasts one of the world’s best dinosaur collections. Sue, the world’s most complete Tyrannosaurus Rex skeleton, has been prominently displayed in the main hall of the Museum since 2000. However, Sue will be moved upstairs in early 2018 when a cast of the world’s largest dinosaur, which was found in 2014, moves in.
With two young boys who were excited about prehistoric creatures, we definitely did not miss the dinosaur exhibit.
We also explored an Egyptian tomb in the three-story Inside Ancient Egypt exhibit. This exhibit includes one of the world’s largest collections of human mummies. This was our boys’ first exposure to Egypt, but they were fascinated and have since enjoyed Egyptian exhibits at the National Museum of Natural History and the Cleveland Museum of Art.
As members of the ASTC Passport Program, we also enjoyed free admission with our reciprocal membership to the Cleveland Museum of Natural History.
#4: Adler Planetarium
Our kids love space as much as they love dinosaurs. My older son wanted to be an astronaut through pre-school and had a great time visiting the Adler Planetarium. The Adler Planetarium was the first planetarium in the western hemisphere and named for philanthropist Max Adler, who donated funds after visiting a planetarium in Munich. The beautiful stone building houses many interactive exhibits and three theaters, including the most technologically enhanced planetarium theater and a high-definition 3D theater.
Our boys enjoyed the interactive exhibits focusing on the planets, solar system and space exploration, and, of course, the planetarium show. As members of the Association of Science-Technology Center’s (ASTC) Passport Program, we also received free admission with our reciprocal membership to the Cleveland Museum of Natural History. However, we did have to pay extra to attend the theater show.
At the tip of Museum Campus, the Adler Planetarium boasts one of the best views of the Chicago skyline.
#5: Millennium Park
Millennium Park was designed in the late 1990s to honor the third millennium. Construction costs ballooned from $150 million to $475 million, and the opening was delayed until 2004. Today, the park is a widely popular destination for both Chicago residents and tourists and attracts over 25 million people each year.
The centerpiece of Millennium Park is the Jay Pritzker Pavilion, a bandshell used for outdoor music performances. The Pavilion was designed by Frank Gehry using his characteristic curved stainless steel plates and features a sound system designed to replicate the sound experience of an indoor concert hall.
Cloud Gate is a public sculpture located at the center of AT&T Plaza in Millennium Park and nicknamed “the Bean” because its shape. The Bean is created with stainless steel plates that have been welded together and highly polished so that there are no visible seams. Sir Anish Kapoor designed the sculpture to resemble liquid mercury and the sculpture’s curved surface creates a distorted reflection of the city’s skyline. Construction costs escalated way above the original estimate of $6 million and ultimately cost almost four times that amount. The Bean was privately funded through donations and unveiled in 2006. This is a highly interactive sculpture that visitors are encouraged to touch, and it is so popular that we have never been able to get a picture without also capturing dozens of other visitors.
Baby meets the BeanSkyline reflectionVisitors can walk underneath the Bean
Chicago is an amazing city to visit that definitely offers something for everyone.
Recommended by Neha Kulshrestha. Check out Neha’s recent post on 
