Things to do in Pittsburgh with kids this Weekend – This City Is So Cool!

Things to do in Pittsburgh with kids this Weekend: Okay, I have to be honest with you.

When my wife first suggested Pittsburgh for a family weekend trip, I was not exactly jumping up and down with excitement. I pictured steel mills, gray skies, and a whole lot of “are we there yet” from the back seat. I had no real idea what Pittsburgh was about, and I am not afraid to admit that.

But here I am, sitting at my kitchen table on a Sunday night, kids finally asleep after a weekend that completely wore all of us out in the best possible way. My seven-year-old, Jake, has not stopped talking about the submarine. My five-year-old, Emma, is still wearing the little robot sticker she got at the science museum. And I am already looking at the map to plan our next trip back.
Pittsburgh with kids? It is genuinely, surprisingly, absolutely awesome.

Here is everything we did — and everything I think you should do too if you are planning a weekend there with your own crew.

We Had No Idea Pittsburgh Was This Good for Families

• Before I get into the individual spots, I just want to say this clearly: Pittsburgh is one of the most underrated family destinations in the entire country.
• Pittsburgh is especially family-friendly thanks to its many unique and affordable attractions and activities for families. And after spending two full days there with a seven-year-old and a five-year-old who both have very strong opinions about everything, I can confirm that this is not just tourism board talk. It is completely true. TRIP.COM
• The city is compact, easy to navigate, and every single neighborhood we wandered into had something interesting going on. The people were warm and friendly. And the food? Do not even get me started. We ate incredibly well the entire weekend.
• But let me tell you what actually happened, spot by spot.

1. Kamin Science Center (Formerly Carnegie Science Center) — Jake Lost His Mind in the Best Way

• 📍 One Allegheny Avenue, North Shore, Pittsburgh, PA 15212
• 💰 Adults: $24.95 | Kids (3–12): $16.95 | Open Daily 10 AM – 5 PM
• ⭐ Max’s Rating: 5/5 — Do Not Skip This

This was our first stop Saturday morning and honestly, we could have just stayed here all weekend and Jake would have been completely happy.

The Kamin Science Center — formerly known as Carnegie Science Center — features four stories filled with hundreds of hands-on activities for every age. You can experience life in a space station at SpacePlace, play a round of basketball against a robot in Roboworld (the world’s largest robotics exhibit), explore the world-renowned Miniature Railroad and Village, or stargaze at the Buhl Planetarium.

Jake went straight to Roboworld and I genuinely had to drag him away after an hour. He played basketball against an actual robot and kept asking me if we could get one for home. Emma fell completely in love with the Miniature Railroad and Village — the train display covers a Western Pennsylvania railroad from the late 1800s through the 1930s and includes incredibly detailed scenes, including a model of the old Forbes baseball field that was home to the Pittsburgh Pirates. She pressed her nose against the glass for twenty straight minutes.

And then — the submarine. The USS Requin is a real Cold War-era submarine moored right in the Ohio River outside the museum. Jake’s exact words when we climbed inside were: “Dad, this is the coolest thing I have ever seen in my whole life.” He is seven. But still. I felt it too.

Pro tip from Max: Get there right when it opens at 10 AM. The hands-on exhibits fill up fast and you want first crack at everything before the lines build up.

2. Kennywood Amusement Park — Emma’s Absolute Favorite Moment of the Whole Trip

• 📍 4800 Kennywood Boulevard, West Mifflin, PA 15122
• 💰 General Admission varies — check website for 2026 pricing
• ⭐ Max’s Rating: 5/5

Look, I was not sure how Kennywood would go with a five-year-old. Some amusement parks have about three rides that small kids can actually get on and then you spend the rest of the day watching other people’s children have fun. That is not Kennywood.

Kennywood has been a Pittsburgh tradition for over 125 years and has been recognized as a Top 5 USA Today 10Best Theme Park. With eight exciting roller coasters including Phantom’s Revenge — the number one coaster in the country — extreme thrill rides, water attractions, and mild offerings for little ones, Kennywood genuinely has something for everyone.

Emma rode the same little spinning ride four times in a row and screamed with joy every single time. Jake graduated to his first real roller coaster of his life at Kennywood, grabbed my arm on the way down, and immediately said “let’s do it again.” That moment alone was worth the entire trip.

In the newly added Kennywood Junction kids’ area, families can find five rides they can experience together. This was perfect for us — something for the big kid AND the little one, and a parent can ride both without feeling like they are just standing there watching. Viator
Pro tip from Max: Go on a weekday if you can swing it. Weekend lines are long and kids’ patience is not infinite.

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3. Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium — Two Hours Felt Like Ten Minutes

• 📍 7370 Baker Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15206
• 💰 Check website for current 2026 pricing | Open daily
• ⭐ Max’s Rating: 4.5/5

My wife picked this one and I was the one dragging my feet this time. We had already done the science center and the amusement park — I figured the zoo would feel like a slowdown. I was wrong again.

The Pittsburgh Zoo and PPG Aquarium offers a family experience that fosters understanding, respect, and appreciation of wildlife, winding through 77 acres that start with a beautiful Forest Passage. The aquarium section inside was a surprise highlight — Emma stood in front of the jellyfish tank completely hypnotized for a good ten minutes while Jake tried to identify every single fish by name (he was right about maybe half of them).

What I appreciated most as a dad was the layout. It flows naturally from one section to the next without a lot of backtracking, which is a bigger deal than it sounds when you have tired legs and two kids who want to go in different directions.

Pro tip from Max: Combine this with a picnic lunch in the park nearby. We grabbed sandwiches from a spot in the neighborhood and ate by the trees. The kids ran around for twenty minutes and then were happy to keep walking the zoo without any meltdowns. Food solves everything.

4. The Duquesne Incline — Ten Minutes That Blew Everyone’s Mind

• 📍 1197 West Carson Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15219
• 💰 $2.50 per adult each way | Kids under 6 ride free
• ⭐ Max’s Rating: 4.5/5

I almost skipped this one. It seemed like something you’d do without kids — a scenic viewpoint for couples or solo travelers. I threw it in on a whim on Saturday afternoon when we had a gap between activities, and it turned out to be one of the most memorable fifteen minutes of the entire weekend.

The Duquesne Incline has been carrying visitors up Mount Washington since the 1870s. After falling on hard times, it was lovingly restored in 1963 and transports you to an ideal vantage point in Mount Washington, directly above where Pittsburgh’s three rivers collide.

Jake’s face when we got to the top and he saw the entire city spread out below us — all three rivers meeting right there in front of him — was a genuine parenting highlight for me. He grabbed my hand and said “Dad, we’re on top of the whole city.” Honestly, I almost teared up a little. Do not tell anyone.

The ride itself is short but the kids loved the angle of the old wooden trolley car climbing straight up the hill. Emma kept leaning forward to look out the front window and giggling every time it tilted. Total cost for our family of four to ride up and back? Ten dollars. Best ten bucks I spent all weekend.

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5. Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh — Perfect for the Littler Ones

• 📍 10 Children’s Way, Allegheny Square, Pittsburgh, PA 15212
• 💰 $16 per person | Ages 1 and under free
• ⭐ Max’s Rating: 4/5

We squeezed this in Sunday morning before heading home and it was the right call, especially for Emma. The Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh is designed specifically for younger kids and it shows in every corner of the place.

Families can meet beloved characters like Daniel Tiger, Cinderella, and Duke the Dragon, and kids can spin, swing, and soar on rides and activities of all sizes. Emma went full-speed into the Daniel Tiger section and Jake — who considers himself too old for such things — spent a suspicious amount of time in there too. I did not point this out. Smart parenting.

The building itself is beautiful, the staff were genuinely warm and helpful, and the whole experience felt calm and well-organized compared to some children’s museums that feel like controlled chaos. This one has a good flow to it.

Pro tip from Max: Hit this one first thing Sunday morning before checkout. It opens at 10 AM, the early crowd is light, and your kids will burn off the last of their weekend energy perfectly before a long drive home.

6. PNC Park — Even If You’re Not a Baseball Fan, Go Anyway

• 📍 115 Federal Street, North Shore, Pittsburgh, PA 15212
• 💰 Tickets from $15 — check schedule for 2026 Pittsburgh Pirates home games
• ⭐ Max’s Rating: 4.5/5

We got lucky and there was a Pirates home game on Saturday evening. I bought cheap seats without much expectation and it turned into one of my favorite memories of the whole trip.

PNC Park continues to hold its crown as the most beautiful setting in the MLB. Sitting in the stands and watching the sun set over the Allegheny River and the yellow Roberto Clemente Bridge is an experience every sports fan needs to have at least once. What really sets it apart in 2026 is the food — the Chipped Ham Fries and the Boricua Dog really lean into those local Pittsburgh flavors.

Jake ate an entire basket of Chipped Ham Fries and declared them “the best fries in the universe.” The kids lasted six innings before Emma fell asleep on my wife’s shoulder. That is a win by any measure.

Max’s Quick Tips for Your Pittsburgh Weekend With Kids

I learned a few things over this weekend that I wish someone had told me before we left. Here they are, straight and simple:

• The North Shore is your home base. The Kamin Science Center and PNC Park are both here, parking is manageable, and the riverfront is beautiful to walk with kids.
• Download the KidsBURGH Passport. The free digital pass gets you exclusive discounts on admission, gift shop purchases, and more at Pittsburgh’s top family attractions. It takes two minutes to download and saves you real money.
• Build in slow time. Pittsburgh’s riverfront is genuinely beautiful and kids love just throwing rocks in the water and watching the bridges. Some of our best moments were completely unplanned.
• Eat at the Strip District. Saturday morning we grabbed breakfast at a market in the Strip District and it was one of the best meals of the trip. Fresh pierogies, pastries, and coffee. The kids thought the whole market was an adventure on its own.
• Stay on the North Shore. Hotels there put you walking distance from most of the big attractions, which means no stressful drives with tired kids mid-day.

FAQ’S About Things to do in Pittsburgh with kids this Weekend

Final Thoughts From Max — Go to Pittsburgh

I came into this weekend not knowing what to expect. I left already looking up dates for a return trip.

Pittsburgh is one of those cities that keeps surprising you in the best possible way. It is real, unpretentious, genuinely fun for kids of every age, and packed with experiences that do not require you to spend a fortune. Jake is still talking about the submarine. Emma wants to go back to the robot museum. My wife wants to spend a full morning in the Strip District without two kids pulling her in different directions.
We will definitely go back.

If you have been sleeping on Pittsburgh as a family destination — stop sleeping. Pack the car, load up the kids, and go see what this city is actually about. I promise it will surprise you just as much as it surprised me.