Finished your game with plenty of time to spare? Non-chess-playing family members along for the trip? Spending an extra day or two in Pittsburgh? There are lots of great things to do and see nearby. A few of our favorite Pittsburgh places of interest to kids and parents are listed below.
The Cathedral of Learning
Tours Mon. - Fri. 9 am - 2:30 pm; Sat. 9:30 am - 2:30 pm; Sun. 11 am - 2:30 pm.
Stop in the visitors’ center and take a guided or a self-guided tour of the Nationality Classrooms. The twenty-six Nationality Classrooms are tributes to the heritages of Pittsburgh’s ethnic groups. Classes actually meet in these historically representative schoolrooms. Some of the styles of architecture and furnishings include Irish Romanesque, Ukrainian Baroque, and Italian Renaissance.
Heinz Memorial Chapel
Open Mon. - Fri. 9 am - 5 pm; Sunday 1 - 5 pm.
The high ceilings and arches give the feeling of a Neo-Gothic cathedral in a college chapel. The windows contain more than 250,000 individual pieces of stained glass. Notice the literary figures on the stained glass windows.
Stephen Foster Memorial
Open Mon. - Fri. 9 am - 4pm.
On display in the museum are several musical instruments, including one of Stephen Foster's pianos; copies of his 200+ musical compositions; examples of recordings, songsters, broadsides, and programs; and various memorabilia.
Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hall and Museum
Open Tues. - Sat. 10 am - 4 pm.
This memorial to all Pennsylvania veterans houses a museum with thousands of artifacts from the Civil War to Gulf Storm including antique swords and rifles.
Carnegie Museum of Natural History - 4400 Forbes Ave.
Tues. - Sat. 10 am - 5 pm; Sun. 12 - 5 pm.
Museum highlights include a super collection of dinosaur bones, dazzling minerals and gems and much more. Take your picture with the statue of “Dippy” (a life-size diplodocus) outside!
Carnegie Museum of Art - 4400 Forbes Ave.
Tues., Wed., Fri., Sat. 10 am - 5 pm; Thurs. 10 am - 9 pm; Sun. 1 - 5 pm.
A great collection of European and American art, particularly Impressionist and Post-impressionist works.
Carnegie Library - 4400 Forbes Ave.
Mon. - Wed. 10 am - 8 pm; Thurs. - Sat. 10 am - 6 pm.
A gift to the people from Andrew Carnegie, this is the historic main library of Pittsburgh. It’s a fine place to read, browse, and relax.
Phipps Conservatory - One Schenley Park.
Usually Tues. - Sun. 10 am - 5 pm; may be open till 9 pm this weekend.
A paradise for plant lovers, this is the largest greenhouse in America. It’s built in the style of a Victorian glasshouse. Don’t miss the orchid room.
Pittsburgh Zoo and PPG Aquarium - One Wild Place in Highland Park.
Every day, 9 am - 5 pm.
Baby elephants and a two-story shark tank - what more could a kid want!
Carnegie Science Center and Omnimax and SportsWorks - One Allegheny Ave. and 333 Allegheny Ave. (just west of Heinz Field on the North Shore).
Science Center: Sun. - Fri. 10 am - 5 pm, Sat. 10 am - 9 pm.
SportsWorks: Mon. - Thurs. 10 am - 3 pm; Fri. 10 am - 10 pm; Sat. noon - 10 pm; Sun. noon - 5 pm.
One of the best interactive science centers in the world.
The National Aviary - Allegheny Commons West on the North Shore.
Open daily, 9 am - 5 pm.
Fascinating exhibits including a walk-through tropical forest with an array of beautiful birds swooping about. See if you can get the talking crow to say, “Hello, Joe!”
Pittsburgh Children’s Museum - 10 Children’s Way, Allegheny Center on the North Side.
Mon. - Sat. 10 am - 5 pm; Sun. Noon - 5 pm.
Climb high in the new Kids Climber or build and launch model airplanes at this exciting hands-on museum.
Senator John Heinz Regional History Center - 1212 Smallman St. in the Strip District.
Daily, 10 am - 5 pm.
Historical materials and exhibits present the history of Pittsburgh and life in Western Pennsylvania from the first settlers through today.
Andy Warhol Museum - 117 Sandusky St. (across the 7th St. Bridge on the North Side).
Fri. 10 am - 10 pm, Mon. closed, Tues. - Sun. 10 am - 5 pm. Fridays are $3 from 5 pm - 10 pm.
Chill out in the Silver Clouds room.
PNC Park - 115 Federal St. (along the Allegheny River on the North Side).
Heinz Field - along the Allegheny River on the North Side
Walking tours on weekdays through October. No tours on the weekend. For more information on taking a tour of Heinz Field, please e-mail tours@fans.steelers.com or call Heinz Field at (412) 697-7150.
Duquesne Incline
Historic cable cars travel the steep side of Mount Washington offering spectacular views of the Three Rivers, The Golden Triangle, and The Point. There is an observation deck and restaurants are nearby on Grandview Ave.