Today's diary should be relatively short and sweet. For those of you bringing the kids along for the ride to NN09, here are six of the major attractions that they might like to see while in the 'Burgh (not including the Dino's, which were mentioned in Part Six). And of course, these are all equally fun for adults as well.
For the Kids (or the Kid Inside)
Amusement Parks
Kennywood: Kennywood is located just outside of Pittsburgh in West Mifflin, PA.
Amusement park and National Historic Landmark are not usually terms one hears used together, but with Kennywood you get both. Founded in 1898 as a trolley park, it has evolved over the decades to meet economic challenges and to remain a dynamic and fun destination. It has been rated as the 2009 Favorite Traditional Amusement Park by the National Amusement Park Historical Association, and has been ranked first or second by this organization every year since 1996.
They’ve got great roller coasters (3 are wooden), the oldest dark water ride in the world, and plenty of other on-site events like a BMX stunt show and Jugglemania. You can purchase a same day Kennywood/Sandcastle combo pass for $32 if you think you can handle two great parks in one day.
The Thunderbolt (photo by Larry Pieniazek; CC license)
Sandcastle Waterpark: Not nearly as old as Kennywood, Sandcastle opened in 1989. But just ‘cause it’s the yungin in the family don’t make it any less special. It’s located just over the Homestead High Level Bridge as part of the Waterfront complex.
Sandcastle was built on the site of an old steel mill and sits right on the bank of the Mon River. It has 14 waterslides, the largest hot tub in the world, a tsunami wave pool and more. August in Pittsburgh can get hot (and sticky!), so you may want to plan for a dip here to cool off.
In the evenings, Sandcastle has a bar/restaurant and live entertainment and also hosts drive-in movies.
Purty Aminals
Zoo & Aquarium: The Pittsburgh Zoo and PPG Aquarium, located in Highland Park, is one of only six zoo/aquarium combinations in the US. They've got a great African elephant breeding program and recently purchased some 700 acres in Somerset County, Pennsylvania to continue this and to provide a large habitat where the elephants can roam.
At the zoo, there are some wonderfully constructed natural habitats including a 16-acre African savanna and a tropical jungle. The newest addition is Water's Edge where you can see sea otters and polar bears. The zoo also hosts Kid's Kingdom where children get to literally act like animals and learn about them in the process.
National Aviary: The National Aviary is located on the grounds of beautiful West Park on the North Side, right across from the Mexican War Streets neighborhood. It is home to over 600 birds from all parts of the world. They are currently in the midst of a renovation project (which, at least from my last visit, was sorely needed). As part of that project, they've just opened Penguin Point which is home to 11 African penguins. It's an interactive exhibit with plenty of vantage points to watch the penguins play, including pop-up bubbles in the midst of the habitat. It looks fantastic and I plan to pay it a visit next time I'm in town.
Parrot & Flamingos at the National Aviary
Museums
Children’s Museum: Also on the North Side is the Children's Museum. They've got tons of hands-on, interactive exhibits including an art studio, a car garage, and a water room. They are also hosting a temporary exhibit featuring Bob the Builder. And as I mentioned in a much earlier diary, they've got replicas of Mr. Roger's home and the Land of Make-Believe.
Puppets from Mr. Roger's Neighborhood (photo by J. Aaron Farr; CC license)
Carnegie Science Center: The Carnegie Science Center is located on the North Side, right next to Heinz Stadium. It is full of fun, educational exhibits. The newest of these is Roboworld. There are also exhibits on green building and coral reefs, as well as an extensive miniature railroad & village.
Outside the center is a tourable World War II era submarine anchored in the Ohio River. And adjacent to the center is the Highmark SportsWorks complex where you can learn all about the science of sports and exercise (though this complex was undergoing some renovation and may not be reopened yet). There is also an Omnimax theater on-site and it usually has the latest blockbuster movie playing in addition to some really cool educational films (the current ones are Beavers, Greece, and Under the Sea).
Carnegie Science Center (photo by HoboJones; CC license)
Past and Future Diaries (Posted Mondays and Wednesdays)
Part 1: Introduction
Part 2A: Pgh History through 1800
Part 2B: (Soon) Pgh History 1800 through 1900
Part 2C: (Soon) Pgh History 1900 through the Present Day
Part 3: If You Do Nothing Else, Do This ...
Part 4: Cool Things Close to Pittsburgh
Part 5: For Sports Fans
Part 6: Museums & Cultural Activities
Part 7: ---Today's Diary---
Part 8: Culinary Delights
Part 9: Outdoor Activities
Part 10: (Optional) Anything forgotten or that doesn’t fit above
Pittsburgh Point of Interest #7: The world's first Ferris Wheel was designed by 'Burgher George Ferris, who was a bridge-builder by trade. He created it for display at the 1893 World's Fair in Chicago and it was meant to rival the Eiffel Tower that had been unveiled at the Paris fair in 1889.