(BPT) – With all the fun things to do around here, it’s no wonder that Pittsburgh is KidsBURGH! Enjoy new activities as a family this year at up to 50 percent off regular admission prices when you book on VisitPITTSBURGH.com. So what’s there to do, you ask?
You can experience a brand-new movie at Kennywood Amusement Park’s 4-D Theater, explore 18 lifelike dinosaurs at the Pittsburgh Zoo and PPG Aquarium, discover a tropical forest at the Carnegie Museum of Natural History, or go hog wild with the Hands-On Harley-Davidson exhibit at the Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh.
At Kennywood, a new LEGO Movie 4-D Experience opens in May 2017. The kids will love this sequel to the 2014 blockbuster hit, which features Emmet and his Master Builder friends. Also new this year is a virtual reality experience where visitors will be immersed in a world that lines up with the on-ride experience offered by the Sky Rocket roller coaster.
“So, when Sky Rocket launches riders from 0 to 50 mph in under 3 seconds, up a 90-degree hill and then straight back down, riders wearing the VR headsets will see the same thing happening in the virtual world they’ve been immersed in,” says Nick Paradise, a spokesman for Kennywood. Both attractions are included with admission.
When you visit the Pittsburgh Zoo and PPG Aquarium, keep your eyes peeled for the baby rhino and be sure to check out Jungle Odyssey, a new, permanent exhibit that features a pygmy hippo, giant anteaters, capybaras and more. Another exciting addition, available Memorial Day to Labor Day 2017, is Dinosaurs, an add-on experience that takes guests back to prehistoric times with 18 anatomical, lifelike dinosaurs.
Check out The Power of Poison, Carnegie Museum of Natural History’s new exhibition focused on nature’s most dangerous chemicals. At the museum, which is attached to the Carnegie Museum of Art, the whole family can explore a tropical forest and continue on an adventure that includes a sleeping Snow White and a spooky smoking cauldron. This exhibit allows kids to solve a mystery using iPads and turn the pages of a giant storybook with just the touch of their hands. It truly offers something for everyone, with live animals, interactive technology and surprising science.
At the Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh, families can participate in Hands-On Harley-Davidson, an interactive area exhibit that includes a kid-sized motorcycle dealership and engineering lab that lets kids (and adults) “Dream It. Build It. Ride It.” This exhibit runs May through September 2017. There are also plenty of permanent areas to enjoy, including Waterplay, an art studio, the Attic’s Gravity Room and more.
Take to the rivers on Saturdays and Sundays all summer long aboard the Gateway Clipper Fleet’s new family-friendly sightseeing cruise. It features the one and only Captain Jack. There are also several kids-themed cruises where the little ones can meet their favorite princess and superhero, or take part in a galactic battle. Also new this year is the “Be Our Guest,” “Under the Sea” and “Wizards School” specialty cruises.
At the Highmark SportsWorks section of the Carnegie Science Center, Ropes Challenge is a major new attraction. It’s a multi-user, two-level experience where harnessed guests navigate a series of obstacles and challenges: tightropes, rope bridges and even a zipline. For younger family members, the SkyTykes course is closer to the ground. There are also SportsWorks exhibits where visitors can become human yo-yos, scale a 25-foot rock wall, do high-flying bungee tricks, compare their running time against an Olympic silver medalist and test their reaction speed against an ice hockey goalie.
If you’re looking to cool off, head to Idlewild & SoakZone, just 50 miles from the city. Here, you can splash, slide and relax at Float Away Bay, or “ride the tide” at the Wowabunga Family Wave Pool. For dry fun, you can take a trolley ride through Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood. The attraction is based on the hit TV series inspired by the original Mister Rogers’ neighborhood. Kids love Story Book Forest, home to characters from cherished nursery rhymes and children’s tales. In all, there are over 35 different rides, attractions and shows for all ages at Idlewild.
Visit Pittsburgh this summer for a fun-filled affordable family getaway! Save big by booking your adventure through visitpittsburgh.com.
