Pamela’s Diner
$Strip District, Mt. Lebanon and more
A classic Pittsburgh breakfast diner with crepe-style hotcakes, open mornings only.
Strip District: daily 8am–2pmSite ↗ for Pamela’s Diner
OCT 16 – 22 Pittsburgh · The Steel City
Pittsburgh weekend plans for little kids, found and checked for you.
A full-size trebuchet sends pumpkins flying at Punkin Chunkin in Hartwood Acres on Saturday, and it costs nothing. ZooBoo runs costume parades at the Pittsburgh Zoo both weekend days, and the Monster Pumpkins Festival in the Strip drops giant gourds into a pool at 2 and 5pm.
This week: 22 outings at 17 places, each one linked to the page we checked it on. How we check
Top 5 picks
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Saturday, sorted
A Saturday that actually works.
Here’s how we’d do Saturday, Oct 17. One thing from this week’s list, plus two of our regulars from Around town. Tap a stop for the details.
MORNINGZooBoo at the Pittsburgh Zoo10am–3pm · Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium · Included with daytime zoo admission- LUNCHAround townPamela’s DinerOpen 8am–2pm · Strip District, Mt. Lebanon and more · $ (opens their site)
- NAPHome by 1:30 for nap. Car seat, stroller, whatever works.
- AFTER NAPAround townChildren’s Museum of PittsburghOpen 10am–5pm · North Side · $$ (opens their site)
Times come from each event’s page or the place’s own site. Plans change, so check before you head out. Print this plan
Every outing this week
Find your thing
Around town18 spots · checked Oct 16
The Pittsburgh places we go back to, again and again.
Not this week’s events, just the reliable stuff. Where to eat with a toddler, where to burn off energy when it rains, where to splash, what’s worth the admission, and where to spend a night without going far.
Eat
Kid-friendly restaurants
Places where a dropped fork is no big deal and nobody minds a little noise.
Eat’n Park
$Locations around the region
A local family restaurant chain famous for its Smiley cookies.
Primanti Bros.
$Strip District and around town
The Pittsburgh sandwich stop, with fries piled inside the sandwich.
Mineo’s Pizza House
$Squirrel Hill
A longtime neighborhood pizzeria with a party room for birthdays.
Featured partnerThis spot is open.Run a place in Pittsburgh that belongs in this section? One featured spot here is set aside for a local partner, and it’s always labeled.About featured spots →
Play
Indoor play and rainy days
For rainy mornings, cold afternoons and anyone who needs to run in circles for an hour.
$$
Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh
North Side
Water play, a garage of real tools and a nursery room just for babies. It’s open every day.
Daily 10am–5pmSite ↗ for Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh
$15per child (3–12)
Kamin Science Center
North Shore
A big science museum with a model railroad, a submarine and kid zones.
Tickets
- Adults $25
$17.95per child (2–12)
National Aviary
North Side
Walk-through bird rooms, with daily bird shows and feedings.
Tickets
- Adults $20.95
- Under 2 free
$$
Phipps Conservatory
Oakland
A glass conservatory full of plants and seasonal flower shows, and warm on cold days.
Featured partnerThis spot is open.Run a place in Pittsburgh that belongs in this section? One featured spot here is set aside for a local partner, and it’s always labeled.About featured spots →
Splash & ride
Parks and outdoor play
Pools, fountains, zoos and theme parks: the big all-day outings.
Squirrel Hill / Point BreezeFree
OaklandFree
Hampton TownshipFree
Hartwood Acres
An Allegheny County park with open fields and a mansion, plus seasonal events.
Mt. Washington$
Duquesne Incline
A short ride up the hill in a historic cable car, with a huge view at the top.
Tickets
- Kids 6–11, round trip $2.50
- Adults 12–64, round trip $5
- 5 and under free
Featured partnerThis spot is open.Run a place in Pittsburgh that belongs in this section? One featured spot here is set aside for a local partner, and it’s always labeled.About featured spots →
Explore
Museums, zoos and big outings
Museums, animals and farm days that hold a little one’s attention.
Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium
$$Highland Park
A zoo plus an aquarium, with a kids’ farm area.
Tickets
- Kids 2–13 $23
- Adults $27
- Under 24 months free
Online prices; $2 more at the gate
Carnegie Museum of Natural History
$$Oakland
Dinosaur Hall is the big draw for little paleontologists.
Heinz History Center
$$Strip District
Includes Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood sets and a hands-on kids’ area.
Tickets
- Adults 18–64 $20
- 17 and under free
Featured partnerThis spot is open.Run a place in Pittsburgh that belongs in this section? One featured spot here is set aside for a local partner, and it’s always labeled.About featured spots →
Stay
Staycations and overnight trips
A night away without a long drive. New bed, same bedtime.
Downtown$$$
Fairmont Pittsburgh
A downtown hotel close to Market Square and Point State Park.
≈1.5 hours · Farmington$$$$
Nemacolin
A big resort in the Laurel Highlands with lots of family activities.
≈1.5 hours · Seven Springs$$$
Seven Springs Mountain Resort
A mountain resort with family-friendly lodging, and skiing in winter.
Featured partnerThis spot is open.Run a place in Pittsburgh that belongs in this section? One featured spot here is set aside for a local partner, and it’s always labeled.About featured spots →
These don’t change week to week. Last checked . Hours and prices change, so check the place’s own site before you go. Know a spot we missed? Tell us at hello@littlesweekly.com.
On the horizon
Coming up
OCT 23 – 29Halloween weekendMore trick-or-treating, a few costume parades and some gentle spooky stuff. The list goes out next Friday.Get it in your inbox →
OCT 31Trick-or-treat night guideNeighborhood hours and the streets that are easy with a stroller. Early ones too, for kids who are asleep by 7.Get notified →
NOVEMBERFirst holiday lightsThe first holiday lights in town, and which ones you can see before bedtime.See it first →
Good questions
Outings for little ones in Pittsburgh: the FAQ
What can I do with a little one in Pittsburgh this weekend?
This week we found 22 outings that work for kids ages 0–6. Our top three: ZooBoo at the Pittsburgh Zoo, Punkin Chunkin at Hartwood Acres, Monster Pumpkins Festival. See the full list.
Are there free things to do with little ones in Pittsburgh this week?
Yes, 18 of this week’s 22 picks are free, including library storytimes and Punkin Chunkin at Hartwood Acres. Tap “Free” in Find your thing.
What are good indoor activities for kids in Pittsburgh when it rains?
19 picks this week are indoors, mostly library programs and shows. Tap “Rainy-day OK” in Find your thing.
Where can I find storytimes and toddler activities in Pittsburgh?
This week we list 16 library storytimes and baby or toddler programs. Each one links to the library or venue page with the time and place. See them in the list.
How do you pick what goes on the list?
We look at venue and library calendars and local family pages every week. Each listing links to the page we checked it on, and where the organizer or venue has its own page, we confirm the details there. We lean toward things that fit around naps and don’t need a long walk.
How do I get this list every week?
Sign up for the Friday email at the bottom of the page. It’s one short email, and you can unsubscribe any time.
For local businesses
Running something for little kids in Pittsburgh?
If it’s good for the under-6 crowd, we’d like to hear about it. Free events go on the list for free, always. If you want a guaranteed spot at the top or in the Friday email, there’s a sponsored option too, and it’s clearly labeled. We’re just getting started, so the first 10 local partners in each city get 50% off your first booking.
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