Momtourage Top 5 / September 28 - October 4

Looking for something fun to do throughout the week in #Pittsburgh?

Here are my Top 5 suggestions for the week!

Park of the Week: Have you visited the Lozziwurm yet? Although it is not a typical park, it is a top stop for kids! They love following the tunnels and peeking through the holes throughout the structure (also helps parents be able to spot their little ones.) The Lozziwurm sits outside the Carnegie Museum of Natural History, but the gate facing the street is unlocked during museum hours for anyone to visit for FREE. M/Wed-Sat/10am-5pm, Sun/12-5pm. CLOSED TUESDAYS. 4400 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15213. 412.622.3131

Fall Fun: Simmons Farm. Most of the fall festivals are happening on the weekends, but Simmons Farm is open every day! $13.50/ person includes a hayride, any size pumpkin, an apple and all the daily activities. ($10.50 / per person if you don't get a pumpkin.) Kids under 33 inches are FREE, but do have to pay for their pumpkin. Daily Fall activities include hayrides, pumpkin picking, 100 foot slide, a real fire truck with a slide, 4 acre corn maze challenge, 1 acre corn & hay maze, and a petting zoo. If you go on the weekend, there is also a butterfly house, apple sling shot, pumpkin carving, pony rides, food vendors & more! 170 Simmons Rd, McMurray PA 15317. 724-941-1490
Hours: 9am - 7pm Monday-Saturday /  9am - 6pm Sunday.

Indoor Play Space: The Seesaw Center is re-open for the season! The Seesaw Center is a nonprofit indoor play center for children of all abilities, from infancy through kindergarten age. Daily rate is $5/child. Memberships also available. Open M-F, 9:30am - 1pm, closed Sat/Sun. 935 Pine Ave., Castle Shannon, PA 15234. 412-953-6161.

Friday Night Fun: Un-Spooky Night Hike with The Outdoor Classroom. Friday, October 3rd, 8-10pm. Offered only in October under half and full moons is the UN-Spooky Hikes for scout groups and families. Explore the dark forests and the night. Because they do not set out to scare you, these hikes are fun for all ages and are held under the light of the moon! Pre-registration is required and only a limited number of people are taken each night so register early. General public night is Oct. 3, but you can call for private programs for 10 or more.  Hike take place at Boyce Mayview Park located in Upper St. Clair. $8 child / $6 adults. Go here to register.

Weekend Event: FREE admission at the National Aviary. Saturday, October 4th, 10am-4pm. (Courtesy of RADical Days.) Discover more than 150 amazing bird species from around the world under one roof on Pittsburgh's Northside. Get nose-to-beak with a colony of African penguins; admire free-flying birds in the tropical rainforest; meet Wookie, the two-toed sloth; and explore the newest exhibit Canary's Call, home to six Malayan Flying Foxes. 700 Arch Street, Allegheny Commons West (North Side)

Enjoy fun in #Pittsburgh this week!
#momtouragetop5

Top 5 / September 21-27

Looking for fun ideas to do this week? Each week I showcase Pittsburgh venues to help remind us of all the great kid-friendly options in #Pittsburgh!
Here is my Top 5 list for the week - most of these family-friendly venues are open every day which make them flexible for scheduling day, evening or weekend visits!

Museum Fun: The Children's Museum of Pittsburgh is currently running a special - buy an adult admission and get a child's admission free! A great deal - see full details for that promotion here. (Ends 9/30)

Free Fun: One of our favorite free things to do in the city is to pack a picnic and head to the fountain at Point State Park. We love the free open space which gives kids plenty of room to run or play with balls. Head down in the evening or weekends for better parking options or add to the excitement and take the T which stops just a few blocks over from the park. (Kids 5 & under ride free, age 6-11 are half-price.)

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For the Sports Fan: Free Admission for tours at PNC Park, Wednesday, Sept. 24, 10am-3pm (TOURS ONLY) Courtesy of RADical Days which begin this week! Go here to learn more about free admissions during RADical Days.

Park of the Week: Anderson Playground at Schenley Park is a city favorite! Lots of great features for kids as well as covered picnic tables and great trails which are perfect for hiking or using the jogging stroller. The medieval castle-like play environment includes ladders, turrets, and slides surrounded by a landscaped moat of uneven timber rounds, evergreens, and perennials. Brontosaurus paw prints cast from the fossil collection of the Carnegie Museum of Natural History help lead children from one play area to the next.

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Weekend Family Event: Hartwood Acres Hay Day, Saturday, Sept. 27, 11am-4pm. Also free, courtesy of RADical Days, includes hay rides, pumpkin patch, arts & crafts, petting zoo, bounce house, Halloween puppet show + more!
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Enjoy fun in #Pittsburgh this week!
#momtouragetop5

Top 5 / September 8-13

Looking for ideas to do this week? Each week I showcase Pittsburgh venues to help remind us of all the great kid-friendly options in #Pittsburgh!
Here is my Top 5 list for the week - most of these family-friendly venues are open every day which make them flexible for scheduling day, evening or weekend visits!

Park of the Week: Ross Municipal Center Park. A great playground, indoor bathrooms, pavilion covered picnic tables, basketball courts & a baseball field. 1000 Ross Municipal Drive. Pittsburgh, PA.

Something Unique: Visit Randyland. Randy Gilson has spent more than $100,000 on his colorful home to help with the revitalization of the North Side neighborhoods.  It is worth taking the opportunity to see this iconic Pittsburgh space! Over the course of 25 years, Randy has also installed 800 streetscapes, 50 vegetable garden plots and eight parks in the area. Randyland's courtyard is usually open daily from 1pm-7pm and visitors are welcome to explore the public art displays in and around the property. 1501 Arch Street, Pittsburgh, PA, 15212.

 Water Fun: Raccoon Creek Beach - although most water features have been closed for the season, we sure are glad for a few lingering hot days. If you're looking for some relief from the remaining summer-like days, remember the beach is still open! From their facebook page, Raccoon Creek State Park’s beach will close for the season on Sunday, September 28, 2014 at sunset. The food concession stand at the beach will close on Monday, September 1, 2014 for the season. The boat rental will be open daily until September 1, 2014, and then on weekends through mid-October. Please contact the park office for any additional information 724-899-2200.  3000 State Route 18, Hookstown, PA.

 

 

Beat the Heat: Phipps Conservatory. If the humidity sticks around, you might be looking for some relief indoors! Phipps is a great option for this time of year because it has indoor & outdoor areas to roam. The Summer Flower Show is running until October 5th. Small-scale trains wind through summer blooms and the whimsical miniature world of Garden Railroad. Multiple rooms are transformed into hubs of energy and activity as trains travel in, around and over gorgeous displays of flowers, topiaries and tropical plants. Various interactive features add to the fun.  More kids events are listed here.

Family Fun: Alphabet Trails & Tales at Frick Park on Saturday, September 13, 10am-1pm. The 15th annual Alphabet Trail and Tales is a free early and elementary aged literacy event for the entire family. Each year, Alphabet Trail and Tales presents the best in children’s books. Interactive, hand-painted story sets create a backdrop for a day of reading and fun. Follow the Alphabet Trail to enjoy art, music, games and activities. Read more about it here.

 Enjoy fun in Pittsburgh this week!

#momtouragetop5

Top 5 / September 1-6

September? Well, hello!

This time of year, many people seem to be crying "pumpkin spice lattes, jeans, boots, & scarves (and I love all those things). But my mind also tends to drift to "no more flip flops, the jacket battles are coming, we'll be stuck in the house, help!" :) So we will squeeze in all the outdoor fun we can while we still have these warm days.

 

Here is my Top 5 list for the week - most of these family-friendly venues are open every day which make it flexible for scheduling day, evening or weekend visits!

Park of the Week: North Park's Black & Yellow Playground. Located next to the North Park Community Pool, it has 3 playgrounds, with the Black & Yellow one being the largest one.  It has new updated equipment which includes an assortment of swings, slides, ladders and tunnels that are also suited for children with disabilities. Located at S. Ridge Drive / Hemlock Dr., McCandless Township, PA 15101.

 

Library Fun: For the month of September, the West End & East Liberty Carnegie Libraries are starting (free) Family Playshops. It combines play, early childhood education, parent support, and innovative library services in an exciting program for children 6 months - 4 years old. Space is limited and you must register ahead of time. More info on dates & times here.

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Playdate: Join the Pgh Momtourage at E2 Toys to Try this Thursday!  There is an indoor & outdoor playspace and lots of fun for kids of all ages! Bring your lunch and we'll eat at the outdoor picnic area.  More details and RSVP here. 

 

Beat the Heat: The Carnegie Science Center has a new fantastic indoor exhibit called BLUE! and it is one of my favorites! It's an immersive, hands-on exhibit featuring molded foam blocks of all shapes and sizes. It encourages lots of imagination in kids and kept my kiddos occupied for a long time. Now is also the perfect time to hit the museums between kids going back to school and not as many field trips at the beginning of school. :)

Family Fun: If you've never been to Living Treasures Wild Animal Park, this is a great time of year to go! There are 2 locations - Moraine & Laurel Highlands. LT is an amazing interactive zoo where you can get closer to animals than you can at most other zoos.You can purchase food on-site to feed to the animals where it is allowed.  Feed the giraffes from the palm of your hand, ride a pony or camel, hold a baby kangaroo, and reach out and touch wildlife! My only downer about these parks is that the paths are gravel, so they aren't great with strollers that don't have the jogging stroller-type wheels. But definitely worth the trip!

 Enjoy fun in Pittsburgh this week!

Top 5 / August 11 - 16

Looking for something to do in Pittsburgh?
Here's my Top 5 list for the week of family-friendly venues that are open throughout the week!

Park of the Week: Dormont Playground - a great castle structure that has lots of fun features for kids!  It is also surrounded by beautiful grassy areas and sits around the corner from the great Dormont Pool. Best address to use is 1694 Dormont Ave., Pittsburgh, PA.

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Sweet Treats: Klavon's Ice Cream Parlor is an authentic antique 1920's Ice Cream Parlor located in the Strip District.  A destination everyone should check out! Try delicious hand-dipped ice cream cones, old-fashioned sodas or find your favorite in their complete line of old-fashioned candy.

(Photos taken at grand re-opening in 2013)

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Water Fun: the North Shore Water Steps are a fun, free water destination! With water ranging from a few inches to about 2 feet deep, it's perfect for babies, toddlers, & big kids! Enjoy a beautiful walk along the North Shore as well, the wide, paved paths are very stroller friendly.  Located along North Shore Drive, you do have to pay for parking in a lot or meter.

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Beat the Heat: Jump Zone! has massive inflatable play structures such as obstacle courses, slides and bounce houses.  $5 FRIDAYS - $5.00 ADMISSION PRICE FOR ANY AGE! Kids 2 & under are free. Open Play is 10am-1pm & 5pm-8pm.

 

*Saturday Family Fun: Check out the (new this year) Swissvale Farmers Market! Locally-sourced, great-quality produce, along with fresh pasta, cheese, chocolate, tea, salsas, baked goods, crafts, food vendors, fresh cut flowers, usually music, and more. 9am-1pm on Saturdays, June through October, located on Church St. in Swissvale. Nominated for Best Farmer's Market of 2014 by Pittsburgh A-List for their annual Best-Of Pittsburgh List!

(Photos courtesy of Swissvale Farmers Market)

 

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Enjoy fun in Pittsburgh this week!

Top 5 / August 4 - 9

We love that Pittsburgh is full of family-friendly events on our summer weekends! But sometimes parents work on the weekends, or we are scheduled with other commitments and of course, stay at home parents are always looking for ideas throughout the week. So each week I am highlighting 5 awesome Pittsburgh family venues. Many of these are open every day and planning a visit is very flexible. Hope it's helpful!

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• Monday, August 4th, is FREE admission day at Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens! These days can be busy, but it's also a great way to check out local venues and see if they are worth it to go back. Enjoy the Summer Flower Show, Butterfly Forest and Tropical Forest Conservatory. The Summer Flower Show takes you on a grand journey as small-scale trains wind through summer flowers in the glasshouse and the Garden Railroad takes center stage. It features a variety of imaginative railroad displays enhanced by flowers, plants and interactive features. 
• The Citiparks Roving Art Cart features great art projects from around the world. Sadly, this is the last week for this summer for the Roving Art Cart!  Have fun making Amazon rain sticks, Chinese dragons, colorful masks and much more. These are all FREE as well! Find the Art Cark this week 10am - 1pm here:

August 5th / Swisshelm Playground – Swisshelm Park

August 6th / Banksville Park – Banksville

August 7th / Davis Park – Hobart Street – Squirrel Hill

August 8th / Riverview Park – Observatory Entrance.

• Join the Pgh Momtourage on Wednesday at Wiltshire Park! Park amenities include a seal that sprays water, a sand box, playground & swings. There is also a small creek that runs through the park. Only downside is there are no restrooms, so you may want to bring a portable potty if you have a child that might need one. :)  Bring your lunch and a picnic blanket, sand toys, towel, & lots of water for a warm August! Wiltshire Park, Upper St Clair, PA 15241. RSVP here.
• Beat the heat and head to Fun Fore All.  Ballocity is FREE all day on Thursday and is three stories of fun for the whole family! Each level has something different that adds up to over 30 interactive things to enjoy. Air cannons shoot foam balls, “Ballcano” - blasts foam balls high into the air and a four story slide! It’s big enough for adults to get in on the fun also and there is also a separate toddler area for the little ones. (The air cannons can be loud!)
• Bloomfield Saturday Market - this is an extra special week to check this out because of the Snack Drive to benefit Jeremiah's Place! Read full details of how you can be a part of the snack drive here. But besides the fun of the Farmers Market, there will also be great kids activities including free face painting, the Volunteer Princesses, live music, and lots more! Saturday, August 9, 9am - 1pm. 5050 Liberty Avenue, 15224, (between S. Winebiddle and Gross Streets).