Things to Do in Pittsburgh with Kids AFTER CHRISTMAS
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Presents opened, played, and stacked at the corner of the room. No more Christmas gathering to attend. Your kids started to get bored, but your family still have a few days to spend in Pittsburgh after Christmas before going back to your hometown. What’s next? What to do? Where to go?
Sounds familiar?
Things to Do in Pittsburgh with Kids AFTER CHRISTMAS
After visiting Pittsburgh during Christmas holiday for almost twenty years, I came up with this list of things to do in Pittsburgh with your kids after Christmas. It doesn’t look a lot, but again, you only have 2-3 days left, right? So, here it is, from our family to yours:
1. Stroll the Strip District
One of our favorite, we always came here every Christmas since our son was not even born. So many restaurants with food originated from all over the world to be found here. Italian, Vietnamese, Caribbean, Mexican, Japanese, American, Thai food, you name it. They are all here and we haven’t got to try them all until today. Of course you can always eat at the famous sandwich place Primantis Bros. It’s a good time and place to break from those holiday food as well. One of the best pierogi in Pittsburgh is also located here, the S&D Polish restaurant. Your kids will enjoy the candy and biscotti stores, and don’t forget to stop by Peace Love & Little Donuts, our last finding from last Christmas. Try to arrive as early as you can to get the parking spot. One time we just drove around and around and that year we ended up leaving Pittsburgh without a stroll in the Strip District.
2. Explore the Museums
Pittsburgh has lots of museums for everyone in the family. Our favorite is Carnegie Science Center where we could spend a day to see and to try everything from 1st-4th floor (and don’t forget to visit the USS Requin Submarine outside). Check your hometown’s Science Museum membership whether they are part of the ASTC reciprocal science centers. If they do, then you can get in for free. At Carnegie Museum of Natural History, you will also spend a day easily. A great place for little paleontologist in the family. It connects to Carnegie Museum of Art and the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh where my husband used to study. We like seeing Christmas Trees in the Carnegie MoA. You must visit these two places as well. Don’t forget Pittsburgh Children’s Museum, Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens, National Aviary, and Heinz History Center.
3. Tour the Pitt
My husband graduated from Pitt, so one year he took us there. We arrived slightly before lunch time, so he took us to eat at the Original O. “It’s still greasy like I remember it,” said my husband. Haha… And we weren’t the only one there. There were parents and grandparents who came with their kids/grandkids, too. After lunch we continued touring the Pitt. We took picture by the Panther, walked to the library, to the Heinz cathedral, and ended at Cathedral of Learning. Since we didn’t know the exact date to visit, we didn’t book a tour to visit the Nationality Rooms but we got to see around, even the room where my husband took classes and studied. How cool was that?
4. Visit Your Childhood Neighborhood
What’s more exciting than showing your kids the hill where you got the stitch on your head, your kindergarten teacher’s house, your old house, your elementary school, or where you liked to hang out when you were in high school? I think we always did this every time we went to Pittsburgh. A couple of times we went to my husband’s childhood friend’s house and got to meet his mother, too.
5. Skating, Sledding, Tubing, etc.
Go slip and slide at the PPG Place. FYI, it is 67% larger than the Rockefeller Center ice rink in NYC. Check this link for hours of operation and admission. But our family enjoy sledding down the hill at my sister-in-law’s property more, thanks to Pittsburgh hilly contour. Even when the snow on the ground was less than 2 inches like Christmas last year, we, the Texan, still had a blast! Whee…
6. Drive to Mount Washington
What’s better than enjoying Pittsburgh’s Golden Triangle from the top of Mount Washington? It sounded crazy, but sometimes it’s not that cold in Pittsburgh at this time of year. Take picture by the Guyasuta and Washington Statue, and you can always take the Duquesne Incline or Monongahela Incline, too. Just make sure you check the weather before you go. The road up and down to Mount Washington is slippery when it snowed or icy.
Well, I hope this list will give you idea for your upcoming holiday trip to Pittsburgh. Like I mentioned above, it’s not a lot, but it will surely occupied you and the kids for the extra 2-3 days in Pittsburgh after Christmas. Have a great and safe holiday!
Pittsburgh to DC
One time we flew to DC and went straight to Pittsburgh for Christmas with our family. A couple of days after Christmas we went back do DC and explored the nation’s capitol for 6 days. We had a blast!
Another year, we drove from Texas to Pittsburgh, this time with our dog Snoopy. Since Snoopy hasn’t been to DC yet, we made another trip to DC. Snoopy got to visit the famous first dog Fala and other monuments in the capitol.
Then we drove up north to welcome the New Year at Ocean City, New Jersey. But first, we spent a few hours in Philadelphia.
When you drive from Pittsburgh to DC, make sure you make a stop at The Flight 93 National Memorial in Stoystown.
Must be fun to show your son your spouse’s hometown. It sounds like you have endless options for restaurants of a great mix of cultures. That makes it fun to return over and over again to sample everything thermos to offer.
It is. We’re planning another drive there this Thanksgiving Break.
So glad to read about stuff to do after Christmas. I was pleasantly surprised that the STRIP district is great for kids. Sometimes names can be baffling. I love sledding and tubing. So cool.
Yeah. It’s mostly restaurants, supermarkets, and businesses in this area. It’s a place for families.
The time after the festivities are over can be a bit boring because suddenly it gets all quite. I experience it every year after Diwali in India. Think its a great idea to plan things after Christmas with kids to keep the energy levels high 🙂 Wow. That candy ! I would be as excited in the candy store! Just love the colors and variety! Pittsburgh Children’s Museum and sledding would be fun. Seems like a lot many things that could be done in Pittsburgh! And kids would love them all.
What a great way to beat those Christmas blues once the fun is over. I did not expect so much activity surely and that to for the kids. Would surely take the kids to enjoy the candy and biscotti stores, and to finish it off in style would stop by Peace Love & Little Donuts for that treat. A great post must say and very informative.
Thank you, Amar! We won’t be able to enjoy all those this Christmas, but will do it over Thanksgiving Break. Minus the sledding, probably.
I haven’t been in the US yet! I definitely want to visit different museums in Pittsburgh. Also, I want to try the local food scene. Do you have any tips for me?
Oh, my. If you ever get to stop in Pittsburgh, at least you have to spend 2 days just for test tasting the food along the Strip District, starting from breakfast to evening snacks. There are so many choices.
Pittsburgh is still a white spot on my list. On my trips to U.S. I still did not manage to make a visit so far and thats a pity. Really cool to see that Pittsburgh has so much to offer, also in Wintertimes. My favourite place to visit would be surely the Carnegie Science Center, since it sounds really amazing. But also the other museums sound interesting and actually after Christmas I think would be a perfect time for visits, great idea!a
I understand that Pittsburgh is not the first choice for visitors from outside the country. Whenever you get another change, try to stop. Carnegie Science Center will blow your mind.
I heard some good things about Pittsburgh before but never thought about visiting. After reading this post, I think that’ll change. I didn’t know the winters were so picturesque over there, your pictures are amazing! Thank you for sharing
Haha… Wait for my next post about Pittsburgh, Daniel. I hope to explore more of the downtown area this coming Thanksgiving Break.
Believe me, I haven’t experience celebrating Christmas in a snowy place and I think it would be a fun idea. If I am in Pittsburgh, I will spend my Christmas skating and sledding and will not mind that I am freezing, LOL.
Any outdoor activities would be fine as well.
This is the first city I had my white Christmas. Since we don’t get snow every year in Texas, so we never turn an opportunity to sled whenever we’re here. lol.
What a cool concept of POST Christmas activities! We normally hear about the before and during so this was a nice change in pace Umiko. I think the most enjoyable for me… I mean the kids… would be the candy! And who wouldn’t miss a shop called “Peace Love & Little Donuts”?! Like seriously, yes please. The museums sound very interesting and I bet you made a LOT of Pittsburgh parents happy with this post. 🙂
Thank you, Amanda!
Hmmm. Pittsburgh is looking to be a good place for an after Christmas vacation destination.
Great list of activities. I love winters and snow and your article proves that winter can be fun!
You have made some parents in Pittsburgh very happy with your list. Sure to keep kids as well as parents busy and educated!
Thank you!
I heard Pittsburgh is a pretty cool place! Haven’t been before. It looks cold but in the Christmas spirit with snow!
Yeah, Pittsburgh was the location of Batman (forgot which one) and some other movies. It looks even prettier with snow covering the ground.
Wow! It’s amazing that you can at your sister-in-law’s property. Christmas seems to be more fun if there is snow.
I agree with you. That’s one thing that we always look for in Pittsburgh. Snow.
This is such a great idea for a post! Most people don’t think about what to do with the kiddos right after the holidays!! loving all the photos!
Thank you! Adults seems to forgot their kids when making an itinerary once the kiddos are I school.
What a fun list- good food, outdoor activity, and history lessons- sounds like a day well spent!
Yes, it was! Thank you!