kidsburgh!

I have dim memories of visiting the Carnegie Science Center as a teen from out of town, but I haven't been back in years. Yesterday I took my kids for the first time, and we were really amazed by all the museum has to offer. There's a whole lot to look at and play with - the major themes of the interactive exhibits include weather, sound and light, robotics, physiology and health, and marine life.

There are also lots of special activities included in admission, from planetarium shows to kitchen science demonstrations, and even a real submarine to explore. My three year old loved everything, but he especially enjoyed a huge miniature train display (representing the history of western PA, not that he's aware of that), and the fourth floor play area designed specifically for three- to six-year-olds. Exhibits can be enjoyed on many levels, though, so that teens and even adults can have fun and learn something new with every visit. If that's not appealing enough, there's also an omnimax theater where, for an additional charge, you can see a changing selections of films (usually documentaries) and laser light shows.


details: open 10 to 5 or later every day. $18 for teens and adult, $10 for kids three and up, discounts available for return trips. extra shows $2 to $8. membership starts around $100 and includes the Carnegie Art and Natural History museums and the Warhol museum. there is a cafe, and a quiet area on the fourth floor for down time. you may get wet in the small children's area. more information available at Carnegie Science Center.

creative commons image by Allie Caulfield

Yesterday I got an email from Eat 'n Park. They wanted to let me and my readers know about their summer specials for kids.

I wasn't sure if I should do it. Eat 'n Park may be a Pittsburgh tradition, but I haven't personally set foot in the restaurant in years, so I can't provide a very authoritative review. However, the more I thought about it, the more I realized that Eat 'n Park is directly responsible for the free-wheeling lifestyle I enjoy today, so I figured maybe I owe them a favor.

This story dates back to the summer of 2002, when I was pounding the pavement of Murray Avenue, with a moderate amount of optimism and a CMU degree that was still fairly fresh. I worked my way further and further down the street, filling out applications with less and less enthusiasm and a growing sense of inevitability as I passed one boutique after another and inched ever closer to the striped awnings of the Eat 'n Park franchise. Finally, I found myself filling out a standardized application test with a number two pencil and returning home to wait by the phone for the call I was sure would soon arrive.

Two weeks later, I had learned a couple of important things: there is never, ever an acceptable reason to be late for work (or at least, you should never admit it in a job application), and apparently I was more or less unemployable. Three weeks later, I had started to look seriously for freelance work, and I've never looked back. So thanks, I guess, Eat 'n Park.

Anyway, their summer specials start today and last until the end of July. There are lots of kids' meals available for 99 cents, and all include free goody bags and smiley cookies for kids under ten. For more information, see this website.

One of the most popular destinations in Pittsburgh is the Carnegie Museums of Art and Natural History, located on Forbes Avenue in Oakland. Guests can visit both museums with a single ticket, but most younger visitors will probably prefer the natural history museum. Be sure to hit the large hall of dinosaurs skeletons, then wind your way through lots of other interesting displays, from dazzling gems to ancient Egyptian artifacts (and a large wing dedicated to changing exhibits).

An obvious choice for kids is the discovery room, where guests can touch and explore natural materials and educational displays at closer range. A slightly less obvious function of the museums is as a place to expend energy and get a change of scenery on not-so-nice days, when outdoor play is limited. It's a nice place to meet friends and spend a couple of quiet hours pushing a stroller through the art section, for example.

details:

Located at 4400 Forbes Avenue. Accessible by many bus routes and car (pay parking lot on site). Open most days until five, closed Mondays. Admission is $15 for adults, $11 for kids 3-18, and free for babies and toddlers (discounts for AAA members, active military, and Access EBT card holders). Family membership starts around $100 and includes entry to the Warhol museum and Science Center. There are two cafes in the museum, but a better bet is to head out of the museum and across the street, where there are many affordable options. More information is available at Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh.


creative commons image by Allie Caulfield

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Despite the popularity of complaining about Pittsburgh's public transportation system, PAT buses can be very handy, whether they're your main mode of transportation or an occasional alternative. While it can be a hassle to get kids on and off the bus, it can also be a pleasant way to travel, especially if you'd rather not deal with carseats or driving. If you're not very familiar with the bus system, though, it can be tough to figure out, and the PAT website isn't much help.

Google Maps makes the Pittsburgh bus system about a million times more usable. Just click "get directions", then type in the addresses you want to travel between. The default setting is driving directions, so click on the "public transportation" option when they pop up. This setting will tell you which bus to take, where to catch it, how to walk to and from the stops, and about how long this should all take. You can even choose the time you want to leave home or arrive at your destination, for instructions that take bus schedules into consideration.

details:

Adult fares for most trips are $2. Transfers, which must be purchased together with the main fare, cost .75 extra. (Technically, transfers last only three hours from purchase and are not to be used for return trips, but in practice they are often used this way anyway assuming the return is on the same day.) Up to four children five and under ride free with an adult, kids six to eleven are half price.

When it comes to kid-friendly food, it's hard to go wrong with pizza. In fact, when we used to live on Penn Avenue near Spak Brothers, this particular pizza was the only thing my toddler would reliably eat. No matter how you slice it, pizza is hardly health food, but the Spaks do have a commitment to using natural and local ingredients when possible. The pizza itself tastes great, with tangy sauce and a chewy crust. There are also plenty of other menu options, from hoagies to salads.

Spak Brothers has a friendly atmosphere, with pinball, graffiti murals, punk music, and local art. It's a great place to take kids or guests for a quick and casual meal, and especially appropriate for groups with vegetarian tendencies, as vegetarian meat alternatives and vegan soy cheese can be substituted for most items.

details:

Located at 5107 Penn Avenue. Open until 10 or 11 most nights, closed Sundays. Generous slice of pizza for $2, most items $5 to 10. Limited seating is available, but it's really more of a takeout place. Menu and more information at Spak Brothers Pizza and More.

There are all sorts of things for kids to do in Pittsburgh, but what better place to start than the Pittsburgh Children's Museum? Here you'll find plenty of hands-on activities to interest most young families, from Mr. Rogers neighborhood to an art studio, outdoor playground, mechanical laboratory, and extensive water play area. One thing that keeps this destination interesting is the rotating exhibit room, featuring new displays at least a couple of times per year. For the youngest visitors, there's a friendly nursery area with lots of opportunities for tactile play and soft stuff to bounce off of.

Details:

The museum is located in the Northside and open from 1-5 Monday through Saturday, 12-5 on Sundays, and closed most holidays. The 54C bus goes right to the door, 500 and other lines will get you pretty close. $11 for adults and $10 for kids 2-18, with discounts for EBT card holders and memberships starting at $90. There's a cafe with typical cafe food and a few slightly healthy options, most items range from $1 to $5. Expect to get wet if you visit the water room. More information at The Children's Museum of Pittsburgh.


creative commons image by Allie Caulfield