Pittsburgh Zoo and PPG Aquarium
7370 Baker Street Pittsburgh, PA 15206
Varies by Season: Check the Website
$$
outdoor-adventures, fun-paid-activities
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Visitors to the Pittsburgh Zoo and PPG Aquarium get two attractions (plus some!) for the price of one. Not only will you be treated to a huge zoo, but you’ll also get to enjoy a modestly sized aquarium, plus quite a few rides that are sure to delight little ones!
During our visit, we were quite impressed with the number and variety of animal inhabitants. The zoo features themed areas including African Savanna, Forest Passage, The Islands, Tropical Forest, and more. In each one, visitors can view mammals, reptiles, birds, and more that are native to each given area.
We were able to see elephants, giraffes, lemurs, bats, polar bears, pygmy hippos, and gorillas, just to name a few. Some of the animals, including the kangaroos and alpacas, even allow visitors to enter the cage to get an up-close view! As if a zoo wasn’t enough, the PPG Aquarium offers visitors the chance to see fish, penguins, jellyfish, tree frogs, and more! If you’re looking for more than animals, kids can also take rides on a small log flume, carousel, and zip line (for an additional fee).
The pathways throughout the zoo are relatively flat and paved, making them perfect for strollers. (Given the sheer size of the zoo, you are definitely going to want to bring one!). Be sure to pick up a zoo map when you enter. Each of the designated areas is conveniently numbered. Following the numerical order will ensure that you see everything without having the double back! The map will also provide you with the times of various feeding and enrichment activities that take place at the zoo throughout the day.
You’ll find that there are bathrooms as well as snack stands, and restaurants conveniently located throughout the zoo. Safari Plaza, towards the back of the zoo, offers the most expansive selection and variety of lunch choices including pizza, hot dogs, beer and more. Bean Sprouts, near the Worlds of Discovery, offers healthier fare as well as an outdoor patio with a playground for the kids! If you’d rather bring your own food from home, you are welcome to bring a “bag lunch-style” picnic to eat at one of the picnic tables on-site. The zoo also offers a seasonal tram ($2 for an all-day pass) if you need a quick way to get from one side of the zoo to the other.
Given how large the zoo is, we recommend allowing at least 4 hours to comfortably view the whole thing, possibly more. You’ll likely want to plan at least 2-3 snacks and rest breaks during that time in order to make it through without exhausting your small companions! (If you’re looking to make a day of it, we recommend taking the whole day to enjoy the zoo and topping it off with a dinner of Iron Born Pizza!)