Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium

Had the absolute pleasure of spending the day at the Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium with my family, and it made for a fantastic outing. Located in a beautiful area just outside the city, the zoo is well laid out, easy to navigate, and very family friendly. For a zoo of this size, I thought the admission price was fair, and there was more than enough to keep us busy for the entire day. We brought our son to see the animals, and he had an absolute blast. We made the full loop around the zoo and saw everything from lions, tigers, and cheetahs to elephants, giraffes, penguins, and the tropical forest filled with monkeys and other wildlife. The seasonal dinosaur exhibit was a fun surprise, with animatronic dinosaurs scattered throughout the park that added a little extra excitement. One of my favorite areas was the Outback Adventure section, where the elevated walkways through the trees offer great views of the wallabies, while the beavers and otters were a big hit with our family. The zoo also has a large playground area for kids and a convenient touch-screen ordering restaurant with a nice view overlooking the giraffe habitat. The only part of our visit that missed the mark was the train ride near the entrance. At $4 per person, it’s more of a trackless vehicle than a traditional zoo train and felt a little underwhelming. That said, my son smiled and laughed the entire ride, so it was still worth it for the memories. There was some construction taking place during our visit, but it looks like exciting improvements are on the way. Overall, the zoo was clean, well maintained, and a wonderful place to spend the day with family. We’ll definitely be back the next time we’re in the Pittsburgh area.