Posted in Pittsburgh
May 24, 2016
10 Unforgettable Things You Must Add To Your Pittsburgh Summer Bucket List
After a long, dreary winter, the unofficial start of summer is finally just around the corner and that means only one thing – planning a new bucket list for the summer of ’16. Pittsburgh and the surrounding areas offer so much to do – both indoors and outdoors – that the biggest challenge of planning your bucket list is not what to include but how much you can reasonably accomplish during the next few months. As you pen your bucket list, don’t forget to add these 10 things to your summer bucket list in Pittsburgh:
Head to the “Best Little Theater in the Country” to enjoy the Apple Hill Playhouse' s summer play season. Apple Hill Playhouse in Delmont presents both adult plays and a children's theater, with this summer's playlist for children including Oh, Jack and The Enchanted Sleeping Beauty. The main stage will present such shows as The Gin Game, The Cemetery Club, and Death By Fatal Murder.
Choo! Choo! All aboard the Kiski Junction Railroad for a stunning train ride along the Allegheny River. The hour and 15 minute train ride, which runs on Fridays at 2 p.m. and Saturdays at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. from June 3 through September 30, takes riders from Schenley to Johnetta or from Schenley to Bagdad. Be sure to arrive a minimum of a half an hour before your scheduled departure.
Make a picnic lunch and pack a bathing suit for a summer's day at Round Hill Park, a sweeping 1,100 acre park in Elizabeth. Complete with 17 picnic pavilions and a spray park, Round Hill Park promises plenty of relaxation and excitement, depending on your mood. Walk, jog, or bike the trails, start an impromptu baseball game, or join a farm tour. Farm tours run 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. daily and the park is open seven days a week.
Board one of the ships of the Gateway Clipper Fleet for a day or an evening sightseeing or a specialty cruise, such as a kid-themed cruise, this summer and enjoy spectacular scenery, good food and good drink, and plenty of photo ops. Or, if you're not up for a cruise, add a Buccos game to your summer bucket list and take the Clipper Shuttle to PNC Park.
Forget sitting in a chilled movie theater. Summertime means going to the drive-in with family and friends, eating plenty of goodies – hot dogs, nachos, pizza, and snacks – and watching a double feature of current flicks. Riverside Drive-In in Vandergrift is one of the few drive-ins that remain in the Pittsburgh area and promises an old-fashioned good time. Riverside Drive-In is open nightly as of June 6.
Soak in the unparalleled beauty of Fallingwater, a National Historic Landmark designed by Frank Lloyd Wright and originally built for the Kaufmann family. Allot sufficient time to tour both the home and the grounds of Fallingwater, starting your tour at the Visitor's Center. Top off your visit with a delicious meal at the Fallingwater Cafe, which features a locally sourced, fresh menu.
Summer in Pittsburgh means only one thing: Baseball! Honor the memory of summers past, and one of the Pirates' most beloved players, with a trip to The Roberto Clemente Museum in Lawrenceville. Walk through the doors of the converted Engine House 25 and into another era. The museum focuses on Clemente's life – from his heroics on the baseball field to his real life heroics helping others, the latter of which ultimately led to his untimely death – and features priceless personal and professional memorabilia.
No summer bucket list is complete without the obligatory annual trip to
The Pittsburgh Zoo and PPG Aquarium. During your stroll through the zoo, enjoy a train ride around the grounds, visit the animals (including petting the goats) in the children's area, browse the souvenir shops, or eat at one of the three dining areas.
Those sweltering summer days are for the birds – so why not join them at the The National Aviary where you will come face-to-face with penguins, parrots, bald eagles, and even a baby sloth? The National Aviary features daily programming, such as interactive feedings, a cafe, perfect for a snack or for lunch, and is open from every day from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Certainly the most somber item on any bucket list, the Flight 93 National Memorial in Shanksville honors the heroes of United Airlines Flight 93, who stopped terrorists from reaching the United States Capitol during the attacks of September 11, 2001. The National Memorial is open daily from sunrise to sunset while the visitor center's hours run from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Children six to 12 years old can request to participate in the Junior Ranger Program, to help them better understand the events of 9/11, at the visitor's center.
Summer’s almost here! Will you add these 10 things to your summer bucket list in Pittsburgh to make the summer of ’16 unforgettable?