With the warm weather finally here, there are countless activities to do in Pittsburgh or around the surrounding areas. Here are some must-do activities this summer!

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PITTSBURGH ZOO AND PPG AQUARIUM 

No matter how old you are, you’re never too old to visit the zoo and aquarium. The zoo is open daily from 9:30 in the morning to 5 in the afternoon. Tickets are super easy to buy, too, as they sell them online! Ticket prices are $22 for adults (ages 13+) and $19 for kids (ages 2-13). Not to mention, parking is free at the Butler Street parking lot.

PIRATES’ GAMES

For all the sports lovers out there, you might as well go watch the Bucs play. The views from PNC Park are some of the best in the entire city, and in some seats you can see the entire Pittsburgh skyline. The Pirates also host a bunch of fun theme nights like Pup Night, kids’ nights, Yinzerpalooza, and of course fireworks night! Tickets are also very reasonably priced.

CONCERTS

Check out a concert at one of Pittsburgh’s concert venues like Stage AE, PPG Paints, PNC Park, Acrisure Stadium, or others! There are plenty of big names coming to Pittsburgh in the coming months, like Luke Combs on April 29th, Morgan Wallen on June 14th, Taylor Swift on June 17th, and Ed Sheeran on July 8th.

KENNYWOOD

Kennywood beckons. There’s plenty to do for all ages at Pittsburgh’s infamous amusement park. Enjoy being spun from crazy heights? The Black Widow is for you. Want to go on Pennsylvania’s tallest roller coaster? Check out The Steel Curtain. Want to race your friends and family? Have fun on the Racer! Kennywood turns 125 years old this summer, which will be celebrated at the park every Saturday and Sunday from April 22nd-May 21st. Hours vary on different days, but they’re currently operating from 11am to 7-pm. 

SANDCASTLE WATER PARK

Love the water? Check out Sandcastle! Located on the banks of the Monongahela River, Sandcastle is the perfect way to cool down in the hot weather. Take a splash in the lazy river, or ride a wave in the Mon Tsunami Wave Pool. If you’re looking for something more intense, try out the Boardward Blasters or Bombs Away waterslides. 

PICKLESBURGH

Voted #1 best speciality food festival in America, Picklesburgh is a can’t miss! This year, Picklesburgh will be hosted on June 21st-June 23rd in rain or shine. The event features handcrafted food with pickle ingredients from local chefs and restaurants. Tickets are free and the event is held in downtown Pittsburgh. 

GATEWAY CLIPPER

One of the most popular tourist attractions in Pittsburgh, the Gateway Clipper offers an enjoyable a cruise down the city’s rivers. The Gateway Clipper docks down at Station Square and tours are around an hour long. You get to see the city from a new view as well as learn interesting facts about Pittsburgh. 

FRUIT PICKING

Not exactly in the city, fruit picking is something you have to try this summer. Western Pennsylvania has a wide variety of different farms with different fruit options. Strawberries and raspberries are harvested in June. Blueberries, peaches, apricots, and plums are harvested in July, and apples in August. There are plenty of amazing farms to choose from when it comes to fruit picking, like Trax Farms in Finleyville, Simmons Farm in McMurray, Soergel’s Orchards in Wexford, and Triple B Farm in Monongahela. Not only is picking fruit a fun activity for people of all ages, it’s also a great way to support these small farms!

PARKS

Pittsburgh has plenty of parks that are perfect for a stroll or a sprint. A perfect hot summer day has to include a trip to the park! Visit Highland Park, which is the largest park by area in Pittsburgh, and look at the Victorian fountains. Frick Park in Squirrel Hill, probably the best known of the Pittsburgh parks, has plenty to do like trails, courts, playgrounds, and dog areas! Schenley Park is just steps away from Pitt and CMU and has a swimming pool so you can cool off during the day! There are also tons of other parks not in city boundaries that also are great to visit during the summer.