25 reasons to raise kids in Pittsburgh

Ask 25 people why the ‘Burgh is a great place to raise kids and you’ll get 25 very different answers, apart from the awesome sports arenas and world-class museums. Kidsburgh came up with its own list of our 25 top reasons for bringing up our kids here, and yes, there are many more. Feel free to add in the comments section!

1. RAD Days – Who doesn’t like a freebie? RAD Days give families the opportunity to visit without charge some of the most popular local destinations for kids. Check the schedule–this year it runs through November 10–and see which place is offering free admission that day.

2. The Pittsburgh International Children’s Festival – This gem of a festival is a great opportunity to not only expose children to the arts but to do so while letting them be themselves. Adults will be impressed, too. It’s a don’t miss event every year.

3. Fish for Free Days – Grab a few fishing rods and some squirmy worms to make lots of fun memories. From May to September, the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission offers free days to sample fishing in state waterways.

4. Allegheny County Summer Concert Series – Pack a snack and grab a blanket. It’s festive summer fun for kids of all ages.

5. Peanut Butter and Jam Sessions – At Chatham Baroque’sPB&J sessions, dancing around the room while twirling a colorful scarf is not only tolerated, it’s encouraged. “There are plenty of programs for older children to help encourage a love of music, but it’s that younger age group that often is left out,” says Patricia Halverson, a musician who organizes PB&J. “Parents like the fact that kids can get up and move around and have fun and there are absolutely no expectations. The kids like it because it’s not overwhelming for them. It’s a comfortable environment.”

6. Movies in the Park – No $10 tiny buckets of popcorn. Just family-friendly and free. Bring your own snacks without having to hide them in your purse or pocket and start a great family tradition.

7. Kid’s Play – Summer means loading up the crew and heading to Market Square for stories, crafts and special guests every Tuesday from 10:30-11:30 a.m., Memorial Day through the end of July. Mairin Petrone, Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership’s marketing and special events manager, says these events can attract 200 children: “We’ve had some pretty cool guest performers, including Mr. McFeely. The kids go wild for it.”

8. National Aviary – What’s cooler than watching the penguins through the special pop-up viewing window? How about getting the chance to take care of them alongside Aviary employees at Aviary summer camps? Year-round, the aviary is a treasure, always a delight for kids and adults alike.

9. Our Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh – This award-winning museum gives new meaning to the phrase “hands on” and offers fun, inventive and creative play year-round wtih plenty of changing exhibits, not to mention permanent ones that will bring you back again and again. Don’t miss the new Makeshop! .

10. Yes, our schools – Two standouts: Pittsburgh High School for the Creative and Performing Arts School (CAPA) is a huge asset, and Pittsburgh Obama has an international baccalaureate program for grades 6-12 that challenges students with college-level courses.

11. And our colleges – With top-ranked colleges and universities like Pitt, Duquesne, Chatham and Carnegie Mellon, ours kids have good reason to stick around for their college degrees.

12. Cultural diversity – It doesn’t just run from pierogi to pyrohy here, although who could complain about that? There’s not a week without a street or church festival somewhere in the city, or at least that’s the way it seems.

13. Parks and walking trails – Thanks to all our screens, fewer kids are acquainting themselves with buckeyes and bike rides these days. But even the most device-addicted child will find enjoyment from Frick Park to Moraine. The city parks and waterfront trails are exceptional and offer family fun for all.

14. Our housing market – Bubbles are for soap. Housing prices may have fallen nationwide as the economy tanked, but Pittsburgh was an exception. Kevin Brown, owner of Praedium Real Estate, says the city was spared in part because we actually live here, rather than owning to rent or to “flip” for a quick profit. The other savior was the sheer uniqueness of our 90 neighborhoods: “Around here, we have a little bit of everything. It’s big city stuff with a small-town atmosphere.”

15. And our small-town-in-a-big-city atmosphere – We have all the amenities of a big city but with a small-town feel. World-class arts and culture in a walkable district, for example. It’s one of the reasons Pittsburgh continues to make so many “best of” lists, including a top place to raise children.

16. Farmer markets – Fresh local food is easy to find with the many farmers’ markets throughout the region, including  Market Square, home to one of the largest in the city, in a setting reminiscent of a European-style piazza.

17. The local green movement –Pittsburgh is home to a huge number of green orgs and some of the “greenest” buildings, including Phipps Conservatory. The winter flower and light show starts the day after Thanksgiving and runs through the second week in January.

18. Great shopping for any budget – Yes, there’s good shopping for kids in Pittsburgh, including great consignment shops. One of the most popular children’s consignment shop events is Sunflower Sprouts for buying and selling gently used children’s items. “The money I spend stays in our community,” says North Hills resident Renee Vrtiska, who uses the Sprouts. “It goes to the two moms who own the sale and the local moms selling items, not to sweatshops and rich CEOs. The selection is amazing … That’s the thrill of the hunt.”

19. Mr. Rogers – Our local hero has to be on the list. His influence continues to be felt throughout our community.

20. Charitable foundations – We are home to some of the best givers in the world. The Mario Lemieux Foundation and its Austin’s Playroom Project help hospitals create child-friendly waiting areas for the littlest of patients. The Grable Foundation is dedicated to children. And the Pittsburgh Promise provides college scholarships to students in Pittsburgh Public Schools attending schools in the state: 4,101 scholarships over the last few years, worth $36 million. “Every single child who is eligible will get a scholarship,” says Saleem Ghubril, executive director. And, he adds, “The majority of our students do tend to stay in Western Pennsylvania.”

21. Bridges and inclines – You want more bridges? There’s always Venice.

22. Snapology – Got a kiddo who is obsessed with Lego? Bethel Park is now home to a Snapology store offering Lego camps, creative play hours and even birthday parties.

23. The ToonSeum – Your kids will want to tour it much more slowly than a speeding bullet.

24. RiverQuest – Cruising the Mon, the Al, and the O when not docked outside the Carnegie Science Center, the RiverQuest ship offers programs and camps designed to promote and preserve our city’s waterways.

25. And finally, great family restaurants – Parents wishing to eat out with their children without enduring the judgmental glares of other patrons can find many refugees, from Spaghetti Warehouse in the Strip,  Dor Stop in Dormont, Joe’s Rusty Nail, Armstrong’s and good old Eat’N Park.

See “From SkyZone to the Carrie Furnace,” also in this issue of Kidsburgh, for more unique Pittsburgh fun.