Your guide to activities and fun things to do with your preschoolers, toddlers and kids in Pittsburgh, PA

Pittsburgh has an amazing collection of holiday events, and many of us who grew up here can remember what we've done every year since we were a kid.  And we want to share those events with our kids.  Here are some of my favorites:

Miniature Railroad and Village

I remember as a kid the thrill of visiting Buhl Planetarium every December to see the miniature train display.  I would want to stay in that room all day just watching the little people live in their tiny life vignettes and the trains as they came and went through the tunnels and valleys.  Now, you can see the trains all year at the Carnegie Science Center, but I am still listing it as a holiday event because that is how my brain has it stored (as it probably is for many of you, too).

Christmas Trees at the Carnegie Museum

Another yearly trek with the family when I was young was to see the massive decorated trees in the Hall of Architecture at the Carnegie Museum of Natural History.  The scale of the trees and decorations alone will bring wide-eyed wonder to your kids.  Don't forget to also check out the collection of presepi (Italian Nativity scenes).

Nationality Rooms at the Cathedral of Learning

I know I just talked about this event in my last post, but I forgot to remind you that the rooms will stay decorated through the rest of this month.  Stop by to seethem all dressed up for the holidays and to get some extra information about the many people who have formed our city's rich heritage.  And if you're one to mark your calendar a year in advance, make sure to go to the Holiday Open House next year--it's always the first Sunday in December.

Candlelight Christmas at Old Economy Village

This activity might not appeal to the very youngest preschoolers, but the older ones will be drawn in by the wonderful Christmas decorations, the candlelight throughout the village, and the appeal of food.  (Yum!)  If you have not been to Old Economy Village with your family, it's an easy way to step back in time and get about as close to experiencing life 100+ years ago as you can get without a time machine.  At Christmas, the village is simply magical.

The Hornes' Tree

There's something about seeing the huge tree attached to the side of the former Hornes' department store in downtown Pittsburgh that lets me believe it is actually nearing Christmas.  Hornes islong gone, but that tree has become a landmark.  While it's not really an event in itself, make sure to go downtown during the holidays to check out the displays like the Hornes' tree, the Macy's windows, the trees in the PPG Wintergarden, and other little treasures scattered about.