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

Dino Hunt! Oakland

by Jennifer Signore

February 24, 2009

Now that DinoMite Days are long behind us, many of the dinosaurs created for that event were purchased by individuals or organizations and are housed in various locations around the city. Because our house is currently going through a dinosaur phase (and I suspect a lot of yours are, too), I thought I'd assemble a dino hunt for you and your little adventurers. All but one of these dinos is in the Oakland area and could be made into a walking tour if the weather cooperates. The last one is a bit farther away, but you'll build an appetite finding the first four, so it's a great final destination. Enjoy the hunt!

Dippy the Dinosaur
Installed in 1999 in honor of the 100^th anniversary of the expedition that discovered Diplodocus fossils in Wyoming, Dippy has become a Pittsburgh landmark. At 22 feet tall and 84 feet long, Dippy is a life-size replica of Diplodocus carnegii, a dinosaur named after Andrew Carnegie, the man who funded the expedition. Depending on the time of year, Dippy might be sporting a scarf (black and gold, of course!). A path leads straight to Dippy and you are welcome to touch him-always a plus with the kids! 

Alphabetasaurus
At the corner of Bellefield and Forbes, the Alphabetasaurus is a playful take on a triceratops. His bright colors and bold letters will amuse all in the preschool set. And, appropriately, he stands on the grounds of the headquarters for the Pittsburgh Public Schools. Go letters!

Seymour Sparklesaurus
At the Western Pennsylvania School for the Blind, on the corner of Bellefield and Bayard, you will find Seymour Sparklesaurus . Sparky was decorated by children at the School for the Blind and features golden handprints from students, teachers, and sponsors along it's sides. You can also find the word "stegosaurus" spelled out in Braille using bottle caps.  

Fredosaurus Rex Friday XIII
This dinosaur created as a tribute to Fred Rogers stands outside the WQED studios on Fifth Avenue between Neville and Morewood Avenues. You won't be able to stop along Fifth to see this dino, but if you park along one of the side streets opposite his location, you can either check him out from a distance or *carefully* cross the street for an up close visit. My son sings to him every time we pass with a little song he made up to the tune of Frere Jacques (Fred-a-saur-us, Fred-a-saur-us...).

Pittsburghius Architectaurus
You've had a great day, so why not collect your just desserts. Or just eat dessert. At Eat n Park. (Get it?  Desserts?  Ok, I admit that's a bad one.)  At the entrance to the Homestead Waterfront's Eat n Park restaurant, you will find the last dino of the quest. This figure features Pittsburgh's buildings both past (left side) and present (on the right). See if the kids can figure out which side is which!  

Three Days in Pittsburgh: Day One--Soaking in the Skyline

by Jennifer Signore

February 02, 2009

Many people these days are choosing to spend their vacation time exploring their own city, rather than trekking off to a distant locale. This has been termed a "staycation" and is becoming more popular as the economy struggles. If you are planning a "trip" of this type or are trying to get some friends to visit and they keep asking, "But what can we do in Pittsburgh?" then I have a treat  Read more...

Three Days in Pittsburgh: Day Two--Children's Museum and the Strip

by Jennifer Signore

February 02, 2009

Start your day with a big breakfast at your local Eat n Park , where the breakfast buffet lets everyone eat exactly what they want (always a plus when kids are involved). Kids five and under will eat free with an adult buffet purchase and kids 10 and under eat for half price, so it's easy on the wallet. It's a family friendly place with a great cup of coffee to get a parent's day  Read more...

Three Days in Pittsburgh: Day Three--Carnegie Museums of Art and Natural History

by Jennifer Signore

February 02, 2009

Hopefully by today you are not completely exhausted, because you are about to experience one of the best dinosaur collections in the world! First of all, though, is breakfast (have you noticed that we Pittsburghers love our food?). I would recommend a trip to Pamela's Restaurant (various locations), famous for pancakes and also for yummy home fries (I don't like potatoes and I just LOVE  Read more...

Surviving Holiday Preparations

by Jennifer Signore

December 01, 2008

We have no sooner recovered from Turkey Day and we find ourselves neck deep in preparations for the winter holidays. No matter the holiday you celebrate, you probably find yourselves completely worn out by the time the holiday actually arrives. Am I right? Or is it just me? What I would like to offer today is a list of things that help me minimize holiday stress. As a working mom, I am  Read more...

An Educational Treat: Page Dairy Mart

by Jennifer Signore

October 16, 2008

Founded in 1951, Page Dairy Mart , at the corner of Carson Street and Becks Run Road on Pittsburgh's Southside, is the quintessential seasonal ice cream stop. You will find rich, creamy soft-serve ice cream at a great price in endless combinations. The kids will probably love the dirt sundae, complete with gummy worm. Mom or dad might want to indulge in a SouthSide Shake, which is  Read more...