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City Cast Pittsburgh

Summer’s finally here. Here's how to make the most of it.

Written by City Cast Pittsburgh host Megan Harris.

Fifteen city pools opened this summer (miss you already, Bloomfield Beach), and there’s lots to celebrate. From the best snack options and kiddie areas, to the spots in closest proximity to bars, we’ve got you covered with everything you need to know ahead of a wet hot Pittsburgh summer.

City Cast Pittsburgh podcast guest Jill Terner 

, and she’s planning to hit them all again — plus the three reopened just in time for 2023. Here were last year’s top picks.

This North Side staple sits atop a sunny hill in Riverview Park. It’s huge, secluded, and includes a view of the Allegheny Observatory – but the hours are limited this year and it’s a little lacking in shade.

There’s a colorful mural at the entrance, just up the street from the famed August Wilson House in the Hill. Dubbed by 

 as both the Sportiest Pool with the Cleanliest Bathroom, the friendly staff and on-site water polo league give it a boon. What’s lacking? Kiddie areas.

The all-concrete poolside lounge areas don’t detract from this Mt. Washington pool’s adorable community garden and luscious tall trees. Slight dings for an overall lack of snacks, which seems to plague most city pools.

The adjacent library, playground, deck hockey rink, community garden, and ball field make this well-known South Side spot an oasis along an otherwise chaotic intersection. The grass creates a sort of stadium effect along the Birmingham Bridge, but it loses points for a lack of tables, benches, and kid-friendly wading.

The most charming!! It’s tucked away from Greenfield traffic by ball fields and an active living center, and though small, has the perfect shade-to-grass and grass-to-pool ratios. Bonus points for its proximity to delicious pizza and a neighborhood pub.

Size matters :) But really, it’s got everything — a spacious deep end, beach volleyball, great shade, vending machines, snack trucks, a dedicated kiddie pool with a working mushroom fountain — we could go on. It's the perfect East End watering hole to take a refreshing dip.

🎧 Where Did Your Favorite Land? 

A Definitive Ranking of Pittsburgh’s Pools

Summer Guide

Whether bikes, boats, or buses are your thing, there’s a mode of transportation for you to learn a thing or two about our city. 

 takes you cycling through scenic views while sharing stories along the way, 

 does the same (except it’s a little easier on the joints), and 

 makes the perfect pre-game to a Buccos game. And if you want to really feel like you’re in Mr. Rogers’ neighborhood, take a 1920s style 

 for a fully guided 90-minute historical tour.

 always has a packed calendar of ways to #BeNebby. Don’t miss the 

, like the Mysteries of the Allegheny River and The Mighty Monongahela.

I feel like I create my own food and drink tour just about every time I hop around tahn, but why not have someone else plan it for you? 

 takes your crew to the best breweries in the city (with a guide and designated driver), the 

 gives you an itinerary based on a few different foodie hot spots, and there are 

 for everyone's taste (pickles, ice cream, maple, and more).

Learn about industrialist Henry Clay Frick and his family with a tour of the 

, and for another window into early Pittsburgh labor, take a Rivers of Steel tour of the 

 in Swissvale. The historic landmark was built as part of the Homestead Steel Works in 1884, and the tour shares its innovative technology, the iron-making process, and the culture of its workers. Plus, 

 in Riverview Park finally brought back tours of one of history's major astronomical research institutions.

🎧 Explore More With This City Cast Pittsburgh Podcast

The Best Ways to Explore Pittsburgh This Summer

This segment is written by City Cast Pittsburgh contributor 

While fun, all of the summer merrymaking can be both overwhelming and expensive. We’ve come up with a few tips to make the most out of your time — and your wallet.

There are a surprising number of discounts for most of Pittsburgh’s top attractions that make them really, truly accessible for families. After all, 

 wanted things to be “free to the people,” right? For families who receive public assistance or have Medicaid, there are steeply discounted admissions for the Carnegies, Heinz History Center, Phipps, and the Children’s Museum.

A Carnegie membership also gets you a discount at the new 

, which is a great shorter museum trip on a rainy day or when you need to escape into the AC. Tons of discounts are listed on the 

 website. Before you buy tickets, check with local community centers. They often have discounted tickets to places like Sandcastle and Kennywood.

To avoid pricey Downtown lots, park near the Science Center and take the T to Downtown for free. Kids love to ride a train 

Kids love a fun-filled day, but it can also be overwhelming. Just a bit of planning can make outings (mostly) meltdown-free.

Do what you can, and don’t overplan. Two good hours at a festival with a few fun activities is much more enjoyable than six hours of battling tantrums — you don’t need to do everything at every event.

Honestly, overpack. Bring more snacks than seems reasonable and refillable bottles. Stick a few mini-playdohs, a travel game like 

, and coloring supplies in your bag for when kids need a break from busyness. It helps with waiting for food at restaurants, too.

Find more summer tips from our friends at 

Summer Guide

A Definitive Ranking of Pittsburgh’s Pools

The Best Ways to Explore Pittsburgh This Summer

Tips and Tricks for a Fun (and Affordable) Summer Outing