Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium — Attraction in Pittsburgh

On our last visit we went for the Asian Lantern festival which was very nice, however most of the animals were not out, almost of all the food places were closed, and no alcohol was available. There is no smoking anywhere in the park, which is fairly normal for parks now, but in all reality just led to several people smoking on less monitored parts of the walk. Between the lack of alcohol and smoking, for a night oriented walk in a secure location, it felt a bit like walking through a convent. This also didn't prevent an extremely drunk person from roaming around near us for the first fifteen minutes, so basically any measures used by the park to create a more family friendly environment simply were not effective and restricted normal responsible adults. Entry was fairly cheap at $25 per person, but purchasing an umbrella was $18 and a piece of pizza, cheese fries, drinks, and two essentially pudding cups were $50. It's to be expected I suppose, but the food was ok at best and why not make the umbrella $25-30 if the park is going to bend me over in public for what I believe was a plain black umbrella that was in all likelyhood a one time use item.

Speaking more generally about daytime visits; The parking situation is fairly good I think. The park does a good job of hiding how small and urban it really is, but somehow the walking route does feel a little long for how many displays are covered. The food situation is fairly poor. If I'm going to pay out of the nose for a pizza, then just give me a place with a good steak or something of a higher value and rip me off the same amount and I won't feel as bad. Normally there are a couple places to get drinks, which is nice, but to my knowledge it's all canned garbage or maybe a draft beer and given the hot long walk, I'd be more appreciative of a frozen margarita or something I can't get at a gas station at 2am. There's not a lot of easy to see unique animals that offer anything special. The polar bears and seals and walruses are an exception (but don't expect to see them at the lantern festival). You can get very cool views of them swimming through the glass. The red panda is cute, but they have one lonely one that looks like it's clinically depressed that you can usually only view through a fogged up window. The aquarium is kind of depressing.

The coolness and vibe at night was nice. I know they have done after hours events, I think I've heard of a Valentine's dinner. Getting information on when these are doesn't appear to be readily available and when I've tried to reserve things in the past, they've usually been booked for months. What I would suggest, is the park should make better use of these evening hours. Many animals are nocturnal, a few of those in an area with a unique dining experience and some classy drinks should make a lot of money and offer experiences that are hard to come by anywhere else. I realize the Pittsburgh zoo isn't Disney, but I recall Animal Kingdom having night safaris and great food and drinks; A taste of that in Pittsburgh...

It's okay. They were doing some construction out front which was rough to look at but a necessary evil with construction. Inside, everything looks old. High ceilings are dirty and stained, walls are pretty gross, etc. Something a kid definitely wouldn't notice but as an adult you likely will.

The zoo is a decent size. Probably a couple hours walk if you stop and look at everything. They do have a tram that rolls around for $5, but the stops may not line up with your timing and honestly it's barely faster than walking.

There is food available at the food court which we did not get, but it looked and smelled surprisingly yummy. There is also a Dippin Dots stand and I do love me some Dippin Dots.

As for the zoo animals, it's mostly okay. As I get older I am at a crossroads with zoo's. The animals don't have to worry about being eaten but also, some of the enclosures feel too small to me. Jungle cats in a 10' circle for example, or 50 giant fish in a narrow but tall giant tank. Probably just my old age cynicism but it feels more like a prison than a zoo sometimes. The aquarium is pretty cool, but again, some of the tanks seem too small to me. Also, the starting hallway is extremely tight. It does open up after a bit but if you're claustrophobic you'll have a real bad time at first.

Parking is kind of strange, but it is free. When the lower lot fills up you can park along the road before the lower lot. That's fine, but for some reason there's a fence running the entire length of the road with, at least where we were parked, no gate or opening. So you have to walk ALLLLLL the way down to the lower lot entrance then ALLLLLL the way down the road to your car. But it is free, and walking is fine.

The staff we did deal with were all younger, but were very polite.

A couple of kind of major downsides though. I think every single vending machine we came up to was either out of service or empty. An entire section of the zoo was closed down while they updated it for fall festivities. The polar bear enclosure was big - but it was empty. The bathrooms are... weird, or at least the one we stopped at. By that I mean that they're small, which is fine, but there's only one stall and two urinals; a low one for kids and a tall one for adults... with no barrier. That's... creepy to me.

Price I thought was pretty reasonable. I think it was $60 for two adults on a Saturday.

We came here for my fiancee nephews 3rd birthday and in that respect, it was a fine time. He loved it. Personally as an adult I probably wouldn't come alone/without my fiance. All in all though it was an okay way to...

A report from the urban jungle known as The Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium. My mission began with an immediate obstacle. The very entrance to the facility is a scene of massive upheaval—a sprawling construction site where they are erecting a new welcome center. One must navigate a labyrinth of temporary fences and bypass the roar of heavy machinery. It is organized chaos, reminiscent of the constant state of demolition and reconstruction in my own city of Gotham. It serves as a fitting warning: you must be vigilant from the very first step.

Once past the gauntlet at the gate, my reconnaissance of the zoo grounds commenced. After traversing a gigantic escalator up the hill, I immediately felt a sense of familiarity among the great cats. A magnificent tiger paced with the same dangerous, fluid grace as Selina Kyle on a rooftop heist. These feline femme fatales watch you with intelligent, predatory eyes, reminding you that they are the true masters of their domain.

My investigation then proceeded to a lower level, into the dark, watery depths of the Aquarium. It is a subterranean lair that would make Killer Croc feel right at home. Through reinforced glass, I observed a colony of penguins, waddling about in their permanent black-tie attire. A fishy enterprise, indeed. I kept my guard up, half-expecting Oswald Cobblepot himself to appear, demanding tribute. The deep-water tanks hold other mysteries—strange, alien-like jellyfish pulsing with an eerie light, a sight as unsettling as anything from Scarecrow's nightmares.

"Beware" Advisory:

The Gates of Chaos: The ongoing construction at the entrance creates a confusing, ever-changing landscape. Be prepared for detours and loud noises before your mission even begins.

The Terrain: The hills of this facility are relentless. Navigating them is a physical challenge worthy of the League of Shadows. Prepare your grappling hook… or at least, wear comfortable shoes.

Detective Tip:

Initiate your patrol at opening bell. Securing the perimeter before the civilian masses descend is critical, especially with the confusion at the entrance. The animals are most active in the morning coolness, providing the best opportunities for surveillance.

Final Verdict:

The Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium is a living catalog of the wild, but one that is currently undergoing a chaotic transformation. It demands stamina, patience at the gate, and constant awareness. It is perfectly sized for a 2-hour visit. Keep your wits about you, and you may just survive the...