Pittsburgh Zoo and PPG Aquarium

At the Pittsburgh Zoo and PPG Aquarium, keep an eye out for zebras, lions and giraffes as you wander along a river in the African Savannah. Crawl through an underwater tunnel and marvel at the graceful movements of the stingrays swimming above you. Look into the eyes of the colossal American bears or listen for the calls of the primates as you explore the indoor tropical rain forest. With over 4,000 animals spread between seven exhibit areas, you’re guaranteed some memorable animal encounters at the Pittsburgh Zoo and PPG Aquarium.

Your visit begins with a ride up the escalator from the car park. From here, a series of winding paths leads you through the 77-acre (31-hectare) area of the zoo.

Take a wander through the Asian Forest, which houses some of the rarest big cats in the world. Snow leopards, Amur tigers and other animals prowl the undergrowth. Keep an eye out too for the fearsome Komodo dragons. Discover what lies just off the U.S. coasts in the Water’s Edge exhibit. It was built to resemble a fishing village, and houses polar bears, tiger sharks and other creatures of the deep.

If you’re travelling with small children then a visit to Kid’s Kingdom is a must. Widely recognised as one of the best children’s zoos in the United States, it offers opportunities to interact with kangaroos, goats, deer and many other animals. This area also features a daily sea lion show and a crawl-through tunnel, where children experience what it would be like to live as a meerkat.

The admission price to the zoo includes a visit to the aquarium. Crawl through the stingray tunnels, pause to watch the sharks in their two-story tanks, or marvel at fish from all corners of the world in the revolving tanks.

The Pittsburgh Zoo and Aquarium is located in Highland Park, about 6 miles (10 kilometres) east of downtown. There is free parking and a Port Authority Transit (PAT) bus stops nearby. The zoo is open daily, except Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day, and there is a small entry fee.