The Best Picnic Spots in Pittsburgh, PA

If you want to enjoy a picnic in the city of Pittsburgh, there are wonderful spots to choose from. Pittsburgh's parks offer a refuge from the busy city, places for families to play, free entertainment and lots of nature. Pack some sandwiches, trail mix, fresh fruit, cookies and drinks and be on your way in no time. Whether you're looking for a picnic with a view, an area with a fun playground for the kids or a place to get away from it all, Pittsburgh has the perfect picnic spots for you to enjoy.

Schenley Park

Schenley Park is one of the best parks in Pittsburgh, perfect for a family picnic. The entrance to the main park is called Schenley Plaza, which is a small park all on its own. The plaza features moveable chairs and cafe tables on which to dine, a tented area for shade, restrooms, food kiosks to add forgotten items or an extra treat to your picnic, and a carousel the kids can ride for only $1.25. Schenley Plaza is also home to the Pittsburgh International Children's Festival each May. The park itself has lots of places to picnic, depending on your preferences. Flagstaff Hill is a huge, sun-drenched lawn which is perfect for spreading out a picnic blanket, tossing a Frisbee or playing a game of tag. Panther Hollow Valley and Phipps Run offer wooded and water-front areas, as two streams run through which empty into Panther Hollow Lake. These areas are also convenient to the Cafe and Visitor's Center and the best playground in the park: Anderson Playground. And if you're looking for a traditional picnic shelter, then find a spot at the Vietnam Veteran's Pavilion and Playground. Here, you can picnic in the shade and relax after your meal while the kids play. No matter which spot you choose, Schenley Park provides a true oasis from Pittsburgh urban life.

Highland Park

Highland Park is a beautiful green space centered around an historic reservoir that served the city's water needs in the late 1800s. Today, its trails, gardens and playgrounds are a popular destination for many in the Pittsburgh area. Highland is also home to the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium, so you can picnic during a trip to the zoo. This park features numerous picnic groves with outdoor grills, a lovely Victorian garden, and several playgrounds for kids. Super Playground is a favorite; it's a wooden playground featuring a trolley ride, catwalks, swings, slides and underground play phones. This park is a family-friendly destination for a picnic in Pittsburgh.

Emerald View Park

Located atop Mount Washington, Emerald View Park has some of the most breathtaking views in the country, and is the perfect spot to see all of Pittsburgh. This park has wooded trails, playgrounds for the kids and scenic overlooks so you can truly have a meal with a view. If you want to add even more fun to your picnic, access this park with a ride on the Duquesne Incline, a passenger train that will transport you right up the side of Mount Washington.

Point State Park

Point State Park is located in Pittsburgh's "Golden Triangle," where the three rivers meet. It is a National Historic Landmark and tells the story of Pittsburgh's involvement in the French and Indian War. At the tip of this beautiful park is a majestic, 100-foot fountain, which is perfect for cooling off on hot summer days. There are many expanses of lawns throughout the park on which you can picnic while taking in views of the city and the rivers. Benches, walking trails and paved areas are also located throughout the park. And if you're looking for free entertainment, Point State Park is also home to the Three Rivers Arts Festival for ten days each June and the Three Rivers Regatta every 4^th of July weekend.

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