While the shopping malls around Pittsburgh generally do a good job with Santa, there are other great places to find the jolly guy which offer a little more fun and interaction and a little less standing in line.
Enjoy a relaxing riverboat cruise with Santa Claus and the gang, including live entertainment and photos with Santa. This two hour Santa cruise around downtown Pittsburgh is offered select weekends between Thanksgiving and Christmas.
If you've never been to the Western Pennsylvania Trolley Museum, you're in for a treat. Here you can combine the kids talking to Santa with a nice trolley ride, and an educational tour through the trolley museum. Plus a model railroad all decorated for the holidays. The kids really like this one!
The downtown Macy's store continues the popular Santa tradition begun when it was Kaufmann's with their annual breakfast and lunch meet and greet. Bring the kids to meet Santa and enjoy a tasty breakfast or lunch, plus a delightful theatrical production.
Santa and his elves bring the tropics to Pittsburgh on weekends from Thanksgiving through Christmas. Every Saturday and Sunday at Phipps.
Join Santa for a special breakfast or lunch with live entertainment and goodie bags, before heading off to visit the new polar bears and the rest of the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium. If you aren't into the cold, the aquarium and jungle areas of the zoo are nice and toasty year-round!
This popular annual event at Schenley Park offers a special opportunity for kids (and their parents) to take to the ice with Santa and his elves amid the beautiful forested backdrop of Schenley Park. Bring the camera to capture the holiday memories!
Photos at the mall with Santa? That's sooo last year. This December, children visiting the National Aviary from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on special Saturdays will not only have the chance to share their holiday wish lists, they will also have their photos taken with Santa and one of the National Aviary's penguins. Plus more fun activities and goodies.
Wake up early and treat your kids to Breakfast with Santa at the Hard Rock Cafe at Station Square. Each child will get to meet and greet Santa and put in their last minute wish lists. Includes a free train ride for the kids on the Station Square Holiday Express.
A great idea for a special holiday outing with the kids, the Santa, Breakfast and a Movie event at SouthSide Works, offered on December 13 & 14, combines a yummy buffet breakfast with Santa, followed by a showing of Disney's
Bolt at the Southside Works Cinema. Plus, crafts, pictures with Santa, and goodie bags to take home.
Combine your Christmas tree choosing, with Christmas shopping, decorating and Santa - all in one fun morning or afternoon at Trax Farms. The kids enjoy breakfast or lunch with Santa, plus crafts and a treat, while the adults can browse the Christmas Shop or enjoy coffee and refreshments from the Garden Cafe.
