Sharing The Best of Pittsburgh and Southwest Pennsylvania
The Jennings Environmental Education Center is one part museum, one part park near Slippery Rock, PA.
The park itself is known for its roughly 20-acre prairie, which is one of the only protected and public prairies in the state. Not only does this make the location unique in its own right, but the park is home to a gorgeous museum and many more hiking trails to check out.
Read moreExploring the Prairie at the Jennings Environmental Education Center
Moraine State Park is one of our favorite parks in the area as it is quite large, accessible in about 45 minutes from downtown Pittsburgh, and offers a wealth of things to do when visiting both on and off the water.
On a recent visit, I got to try out something that I've been eyeing for quite some time- stand up paddleboarding with SurfSUP Adventures. I've got to say, this one was a ton of fun!
Read moreStand Up Paddleboarding at Moraine State Park with SurfSUP Adventures
Barking Slopes Conservation Area is a rather small park located near Oakmont and New Kensington, PA- about 40 minutes east of Pittsburgh.
The park is roughly 150 acres and is managed by the Allegheny Land Trust as a conservation and biological diversity area due to its unique geological features.
For the casual hiker, this one is not much different than other conservation areas in the region. But the park offers a nice hike out in nature with potential wildlife spottings all the same.
Read moreBarking Slopes Conservation Area Is a Quiet Spot East of Pittsburgh
Robin Hill Park is a 140 acre park in Moon Township that has roughly two miles of hiking trails. While this one can be explored in its entirety in just under an hour, it does offer a few notable sights worth seeing.
Read moreRobin Hill Park – A Quick Walk Around the Park in Moon Township
The Montour Woods Conservation Area is a 300 acre park operated by the Hollow Oak Land Trust in Coraopolis, PA with over 10 miles of trails.
Accessible in just a short drive from downtown Pittsburgh, the park offers a great opportunity to get out in nature with a few unique sights to check out!
Read moreThe Cave and Nike Missile Site at Montour Woods Conservation Area
When it comes to getting out in nature, especially nature near Pittsburgh, it is really hard to say no to Ohiopyle State Park.
Between the trails, overlooks, and vastness of the park itself, you can really experience nature in any number of ways. But there is only one way to get out and enjoy the park at its most pristine and wild conditions- getting out on the water.
Thankfully, there are a number of Ohiopyle white water rafting options available to help you do just that.
So whether you are looking to simply have a nice day out on the water and enjoy the park, or have an adrenaline packed adventure on the water (while also enjoying nature in the down periods), rafting in Ohiopyle is a great option to consider.
Read moreOhiopyle White Water Rafting Has Options for all Skill Levels
Braddock's Trail Park in Westmoreland County that, unless you are specifically looking for it or live nearby, you've probably never heard of before.
That is because this 148 acre park is relatively off-the-beaten-path for most hikers, and even we overlooked it for several years until our friends at UncoveringPA told us there is a modestly sized waterfall there to check out.
So we all hopped in a car and went down to see what the park is like!
Read moreA Brief Hike at Braddock's Trail Park to the Waterfall and Lookout
Tucked away just steps away from the lake at Pittsburgh's North Park is the Go Ape Treetop Adventure obstacle course.
This one is almost a blink-and-you'll-miss-it kind of place (we sure did during our first visit to the park several years back) and is the kind of spot you really should plan to take some time to visit and enjoy.
We were invited to check out the course by our friends at Go Ape Pittsburgh and put the course to the test during a nice summer day out in nature!
Read moreClimbing Through the Treetops at Go Ape North Park Near Pittsburgh
Cedar Creek Park is a 479 acre park located on the shore of the Youghiogheny River in Westmoreland County, just under an our southeast of Pittsburgh.
Although known for its picnic pavilions, access to the river, and being home to a section of the Great Allegheny Passage trail, Cedar Creek Park is also home to a beautiful one-mile hike through a shaded gorge that makes for a perfect morning out from Pittsburgh.
Cross Creek County Park is a 2,000+ acre park in Washington County just east of Avella, PA (about 50 minutes west of Pittsburgh and just a few miles from the Meadowcroft Rockshelter).
The park features several areas with facilities such as picnic tables, kids play areas, and more, but the real gem of this park is Cross Creek Lake!
Read moreCross Creek County Park – Don't Go for Hiking, Go for Boating!