This beautifully maintained park is a must-visit just 30-40 mins north of Pittsburgh. We planned to…read morevisit the old grist mill and walk the 3 mile out-and-back Kildoo trail over the weekend. It seemed like everyone else had the same plan! Get there early to secure a close parking slot, otherwise, you'll be circling for a while or parking down towards the picnic area. The trail entrance to head down to the mill by the picnic area is currently closed off for stair repairs. They had staff down at the mill sharing a bit of the history to go along with all of the photos and signs with information throughout. The trail was perfectly shaded, mossy, and cool right along the river. I can't wait for my next visit.

If you live in Pittsburgh or are just visiting the area, McConnells Mill is one of the best day…read moretrips around. It's only about 40 miles north up I-79, so it's an easy drive from the city, but it feels like a completely different world once you get down into the gorge. I've been going there for years with friends and family, and it became my go-to spot to take people when they would visit from out of town. Everyone always loves checking out the historic old gristmill and the red covered bridge right next to it. It's a great, classic view, and if you go during the summer, they usually open up the mill for tours so you can see how it all used to work. The hiking there is fantastic, too, with a good mix of trails depending on what you're up for. You can take a pretty easy walk back to Hell's Hollow Falls, or you can tackle the rougher, rockier trails that run right along Slippery Rock Creek. You definitely want to wear sturdy shoes because the terrain gets steep and the rocks get slick, but the scenery with the rushing whitewater and massive boulders is totally worth it. It's just a beautiful, simple place to get outdoors for a few hours. Whether you want a challenging hike or just want to sit by the water and look at the old bridge, it never disappoints.

I love it, it's a great place to be for the parents to relax and kids to play!read more

Not bad for being 10 minutes from home. Best for ages 2-8 but big enough for us big kids too! Nice…read moreplace to stop for the youngins to expel all that extra energy :o)

This is the best park. So much to see and do including bike areas, kid ponds with turtles, gardens…read morefor weddings, and lots of water to kayak on. There are several entrances to drive in and exit from. Plus it is all free! If highly recommend just taking a little drive in the morning to check out all the park has to offer.

Amazing trails to run and an amazing playground for kids. Really clean restrooms everywhere.read more

Took my son to this park and he had a blast playing on the playground and climbing on the…read morestructure, going down the slides, swinging, and going across the 3 diff types of monkey bars. There's a part of the playground for little kids and a part for bigger kids, as well as a sandbox to play in as well (there's woodchips over most of the ground). We also used the park bathrooms while there which were clean, though slightly smelly. We didn't use, but also saw tennis courts, a baseball field, a pool + splash pad, a basketball court, many swinging benches, and multiple pavilions. Overall a lovely park with a great play area for kids.

Wonderful kayaking and birding here at the park. If you want to see Osprey, this is the place to…read morego. This park is most lake, but Lake Wilhelm is quite extraordinary. The facilities are well maintained, but the stars here are the wildlife. There is a 12 mile paved bike trail that circumnavigates the lake. The trail has nice views of the lake, depending on the season.

A very nice park and lake area. I was in the area for a high school crew meet (octuple scull…read morerowing). Ran into a very polite ranger, the area we were at was very clean and well kept, and the boat launches were in great shape (Launch area 2).

The hiking trail we went on was not to long and had nice scenery. Parking was easy to find. The…read morewaterfall is definitely worth the hike there. You can go under it, go above it, and go behind it! Also lots of smooth rocks to set up towel and sit in the sun.

It's a very nice place. If you have any physical limitations the somewhat short walk to the falls…read moreis a bit of a challenge. There are a few kind of steep uneven wooden steps. Then at the actual fall there are large uneven rocks you must walk on if you want to get to a swimming hole there. Definitely not for older people with balance issues or small children.

One of my fav state parks. Can be mildly crowded especially on weekends but overall not awful…read more Great birding spot. sad with the build up of liter :(

Swim here was very nice. While it does get busy, many people seem to disregard the rules. Multiple…read morepeople taking their dogs into the lake while there's also a dog park right beside it, one family left their dog on a tie out in the sand with just a water bowl and a blanket. Water is murky, but it makes sense because it's a lake. About four benches were taken from other people/families because a family refused to rent the pavilion. Had many water cases from Sam's Club (about 3 cases), a couple of different pop varieties from Sam's Club (4 cases of 12 packs), and a bunch of snacks? Same person left flags in the sand, Jordan. Not sure why, guy was by himself.

The Greenville Railroad Museum in Pennsylvania is a charming spot for train enthusiasts. It…read moreshowcases historic locomotives, memorabilia, and model trains, offering a glimpse into railroad history. Volunteers provide insightful tours, making it a memorable experience for all ages.

I arrived on a day when the museum was not scheduled to open. The reconstructed buildings and the…read morerolling stock were all beautifully maintained and could be viewed even with the museum closed. Then a pair of members showed up to do some work and they invited me to view the artifact collection inside and then I was given a personal tour of all of the holdings. The collection is heavy on the Bessemer & Lake Erie RR and the displays well kept. One very important point is this group holds photos which were taken by a company photographer and document much of the operation. WONDERFUL!!!

Sunny dog park in Brady's Run Beaver County. Flat, open, clean. Very little shade but lots of nice…read moregrass. Found this location when I stopped by Brad's Run to enjoy some hiking trails. The dogs will love it!!!

I love this park! Its our go to for swimming or just hanging out, would 100% recommend for a day of…read morehanging out whether your hanging at the park, walking a trail, or swimming. If you go to the first swimming area make sure you go check out the awesome rope swing on the cliff side!

North Park is the largest park in Allegheny County. Spanning parts of McCandless, Hampton, and Pine…read moretownships, it is nearly 3,100 acres in size, and it has a 65-acre lake for boating, kayaking, and fishing. Other amenities are a nature center, golf courses, swimming pool, ice rink, dek hockey rink, ballfields, shelters, off-leash areas for dogs, basketball courts, archery range, tennis courts, fields for radio-control airplanes, Go Ape zip lines, etcetera! This park even has a restaurant and an ice-cream shop. For several years, I have visited this park. Most often I take my dog to the dog park. I have also hiked the trails and enjoyed the beautiful plants and wildlife. I consider this park to be a blessing to the residents of the Northern suburbs and to non-local visitors.

The largest park in the Pittsburgh area (Allegheny County) with a 75 acre lake!…read moreThe lake is great for water activities like fishing or kayaking. There's an ice rink for winter ice skating. Paved walking trails. Wooded areas. Golfing. Swimming pool. Nature center. Hockey courts. Basketball. Tennis courts. Off-leash dog park. So much more! Need an escape from the hustle and bustle of city life? Take a quick trip from Pittsburgh to North Park and let nature do its thing!