My husband, daughter and I will be spending the day in Pittsburgh this Saturday, and I was hoping to get some information on the aquarium. Is it a stand-alone, or attached to the Pittsburgh zoo? Just wondering how much time it would take to walk through? What's been the experience of others that have visited - worth it....?

Thanks!

The aquarium and zoo are in the same complex. I was there on a weekday last October with my daughter and we thoroughly saw the zoo and aquarium in 2 - 2.5 hours. However, we didn't have any crowds to content with, which I suppose you will have on Saturday.
I was very impressed with this zoo and aquarium. Parts of the aquarium were recently renovated and they did a great job. One of my favorite sections at the aquarium was the polar bear exhibit because there is an underwater viewing area where you can watch the polar bear swim underwater.

It's nice, longhorn55. We are zoo people. My SO is a raptor person. He was a docent at Brookfield Zoo (IL) and we are Brookfield Zoo Members. We just got a new Bear Wilderness and some see throughs on humongous underwater exhibits, like that too.

Your Pittsburgh National Aviary is also getting a big addition.

They are recouperating sea eagles, amongst other N. America birds, besides all the multiple South American species that they have. LOVED the interaction with children allowed there.

BTW, the Zoo or Aquarium would take more time than the National Aviary. Also if the weather was raining etc.- the Aviary is primarily indoors. Although we did see two different outdoor shows there. All of the shows and feedings at the Aviary have scheduled interaction times with kids.

The animals are actually really active at the Zoo when it rains and there are lots of indoor areas. The elephant barn, the Tropical Forest Complex, the PPG Aquarium and Water's Edge, as well as Worlds of Discovery Pavilion. It's inexpensive, $13 for adults and $11 for kids and you can stay as long as you want to. It is about 2 1/2 hours to see the whole zoo. If you check out the Zoo's web site you can plan your visit so you can see any of the 20 or more shows/animal encounters each day!

On Saturday at noon you can meet the tiger expert, at 12:30 see a sea lion show and at 1:30 talk to a scuba diver while he's swimming with sharks in the Aquarium. You might even get lucky and see the polar bear swimming over your head in Water's Edge.

We've often spent an entire day at the zoo, arriving at opening (10??) enjoying a couple of hours of walking around the various areas, having lunch in a shady pavilion, and then viewing more, ending at the Children's area, and finally the gift shop before heading home.
Makes for a nice day, although of course you can spend a shorter time and still see most of the zoo.