I know we really enjoy it—I’m not sure how to judge it, though, since I don’t know much about aquariums in general. The neatest thing on the aquarium side of things, I think, are the glass tunnels, where you can get up close to the sand tiger sharks:
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09156/975189-53.stm
Ellery...you must be a native yinzer (or frequent visitor to da Burgh). Great ideas...and as a mom who lives here I can substaniate that the Children’s Museum; the Carnegie Science Center would be awesome for a two and a half year old (also on the North Shore, the National Aviary)...the Pgh Zoo and PPG Aquarium are world class (Highland Park...sorta east).
In March, a boat ride on the 3 Rivers would be pretty cold (and might not even be running yet) but the Gateway Clipper sightseeing tours are pretty neat...as is the Rubber Duckie boat thingy (but those are ‘warm’ weaather activities:)
Now, in addition to Primanti’s n’at...the little guy might like to visit the Big Mac Museum in Irwin, PA (if you wind up in Monroeville, Irwin is one PaTurnpike Exit eastbound). The Museum is really just a souped up McDs (with a play area room) and McDs memorablia...but...as it is minutes from my house (and we eat there often) it a hoot to ‘see’ tour buses/tourists who follow the signs off the turnpike to eat there. We also have been asked ‘can you take our picture infront of the huge cheeseburger?’. Its actually funny.
The little guy might enjoy it :)