The Best Hotels to Book Near Kennywood, Pennsylvania

The Gilded Age glamour of the Mansions on Fifth fits seamlessly on Millionaire’s Row – and it’s yours for the taking. Immerse yourself in its opulence and settle for only the Presidential Suite: a 1,000sqft (93sqm) suite with a jetted tub and two living spaces, each with a wet bar. Leave your ritzy retreat only to visit the Oak Room for a whiskey tasting, intimate local concert or another exceptionally curated weekly event.

Summertime in Pittsburgh is as cool as it gets at Hilton Garden Inn. School may be in at the surrounding universities, but you’ll be too busy hopping between Kennywood and Sandcastle Water Park. When you’re not soaking wet from the Pittsburgh Plunge or Lightning Express, you can chill in the shade of Schenley Park and Phipps Conservatory across the street. Leave wet footprints on your way back to your suite, and, maybe, swap out that swimsuit for proper attire before heading down to the hotel’s restaurant.

Don’t let the name mislead you: the Inn on the Mexican War Streets is one of the best places to stay with your kids. This mansion, once a baron’s home, is your basecamp for family fun. Your hosts will treat your kiddos to chocolate chip cookies and snacks after lunch and before bedtime. In the moments between, walk across the street to see the beautiful birds of the National Aviary, or get hands-on with the exhibits at the Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh.

Where better to find a quiet retreat in the Burgh than at a former monastery? The Priory, hanging up in the North Side, boasts rooms with skyline views that you can savor in silence. The courtyard is serene, though the sounds of East Allegheny will buzz around you. A livelier crowd can be found at the Monk’s Bar, and, if you desire a rowdier crowd, the Pirate’s fans at PNC Park down the street will break the silence in the best of ways.

The best of Pittsburgh should be experienced through the best of accommodations at Omni William Penn Hotel. Luxury suites with square footage larger than some homes are ornately designed with cherry wood furnishings and elegant moldings. A tin roof and rich scarlet furniture house the Speakeasy, where scotch and sophistication are always served. Whether you’re seeing a performance at Heinz Hall, catching a Steelers game from a private box or eating your way through the Strip District like a local, the Omni puts it all at your fingertips.

Stained glass, limestone and other original features of the former Salvation Army Building blend with contemporary design to create Distrikt Hotel. King suites with subway-tiled walk-in glass showers sit beneath a rooftop terrace basking in the skyscrapers of Steel City. The hotel’s complimentary bicycle rental offers one of the best ways to visit Point State Park, though we’d leave the wheels at the hotel if you’re headed across the Monongahela for drinks at Station Square.

Oakland is a convergence of culture, academia and creativity, so it’s no surprise that the Oaklander fits in with this cutting-edge neighborhood. All rooms feature walk-in showers with rainfall showerheads. Classical and contemporary converge on the French plates at Spirits & Tales, where sweeping panoramic views are always on the menu. The city-view rooms are spectacular, too, though there’s no substitute for seeing Oakland from the street. Stroll Forbes Avenue, and marvel at the wonders inside and out of the Carnegie Museums, Music Hall and University.

The deep gray walls and dark blue decor of the rooms at the Industrialist really give off Steel City vibes. You’ll spot the Monongahela River and Market Square from your window, but the industrial spirit of the city, however, can be found down on the second floor. The Mark is an engaging experience, where you can drink, tinker with tools and take home your own Three Rivers creation. Post-project praise can be found between the bread of a Primanti Bros sandwich across the block.

Do you need an excuse for a group golf outing? Let the big kids have their adult-free fun at Kennywood, while you and the gang play eighteen at the Lenape Heights Golf Resort. The Superior Room is ready for your foursome, welcoming you and your boogie buddies with views of the course from your balcony. With the kids losing their lunch on the rickety Racer, you and your chums are free to spend all afternoon with burgers and beer at the Lenape Bar & Grill.

The Historic Summit Inn, only open April through November, is ideal for a fall visit. Play its 1920s nine-hole golf course; then, take to the hiking trails, and appreciate the fiery leaves without worrying about slow play. The heated indoor pool is a perfect place to relax and watch the leaves blow in the chilly autumn wind. Your room is just as cozy – though, if you’ve got a warm jumper, we advise snagging a few hours in the Black Bear Bungalow treehouse.