Ideas for Pittsburgh Pa trip ideas

[China Expat]

Aww. It makes me happy to hear that people love the nationality rooms so much. When I was in college I was a part of Quo Vadis and we were the tour guides. The testing to become one was fairly rigorous. The rooms are also decorated for Christmas—simply spectacular if you ever get the chance. Phipps is nearby (walking distance from the Cathedral of Learning where the Nationality Rooms are) and also fantastic. Also, Heinz Chapel is next to the Cathedral and beautiful as well.

My son went to Carnegie Mellon and we always loved visiting that space when we came out for a visit!

 

[fly girl]

And that is near a parking lot and an old Orthodox Church.

I can’t tell if that was humor or mocking? Can’t read tone.

I wasn’t trying to be annoying, I just got excited about Carson Street as I haven’t been in a long time and I used to go there regularly when several in-laws lived there. Just sharing good spots to visit, and Mallorca is a great Spanish restaurant. OP asked for insight, so I shared.

 

[mikehn]

Pittsburgh is on a mountain and some of the streets are as steep as those in san francisco

 

[White Cat]

I can’t tell if that was humor or mocking? Can’t read tone.

I wasn’t trying to be annoying, I just got excited about Carson Street as I haven’t been in a long time and I used to go there regularly when several in-laws lived there. Just sharing good spots to visit, and Mallorca is a great Spanish restaurant. OP asked for insight, so I shared.

No I’m just describing the area. I know it fairly well.

 

[White Cat]

My son went to Carnegie Mellon and we always loved visiting that space when we came out for a visit!

My dad , uncles and aunts and much of my family went there. Nice little campus.

 

[fly girl]

No I’m just describing the area. I know it fairly well.

Carson Street is fun. In laws lived in South Shore Place. They got in on it in '98 before it really became popular and prices went insane. Jeff Reed had a townhouse across from them ... we were excited at first, but quickly learned he was an obnoxious neighbor. Thankfully his residency there was not long after he was cut from the Steelers.

 

[Kennywood]

If you're interested in amusement parks, I HIGHLY recommend you spend a day at Kennywood. It might be blasphemous to say here, but I would rather spend a day at Kennywood than at Disney World.

If you're looking to just relax, then you should definitely spend some time at Point State Park. It's at the point in Pittsburgh where the Allegheny River and Allegheny River merge to form the Ohio River. There's an old Revolutionary War block house you can visit too.

For dinner, do NOT miss going to one of the restaurants on Mount Washington. There, you'll get a spectacular view of the entire city. It's absolutely magnificent. Either before or after dinner, you can take the Duquesne Incline, one of the few funicular "cable cars" in the country.

For shopping, you should visit Station Square. It's only a mile from the base of the Duquesne Incline. There are a lot of wonderful shops there.

If you want to spend some time with Lady Luck, you can visit the Rivers Casino.

As this is my home town, I could spend page after page on all of the wonderful things to do and see there. Pretty much, whatever you want to do, you can find it in Pittsburgh.

 

[White Cat]

If you're interested in amusement parks, I HIGHLY recommend you spend a day at Kennywood. It might be blasphemous to say here, but I would rather spend a day at Kennywood than at Disney World.

If you're looking to just relax, then you should definitely spend some time at Point State Park. It's at the point in Pittsburgh where the Allegheny River and Youghiogheny River merge to form the Ohio River. There's an old Revolutionary War block house you can visit too.

For dinner, do NOT miss going to one of the restaurants on Mount Washington. There, you'll get a spectacular view of the entire city. It's absolutely magnificent. Either before or after dinner, you can take the Duquesne Incline, one of the few funicular "cable cars" in the country.

For shopping, you should visit Station Square. It's only a mile from the base of the Duquesne Incline. There are a lot of wonderful shops there.

If you want to spend some time with Lady Luck, you can visit the Rivers Casino.

As this is my home town, I could spend page after page on all of the wonderful things to do and see there. Pretty much, whatever you want to do, you can find it in Pittsburgh.

Not the Yough but the Monongehela. Yes Kennywood is relaxing and historical. And inexpensive.

 

[White Cat]

Carson Street is fun. In laws lived in South Shore Place. They got in on it in '98 before it really became popular and prices went insane. Jeff Reed had a townhouse across from them ... we were excited at first, but quickly learned he was an obnoxious neighbor. Thankfully his residency there was not long after he was cut from the Steelers.

We use to call that area Slovak Slops.
I know what you mean. In my last neighbour hood there were several NBA players and a few NHL players. It wasn’t very enjoyable having them there.

 

[mrodgers]

Hate to be nice to Pitt, but if you are comming in on 76 headed west to Pitt, its really cool, you see nothig but these twisted Mt you are going thru, then you trun around last hill, and this big city appears out of nowhere its like the wizard of oz

Fort Pitt tunnel is a great view. You're driving in the country, go through the tunnel, and as you exit, the city appears seemingly out of nowhere.


Primanti Bros, make sure to go to the original in the Strip District. I've never had decent food from any of the others, especially the franchise ones that are scattered around outside of the Burgh.

Someone mentioned Bicycle Heaven. As I tour on the bicycle, I love that place.

We love coming down to the Burgh to the Strip to shop. They have all kinds of Italian shops, Asian shops, etc.

Brit Floyd at Stage AE this Sunday. That's where I'll be on Sunday.

 

[LoveSpringsteen]

Not sure if this has been mentioned yet, but thought it was worth mentioning. Speaking as a lifelong Browns fan, I really enjoyed the Heinz Stadium behind the scenes tour we did. I was surprised I liked it so much, but I always recommend it. We also did the other sites mentioned already here and liked them all (Carnegie Museum, Aviary, Warhol Museum, Primanti Bros.).

 

[mrodgers]

Duck Boat Ride, Incline tram, the Phipps Conservatory, Univ Of Pittsburgh Cathedral of Learning (ask for the key to visit every classroom; each room is themed around a different country,) waterfront parks, Heinz Museum

Oh no, not those stupid Duck Tour boats, LOL. I was down on the rivers in my kayak. Every one of them that went by me, everyone was leaning out and quacking at me,

 

[mrodgers]

Pittsburgh is on a mountain and some of the streets are as steep as those in san francisco

Canton Avenue was the unofficial steepest street in the world at 37% grade. Officially it is Baldwin Street in New Zealand I think at a mere 36.6% grade.

Pittsburgh has the Dirty Dozen bicycle race, 55 miles racing up the 13 steepest hills. I was traveling through car shopping when I drove past Fallowfield Ave which is where I lived until 8 years old. So, I turned up onto the hill and my pathetic little 94 Honda Civic barely made it up that hill. When I got home, I turned the TV on which was on PBS and the show was about the Dirty Dozen race. I had just struggled to get up the hill in my Civic and there I see on TV a bunch of bicycles climbing it, and it wasn't one of the hills of the race, it was just the route to get to the steep hill (Canton Ave on the other side.) I've since started cycling and I haven't climbed Canton yet, but we've climbed some of the other hills.

If you recall an Audi commercial a few years ago with a skier in the snow on a city street, that was Canton that the Audi was climbing up and racing down with the skier. I've walked it many times as a youngster.

 

[FlightlessDuck]

Carnegie Science Center, Children's Museum, Warhol museum, the Durqueen Incline (or one of the various inclines around the city). If you did feel like traveling to the outskirts, there's the Fred Rogers Center.

 

[bennifer]

The incline, a Pirates game, Carnegie Science Center, the Museum of Natural History, Phipps Conservatory, the zoo, Primanti Brothers in the Strip District, and definitely one of the restaurants on Mount Washington! Just Ducky tours is fun, but yeah, it can be annoying to the locals! As I was typing all of this I realized how few things I've done with my younger son and we live here, so thanks for the question! I know how to start filling up our weekends!

 

[mamaanna]

If you go to Kennywood, you absolutely MUST get Potato Patch Fries.

Highly recommend the Science Center, even if you don't have kiddos with you!

 

[Tink3815]

Thank you for all the ideas. We enjoyed visiting new cities in the past. Since last year violence has escalated to the point where I am hesitant to do this any longer. Would you say Pittsburgh has seen this escalation in this violence? Are their certain areas to stay away from when choosing a hotel?

 

[Palaura]

Pittsburgh is great-and safe! The downtown area doesn't have a lot to offer for visitors. That being said, a lot of good hotels are downtown and easy to get to. Turn on Waze and enjoy driving over bridges and through tunnels. I don't know your party makeup but here are some great things:
for kids: Carnegie Science Museum, The water steps on the North Shore (if they finally turned them on)
For Everyone: The strip District (coffee at La Prima and don't forget your popcorn), the mattress factory, the Aviary (a personal fave), point park...a ride on the Gateway Clipper, the Pirates stadium is down right awesome! Pamela's Diner.
Mount Washington is a gem. Mass at St. Mary's on the Mount is a cool experience and a true taste of Pittsburgh.
We typically stay near the stadiums or downtown and just accept we'll drive everywhere.

 

[Tink3815]

Pittsburgh is great-and safe! The downtown area doesn't have a lot to offer for visitors. That being said, a lot of good hotels are downtown and easy to get to. Turn on Waze and enjoy driving over bridges and through tunnels. I don't know your party makeup but here are some great things:
for kids: Carnegie Science Museum, The water steps on the North Shore (if they finally turned them on)
For Everyone: The strip District (coffee at La Prima and don't forget your popcorn), the mattress factory, the Aviary (a personal fave), point park...a ride on the Gateway Clipper, the Pirates stadium is down right awesome! Pamela's Diner.
Mount Washington is a gem. Mass at St. Mary's on the Mount is a cool experience and a true taste of Pittsburgh.
We typically stay near the stadiums or downtown and just accept we'll drive everywhere.

Thank you, I'll take a look at the hotels near the stadium. I assume you mean the Pirates baseball.

 

[Palaura]

Thank you, I'll take a look at the hotels near the stadium. I assume you mean the Pirates baseball.

Yup-Pirates!
Also- if you go to the zoo there is a great burger/shake place called burgatory on your way. MMMMMM.....