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Recommend some things to see / do in Pittsburgh

ScoobMaster

ScoobMaster

Platinum Member
Attention ATOTers in and around Pittsburgh:

Any recommendations for things that are a "must do" or "must see" ? I am taking the family (wife and 8 y.o. son) to Pittsburgh next week for a few days. I am a fan off all three sports teams (Steelers, Pirates, Penguins) but have never been to the city before (weird, I know - but that's just me).

We are already planning to go watch the Pirates at PNC Park and to go to the Carnegie Science Museum (I think my son will really like that). What else should we do? Any Pittsburgh residents have recommendations?

I'll be driving in from the Binghamton, NY area - anything I may want to stop and see along the way?

 
You could stop and see my ex-girlfriend. Tell her she's a bitch for me, please.


But seriously, your kid will love the science museum. (And you might, too. 🙂 )
 
Carnegie Museum of Art (fantastic, just absolutely fantastic) and Phipps Conservatory. Phipps is a wonderful botanical garden, one of the best I've ever seen. I think your son might even enjoy it, and I'd be shocked if your wife didn't. IMO Phipps is one of the absolute must-see things in Pittsburgh.

http://phipps.conservatory.org/visit-phipps/

ZV
 
You might want to take an incline up to Mt. Washington for a nice view of the city. There are some good but pricey restaurants up there as well with great views, or another cool place to eat is the Church Brew Works (obnoxious Flash site, sorry).
 
In addition, you'll want to check out the Incline. Ride it up from Station Square (Carson St.) and at the top enjoy a wonderful view of the city skyline. Your kid will love the incline.

The John Heinz Pittsburgh Regional History Center is pretty cool. It's on the eastern fringe of the downtown area. Just across the river to the north is the National Aviary, the Andy Warhol Museum and the Pittsburgh Children's Museum. The Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium is one of the best.

I also recommend the Nationality Classrooms at the University of Pittsburgh's Cathedral of Learning. The building itself is cool, the classrooms are 24 rooms, each of which are decorated to reflect the culture of an different ethnic group.

If you want some high-end shopping, go to Ross Park Mall which is a little north of downtown (I-279 North to McKnight Rd exit). In the last few months they have loaded up with new upscale stores. Even a Nordstroms.

Pittsburgh can be a tough place to drive. If you get lost, ask anyone and chances are good they'll help you.
 
Originally posted by: ScoobMaster
Attention ATOTers in and around Pittsburgh:

Any recommendations for things that are a "must do" or "must see" ? I am taking the family (wife and 8 y.o. son) to Pittsburgh next week for a few days. I am a fan off all three sports teams (Steelers, Pirates, Penguins) but have never been to the city before (weird, I know - but that's just me).

We are already planning to go watch the Pirates at PNC Park and to go to the Carnegie Science Museum (I think my son will really like that). What else should we do? Any Pittsburgh residents have recommendations?

I'll be driving in from the Binghamton, NY area - anything I may want to stop and see along the way?
Click to expand...

pens >>>>> pirates

I live about an hour south of the city... there are several things to do here:

Guided Caving at Laurel Caverns
Frank Lloyd Wrights Fallingwater
(Civil?) War Forts - Fort Necessity and Fort Ligonier(East of Pgh)

Kennywood doesnt open till Laborday I believe.
Ohio Pyle State Park ( yes it might be still a little cold for Whitewater Rapids)
 
Only thing I could think of along the way was the Altoona Railroad Museum and the Horseshoe Curve but you'd have to be a railroad buff to care. Although kids seem to like being up close to trains.
 
Originally posted by: kranky
In addition, you'll want to check out the Incline. Ride it up from Station Square (Carson St.) and at the top enjoy a wonderful view of the city skyline. Your kid will love the incline.

The John Heinz Pittsburgh Regional History Center is pretty cool. It's on the eastern fringe of the downtown area. Just across the river to the north is the National Aviary, the Andy Warhol Museum and the Pittsburgh Children's Museum. The Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium is one of the best.

I also recommend the Nationality Classrooms at the University of Pittsburgh's Cathedral of Learning. The building itself is cool, the classrooms are 24 rooms, each of which are decorated to reflect the culture of an different ethnic group.

If you want some high-end shopping, go to Ross Park Mall which is a little north of downtown (I-279 North to McKnight Rd exit). In the last few months they have loaded up with new upscale stores. Even a Nordstroms.

Pittsburgh can be a tough place to drive. If you get lost, ask anyone and chances are good they'll help you.
Click to expand...

Those are all good suggestions. I would highly recommend the Nationality Rooms at the Cathedral Learning.

Oddly enough, in my four years of college there, I only saw the Nationality rooms once and have been to the incline twice. They do have some excellent food up there, pricey, but the view and food are well worth the extra price.

Sadly, I've never been to National Aviary, the Andy Warhol Museum , the Pittsburgh Children's Museum, or Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium is one of the best. I should do that the next time i'm in the city.
 
Originally posted by: sao123
Originally posted by: ScoobMaster
Attention ATOTers in and around Pittsburgh:

Any recommendations for things that are a "must do" or "must see" ? I am taking the family (wife and 8 y.o. son) to Pittsburgh next week for a few days. I am a fan off all three sports teams (Steelers, Pirates, Penguins) but have never been to the city before (weird, I know - but that's just me).

We are already planning to go watch the Pirates at PNC Park and to go to the Carnegie Science Museum (I think my son will really like that). What else should we do? Any Pittsburgh residents have recommendations?

I'll be driving in from the Binghamton, NY area - anything I may want to stop and see along the way?
Click to expand...

pens >>>>> pirates

I live about an hour south of the city... there are several things to do here:

Guided Caving at Laurel Caverns
Frank Lloyd Wrights Fallingwater
(Civil?) War Forts - Fort Necessity and Fort Ligonier(East of Pgh)

Kennywood doesnt open till Laborday I believe.
Ohio Pyle State Park ( yes it might be still a little cold for Whitewater Rapids)
Click to expand...

I think you mean Memorial Day for Kennywood. Labor Day is in September. 😉



OP, you have to hit a Primanti's and get a sandwich. There are several locations around the 'Burgh. There's also the "O" near Pitt in Oakland.

The south side is a great place to eat and shop. You'll love PNC Park. Easily one of the best stadiums in MLB even if the Pirates suck. The Pens are in the playoffs, but tickets will be expensive.

I'll also recommend the Pittsburgh Zoo and the National Aviary.

Unfortunately, there's not much in between Binghamton and Pittsburgh. I've done a number of Pittsburgh <--> Syracuse trips both through Buffalo and Erie on the Thruway and through Binghamton and Scranton on 81. Nothing but hills and trees the way you're coming.
 
Thanks for the suggestions. I have added the incline to the "must do" list.

We will also try to grab a bite at a Primanti's. My wife wants to go out one night "dressed up" at a nice restaraunt. Any recommendations for a fairly nice (fancy but not too glitzy) place that will not cost a small nation's King's ransom for a meal?

Also - It looks like the travel route Google wants to send me is out I-86 (route 17 to us old-timers in the southern-tier) to Sayre, PA then 220 to 99 to 376 and finally 279. While that looks like the most DIRECT route, is it the best/fastest? I was thinking of I86(Rt17) out to Erie and then due south (79) but that looks A LOT longer distance-wise (not to mention that the drive out 86/17 in western NY is one of the most BORING commutes on the planet).
 
check out the Frick art and Historical Center

they have lots of art, if you or your wife is into that, and also a great collection of antique and vintage cars

admission is free.

also, go to Pamela's for breakfast one day, you won't regret it. get there early as lines are long. there is one in oakland, one in squirrel hill, and one in shadyside.

the church brew works is great as well. confession stalls filled with booze? win!

for nice restaurants:

girasole's in shadyside: small, family owned italian place. not really dressy, but amazing food and very cozy. be prepared for a wait. www.733copeland.com $15-35 a person

casbah: part of the "big burrito" chain, Mediterranean food. menu changes daily, so you should check the website...its a good idea to make a reservation on opentable. if its a nice day, they have semi outdoor (tent?) seating which is nice. http://www.bigburrito.com/casbah/ $20-50 a person

eleven, downtown: contemporary american, changing menu with local ingredients. most dressy/formal of those i've listed. http://bigburrito.com/eleven/eleven.shtml tasting menu is $45, $70 with wine pairing.
 
Originally posted by: kranky
Only thing I could think of along the way was the Altoona Railroad Museum and the Horseshoe Curve but you'd have to be a railroad buff to care. Although kids seem to like being up close to trains.
Click to expand...

Yeah, you really do need to care about trains to see either of them. I live here and I'm not sure i've ever been to the Railroad museum. Another thing in Altoona though is the Pirates AA team, the Curve. Not sure what their schedule looks like for next week but as far as minor league ballparks go, Blair County Ballpark is one of the nicest! Good food at the park too, and they just lowered all ticket/concession prices.

99 ----> 22 ----> 376 ----> 279 is the way we go, from Altoona. Lots of places to eat here if you want to make a stop on your way, as its about an hour and a half from here to Pittsburgh, depending on how much construction is going on. (22 is always tore up, and right now, 99 is too, but only in one spot)
 
Originally posted by: ScoobMaster
Thanks for the suggestions. I have added the incline to the "must do" list.

We will also try to grab a bite at a Primanti's. My wife wants to go out one night "dressed up" at a nice restaraunt. Any recommendations for a fairly nice (fancy but not too glitzy) place that will not cost a small nation's King's ransom for a meal?

Also - It looks like the travel route Google wants to send me is out I-86 (route 17 to us old-timers in the southern-tier) to Sayre, PA then 220 to 99 to 376 and finally 279. While that looks like the most DIRECT route, is it the best/fastest? I was thinking of I86(Rt17) out to Erie and then due south (79) but that looks A LOT longer distance-wise (not to mention that the drive out 86/17 in western NY is one of the most BORING commutes on the planet).
Click to expand...

There is a very nice Restaurant south of Pittsburgh called Hyeholde. For two people dinner would run around $150 with drinks. This place is awesome. http://www.hyeholde.com/

Up on Mt. Washington (next to incline) there is a very nice restaurant called monterey bay fishg rotto - http://www.montereybayfishgrotto.com/. Excellent seafood restaurant. Very highly recommended! Average meal would also be around $150.

If those two are to much the Melting Pot in station square is a little less at about $100. This is a fondue restaurant. Very nice experience and a little outside the box.

Personally I would not recommend any of these three for a child. Might be a little off putting for a child's pallet.
 
I was at the baseball stadium just after they rebuilt. AWESOME to say the least. I wasn't in town for the other seasons so no fun there.

However, stop by a club downtown called Touch. There's a giant swing with a nearly naked woman swinging on it over the dance floor. Go upstairs, buy a mixed drink for a dollar between 9p-11p, and watch all the hotties get dirty :evil:
 
Originally posted by: ScoobMaster
Also - It looks like the travel route Google wants to send me is out I-86 (route 17 to us old-timers in the southern-tier) to Sayre, PA then 220 to 99 to 376 and finally 279. While that looks like the most DIRECT route, is it the best/fastest? I was thinking of I86(Rt17) out to Erie and then due south (79) but that looks A LOT longer distance-wise (not to mention that the drive out 86/17 in western NY is one of the most BORING commutes on the planet).
Click to expand...

That is a very boring drive but if you like casinos, it might be worth it to go that way and stop at the Seneca Allegany Casino in Salamanca. I hear the food there is pretty good also.
 
Went there during the summer way back when. We took a ferry ride, which wasn't bad, but I remember the water looking like ass. The river appears "narrow" in that there is cityscape on both sides.
 
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