by Lilly Allison
Whenever people hear that I visit Pittsburgh, I get odd looks, or the occasional “Why Pittsburgh?!” Pittsburgh has a bad rap as a travel destination, most people think it’s a dirty industrial city, but I think it’s a great tourist town. I spent a lot of my downtime in Pittsburgh during my college days, and I still love to go back to visit friends or attend college functions. I’ve found that no matter who I’ve dragged along with me, from my sports-loving husband to adventurous friends, they’ve all ended up enjoying the Pittsburgh area.
Here are some highlights from my experience that will help you see how great Pittsburgh is, and hopefully want to catch that 6 a.m. flight to Pittsburgh one day!
Start at Station Square, a tourist area with shops and tours and a great place to start your Pittsburgh adventure! We got tickets for a Just Ducky tour, then went over to ride the incline since our tour time was in the afternoon.
There are two inclines, Monongahela Incline and the Duquesne Incline that make their way up the side of Mt. Washington and offer great views of the city, and a fun experience! It’s very inexpensive (cash only) and a unique form of transportation. The inclines are very similar, although there are some stairs to get to the Duquesne Incline.
The Just Ducky tour was much more interesting than I imagined. The guide gives a driving tour through the city, and is very informative about “Steel City” and points out notable buildings, then the tour goes in the River and the guide gives information about the bridges and sports teams.
Stop in to see the Grand Concourse, which is in an old train station and was renovated to keep the station’s beautiful features. It’s a restaurant now, and while the lunch menu is a little pricy, the ambiance is worth the price. Even if you don’t eat here, definitely go in and look around. (More food recommendations below.)
A visit to “The Point” is a must. It’s a park situated at the point where the Allegheny, Ohio and Monongahela Rivers come together. It’s a nice place to explore, and they have a fountain which was remodeled a few years ago and simply beautiful. It’s very pretty at night too. Fort Pitt Museum is also in the park, which gives a history of Western Pennsylvania. (George Washington slept here! Literally, he spent time here and received 3,000 acres for his help in the French and Indian War!)
Definitely eat at Primante Brothers at some point. It’s an iconic Pittsburgh sandwich place where the sandwiches are huge! After all the meat and fixings, it’s topped with cole slaw and French fries! They have several locations, but the Market Square site is my favorite, as it’s in a eclectic shopping district that’s fun to wander around.
Sports fans would enjoy touring Heinz Field (home of the Steelers) or PNC Park (home of the Pirates). I believe the tours are seasonal, so check with the venues for up to date information.
The Senator John Heinz History Center, in addition to all the other interesting exhibits, has an section dedicated to Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood. It’s an endearing part of Americana. There is also a memorial statue of Mr. Rogers on the North Shore (between PNC Park and Heinz Field).
If you like Museums, the Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh has wonderful museums. If you have the time, all of the museums are worth visiting, but one of my favorites is the Andy Warhol Museum (near PNC Park).
More Pittsburgh dining recommendations:
Burgatory award winning burger place, new to the Pittsburgh burger scene.
Eat N Park started in this area, several locations in Pittsburgh.
Pamela’s Diner in the Strip District – visited by President Obama.
LeMont, a five star restaurant on Mt. Washington that overlooks the city (very close to the upper station of Duquesne Incline)
Jerome Bettis Grille 36 is a sports bar for those Steeler/Pirates/Penguins fans!
DeSalla’s – Pizza place that has been around about 45 years and still uses the same recipe.
By the way, regarding transportation: Pittsburgh has a public transportation system, but I’ve never tried it.
If you are fearless and have a good GPS/map program (or navigator) it’s best to rent a car so you can explore more of the area. Pittsburgh has about 447 bridges (more than Venice!) so just be prepared for all the water crossings.
On the Visit Pittsburgh website you can request a magazine (paper or digital) that has a lot more information.
I think it’s time for another visit to Pittsburgh!
So who flies into Pittsburgh International (PIT)?
Air Canada
Allegiant
American Airlines
Delta Air Lines
JetBlue
Interjet
Onejet
Porter
Southwest Airlines
Swift Air
Sun Air Express
United Airlines
Xtra Airways
(Spirit Airlines flies into Pittsburgh Latrobe (LBE)