What you choose to do in Pittsburgh will greatly depend on who you're traveling with. A weekend with the family will look a whole lot different than a weekend with friends. In either case, you'll find more than enough to keep you and your travel companions busy and well entertained.
For a family weekend...
Check out the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium, a 77 acre park featuring more than 4,000 animals, including 20 threatened or endangered species. It's also the home of Kid's Kingdom, which is ranked one of the top children's zoos in the country.
Next up, The National Aviary. It's America's largest aviary and is the home to over 600 animals.
For the amusement park lovers, popular stops include Sandcastle Water Park (just minutes from downtown along the Monongahela River, the park features 15 major waterslides, a wave pool, a lazy river, two children's attractions and a bar area. All are located along a river-view, old-fashioned Boardwalk) and Kennywood (this traditional amusement park features 6 roller coasters, 3 water rides, 9 thrill rides, 10 classic rides, 3 dark rides and 14 Kiddie Land rides, and still has structures and rides dating back to its opening in the early 1900s).
If you and your clan are sports fans, there's sure to be a game going on during your stay. If you're not interested in checking out the well-known Steelers, Penguins or Pirates, keep an eye out for their soccer and arena football leagues, as well as all of the college teams that play in the Pittsburgh area.
If you're more of an art lover, Pittsburgh is home to the Andy Warhol Museum, the Carnegie Museum of Natural History, the Toonseum, and so many more.
For a fun place with lots to do, check out Station Square. There are fun family activities like duck boat tours, the Monongahela Incline (cable cars that travel up the side of the mountain with a viewing platform at the top for an amazing view of the city), as well as fountain shows every 20 minutes. There are plenty of restaurants to choose from, and lots of fun shops, as well.
For a more kid-free, adult-friendly getaway...
Pittsburgh has several neighborhoods throughout the city, each with their own vibe and version of fun. Depending on your personal preference, you may lean toward any of the following for your night time entertainment:
Downtown: The Downtown area houses all 3 major sports arenas, as well as Rivers Casino.
Strip District: A one-half mile square filled with antiques, unique shops, specialty foods, restaurants and bars. This neighborhood still has functioning warehouses, but has grown into a fun and funky blend of old and new.
Oakland: A second 'downtown' area with bustling streets, prestigious universities and international cuisine. For shopping and eating, head to the Craig Street business district.
South Side: You'll definitely want to check out Carson Street - 15 blocks of Victorian architecture filled with boutiques, art galleries, restaurants and live music venues. With more than 100 bars to choose from, you shouldn't have any trouble finding the kind of nightlife you're looking for. Also check out SouthSide Works on the upper end of Carson Street for all kinds of great places to eat, drink and shop.
Getting a little more specific on food, there are a few places in Pittsburgh that I highly recommend for your dining pleasure...
Primanti Bros. These famous sandwiches are served with heaping piles of french fries and coleslaw... not on the side, but on the actual sandwich. It may sound crazy, but it's a must-try! Cleveland & Pittsburgh will argue over which is better, Pittsburgh's Primanti or Cleveland's Panini, but either way, you're guaranteed to never leave hungry. You'll find shops all over the city.
Fat Head's Saloon. Home of the "headwich", this place has some of the biggest, most amazing sandwiches you could ever imagine. And, for the beer lover, Fat Head's features 42 continuously rotating taps with craft beers from around the country and all over the world, including their own award-winning ales and lagers.
If you've never had the pleasure of meeting someone from Pittsburgh, be prepared for a whole new language. Here's a great sample of the kinds of things you might hear during your visit:
Pittsburgh Dad
Tips and tricks for a successful trip to Pittsburgh:
1. Wear comfortable shoes. No matter where you're headed, odds are pretty good that you'll be doing a lot of walking. Many neighborhoods only have street parking, so you may find yourself with quite a hike to get to where you're going.
2. Be prepared for hills. Pittsburgh is filled with them and can make your short walk much longer than you'd anticipated.
3. Plan to use GPS and, when that fails (and it sometimes will), be patient and wait to be redirected. The city is filled with bridges, tunnels and one-way streets and, if you miss your turn, the next intersection might not get you where you need to go.
For more information on planning your trip to Pittsburgh, visit http://www.visitpittsburgh.com/
Happy traveling!
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