Driving Through Pittsburgh (Washington, Carnegie, Monongahela: homes, neighborhoods, shops)

[brattpowered]

I'm driving through Pittsburgh later this summer and I'd like to get a feel for the city. I won't have a long time to do this-- probably just over an hour or so--but I would like to find out what streets and neighboods I can explore. I like to visit old, traditional downtowns and ethnic neighborhoods, as well as the new, hip places. So far, I've heard that Shadyside, Squirrel Hill and Walnut Street should be checked out. Also, where is the Strip District?

[barneyg]

Walnut St. is in Shadyside, which only has one other commercial street (Ellsworth Ave). I'm not so sure if there's a point in just driving through them, though. However, a drive through Oakland (Forbes Ave from downtown, Fifth Ave from points east) is definitely worth it, especially Forbes Ave. You'll go through Pitt, which is a very urban campus, and has the Cathedral of Learning.

The Strip District is just northeast of downtown along the Allegheny River. Most of the stores are along Penn Ave (which is a one-way street toward downtown), with some nightclubs on Smallman St.

If you only have an hour or so you absolutely need to go to Mt. Washington, which has terrific views of most of the city, including the many bridges that cross the Allegheny and Monongahela.

[Drover]

An hour won't even give you a chance to scratch the surface. Any chance you can stretch it out to at least a full afternoon?

[louiemoon0810]

Originally Posted by barneyg

Walnut St. is in Shadyside, which only has one other commercial street (Ellsworth Ave). I'm not so sure if there's a point in just driving through them, though. However, a drive through Oakland (Forbes Ave from downtown, Fifth Ave from points east) is definitely worth it, especially Forbes Ave. You'll go through Pitt, which is a very urban campus, and has the Cathedral of Learning.

The Strip District is just northeast of downtown along the Allegheny River. Most of the stores are along Penn Ave (which is a one-way street toward downtown), with some nightclubs on Smallman St.

If you only have an hour or so you absolutely need to go to Mt. Washington, which has terrific views of most of the city, including the many bridges that cross the Allegheny and Monongahela.

I agree. Skip Walnut Street....and Shadyside, in general. Shadyside is a nice part of town....with beautiful homes and upscale shops that make you go "ooooh", but it really doesn't define Pittsburgh.

Go here....(in no particular order)
- Strip District
- Mt Washington
- Quick drive through the South Side
- Squirrel Hill if you have time.....then you can cruise past Carnegie Mellon and into Oakland, to see the Univ of Pittburgh
- Oh, and you absolutely have to see the view coming from the airport towards downtown, through the Fort Pitt tunnel.