Pittsburgh - Visiting for the 1st time...where to go? (Washington: trip , work)

[tscrilla]

First off, I love the people on these forums, much info is given.

OK, I am going to visit Pittsburgh for the first time and want to know what it is that I should see or do. Are there any must see neighborhoods that are just visually stunning? I hear it's a great place for food (The O, Primanti Bros & Fat Heads to name a few). I'm not into national chains so local joints are what I'm looking for.

I love both worlds, the bustling city as well as the quiet country roads. I can only imagine that fall is absolutely breathtaking there due to the hilly landscape.

I grew up in the Rocky Mtn west and moved to Columbus Ohio a year ago. Since Pittsburgh is only a short drive, I've decided to come and see. I've spent hours, and hours on the net looking at pictures, reading forums, etc. I feel like I want to move there RIGHT NOW! Seems like I'm going to love it. Now let me hear what you have to say about your town.

tscrilla

[Herodotus]

Both Squirrel Hill and Shadyside are quite nice. Shadyside has a lot of late Victorian architecture, while Squirrel Hill dates from the first three decades of the 20th Century. South Side, while not pretty, is very funky and interesting. It's a safe area, and well worth an afternoon walk. The Mexican War Steets area on the North Side is very charming and historic, but is an area still in transition, and some streets are dicey. If you want to see it, either take a tour bus, or do it by car earlier in the day. Bloomfield is a great Italian area full of character, with a busy Main St. (Liberty Ave.). Adjacent Lawrenceville is somewhat grittier, but is probably the last place in the city, that will give you a really good idea of what "blue-collar" Pittsburgh was like when Pittsburgh was still an industrial city.

Of course, the overlook on Mt Washington is a must for any first time visitor.


I have some pics of the city (as well as several others) at the following site.

Pittsburgh Photo Gallery by step2me at pbase.com

[CaptainObvious]

There have been many dozens of threads similar to this one. Do a quick search for recent threads regarding...

Mount Washington
Shadyside
Strip District
SouthSide
Restaurants
Incline
Things to do in Pittsburgh
etc.

Having said that, if you will be visiting on a limited schedule I'd say the must-hits over a weekend or so include the Strip District on a Saturday morning, Mount Washington (for the view), and Southside's night scene. As far as archetecture and history, the Northside is probably the most "Pittsburgh" place for that-turn of the century rowhomes- though if you don't know your way around I don't know that I can recommend just driving down random streets as it can be a dangerous area. Regent Square and Shadyside also have old craftsman-style and victorians that are beautiful. "True Pittsburgh" lies in each and every neighborhood, though. Each neighborhood as a unique history, and many of the old areas associated with the steel industry aren't IN Pittsburgh, but in suburbs like Homestead, Glassport, etc. There again, if you don't know what you're doing you'll most likely miss the remnants of the old foundries and forges and gawk at the drug dealers and thugs as these are very economically depressed areas, so do some research before you come.

Cap

[Hopes]

Point Park?

Station Square?

Science Center?

Gateway Clipper boat ride?

Zoo?

Hartwood Acres?

North or South parks?

Cathedral of Learning?

Museum?

Aviary?

Phips Conservatory?

The Children's Museum?

The Science Center?

Kennywood Park?

Sandcastles?

The Mattress Factory?

[CaptainObvious]

Oh yeah, and I would remove "The O" from the short-list of places at which to eat while you are visiting. It is basically a college dive that people have some nestalgic feeling about because they used to get wasted there in college. As a visitor, there is little value in it. The food is nasty, the service is horrible, and the place isn't even clean. They don't call it "The Dirty O" for nothing.

Cap

[Hopes]

And I'm not sure Primanti Bros qualifies as great food. It's just Pittsburgh food because of how Primanti's made it's name. In the beginning, they were just in the strip district, serving food at all hours in hostile manner by not listening to the order and slapping anything together and handing it to people. Sort of like the soup nazi on Steinfeld. That's how Primanti's became so famous and created something known as Pittsburgh food. Now it's just unique because the french fries and slaw are all in the sandwich. I've been to the one in Southside and other locations. None of them compare to the origional location in the strip.

[SteelersFan09]

I agree about the O. My friends and I used to eat there after shows at Club Laga when I was in high school and it's really not even near the great local food you can get here (I've learned this even after living here only a little over a month). And I love Primanti's,but I prefer Peppi's sandwiches,actually.

...and as for my personal favorite things to do..well I'm new, but I love Pirates/Steelers/Penguins games, Walking around the southside, Soaking in the view from Grandview avenue, Kennywood, Going out to eat at all the local-exclusive restaurants, and as corny as it sounds, I love talking to the people here too. I also hear Southside Works is pretty great,but I haven't been yet. Same goes for the parks. I hear good things, but I haven't been yet.

[Drover]

IMO one of the greatest Pittsburgh culinary experiences is Mad Mex, though they may have one in Columbus. (Just checked -- yes, they do.) Still, a trip to the flagship location in the Oakland neighborhood might be in order. And yes, Fat Head's is a religious experience if you're a burger aficionado. It's also a great stop if you're a beer aficionado.

[CaptainObvious]

Originally Posted by Drover

IMO one of the greatest Pittsburgh culinary experiences is Mad Mex, though they may have one in Columbus. (Just checked -- yes, they do.) Still, a trip to the flagship location in the Oakland neighborhood might be in order. And yes, Fat Head's is a religious experience if you're a burger aficionado. It's also a great stop if you're a beer aficionado.

Tessarro's in Bloomfield is a better burger for the aficionado in my humble opinion. Fat Head's is excellent overall as well. I can see this turning into a restaurant thread, though, and there was one of those a month or two back...so I'll point you again to the "search" bar.

[PghREA]

The Gateway Clipper - Captain's Dinner Cruise. The food is okay but, seeing Pittsburgh from the 3 rivers at night is awesome.