Do you feel in the middle of nowhere in Pittsburgh (York: housing, rent)

[returnedYinzer]

BrainTH, you're exactly right. Why would somebody come to Pittsburgh that wants a Manhattan life style? There are really only three cities that will fullfill the big city style in the U.S. in my opinion. If you want that, you got to go there. I didn't move to Denver to go to the beach.

[gdowler]

I did not mean to insult anyone BY asking if you felt like Pittsburgh was in the middle of nowhere. It's just that being an outsider it is not easy to know what kind of natural access the city has. I had no idea about all those biking trails and the river front recreation. It was just very strange for me driving and then all of a sudden out of nowhere is this great city. But that is the way it seemed on the drive there, and I am not an ignorant person so as to base my opininon on that,Which is why I am asking you all out there. But it is a nice place, and we are not looking for that Manhatten lifestyle. It is really funny how people automatically assume that being from NY you expect everything on a silver platter. That is so not true....i am looking for a cool down to earth place that has easy access to some natural recreation...not really a milliion different rest. to choose from. Pittsburgh is a lovely city...with many different choices it seems. Thanks for all the posts.

[returnedYinzer]

Originally Posted by gdowler

I did not mean to insult anyone BY asking if you felt like Pittsburgh was in the middle of nowhere. It's just that being an outsider it is not easy to know what kind of natural access the city has. I had no idea about all those biking trails and the river front recreation. It was just very strange for me driving and then all of a sudden out of nowhere is this great city. But that is the way it seemed on the drive there, and I am not an ignorant person so as to base my opininon on that,Which is why I am asking you all out there. But it is a nice place, and we are not looking for that Manhatten lifestyle. It is really funny how people automatically assume that being from NY you expect everything on a silver platter. That is so not true....i am looking for a cool down to earth place that has easy access to some natural recreation...not really a milliion different rest. to choose from. Pittsburgh is a lovely city...with many different choices it seems. Thanks for all the posts.

I am also sorry if I sounded like I was attacking people from N.Y. which I wasnt meaning that. ONe thing I love about Pittsburgh is you don't have to go far and you get on these windy tree covered roads that feel like your in the boonies. Unlike other cities that are flat there is a large seperation between towns leaving nice backroads and a country feel not far from the urban city.

[MissShona]

Because Pittsburgh is a good sized-city and in a 1-day driving distance to at least 5 major metro areas, I cannot say that I feel like I'm in the "middle of nowhere".

However, mentally, it can seem, uh, "challenging" should we say, to "escape" the 'Burgh -- or whatever part of the area you happen to be in. It's been my experience that most Pittsburghers (or maybe Western Pennsylvanians even) function mainly in geographical pockets. People from the eastern suburbs know very little about the Mon Valley; folks that live in the city limits have no idea where Brownsville and Johnstown really are; And people that live in Moon and out by the airport would seem to not to make it out to Laurel Caverns.

My point is that I think the Western PA psyche keeps us from venturing too far from home. Unfortunately, "too far" for many people here starts at like 15 miles.

[rd620]

MissShona,
I liked your post and it is so true about some people from the area. I live in Mt.Lebanon and my family never visits because they are all so far away (20 minutes).

I think BrianTH has in right. Although, I would disagree about dining. If you know where to look Pittsburgh has hundreds of restaurants to try that are very satisfying. I would say in all my travels the Burgh only comes in behind NY and San Fran. I will take it any day over LA, Baltimore, DC and even Chicago for food.

[BrianTH]

To clarify, there certainly are many more than ten good restaurants in Pittsburgh. But in my experience, most people I know here end up coming up with a list of favorites within easy reach of wherever they live and they end up rotating through them. Of course every once in a while new places will open up, or you will discover a new favorite, and the rotation will change.

And I suppose it is true one could spend a lot of time exploring the many other choices available throughout the city. For whatever reason, however, that doesn't appear to be a typical pattern.

[RockLobster]

Pittsburgh is the most geographically challenged city in the United States. It is truly a topographical City. The built environment really does relate to the unique topography that makes up this largest city region in the appalachian area. The human response to hills, hollows and rivers has created the unique development of the Golden Traingle and all the countless boroughs, neighborhoods and local burg's and burgh's of Pittsburgh. It's hard to see there from here and over there from over here. Some might feel a sense of being boxed in or isolation given the promixity of valley or steep hillside and the lack of visibility outward. Some may sense that what is really 4 miles away seems more like 10miles away given the change in landscape. North Hills folk may fret at driving south across a bridge and into the maze of small roads that make up the south hills. And south hill's residents might find the growth northward into Butler county to be nearly reaching the Canadian border soon. In Pittsburgh I think we get more milage for short distance than any other city. And for some this can lead to a more isolationist way of thinking and living. As for the location of our fair city, it fits me just fine we are 9 hours from the big apple and 3.5 hours from DC. More Jet Blue and Southwest please !

[vwscottie]

Originally Posted by zip95

I know what you mean. I'm originally from the Eastern Seaboard. And to answer you questions

1.)Yes....absolutely, Pittsburgh is out in the middle of nowhere.

2.)Yes...there is just barely enough to do if you are completely grown and settling down in life.

3.)No....there is not enough to do if you are young still and very active.

Well I probably fall in the middle of your "completely grown" and "young and still active", although I intend on being active all my life.

Yesterday I saw a man who had to be over 70 who was jogging in Frick Park just as I was. There is a huge fitness culture in this city, and on top of the sports, museums, history, technology, shopping, and dinning, if there isn't enough for you to do in this city, get a checkup, because there is something. wrong.

[vwscottie]

Originally Posted by zip95

I have a real life with real things to worry about.

So do I, but I find plenty to do in the city.

[Agbor]

I would suspect that for someone coming from the east coast where Philly,NYC,DC and
Boston are "lined-up" so to speak..Pittsburgh would seem in the middle of nowhere...

I think it is to a degree..but not as bad as other cities in the country...from here,you
can still get to Philly,NYC and DC in almost a day or less depending on transportation..

For instance,you can leave here at 7:20am on the train and get to NYC by 4:45pm
and Philly by 3:00pm..

I have done weekend trips to NYC and DC quite often..been past and stopped in
but haven't explored Philly yet..

What is funny about Pgh. and Western Pa. is the fact that short distances seem far to
people..when I would go to Aliquippa it was like '' you going back home today?" well yes
its is only 19 miles!!

Or in Pittsburgh,if you live in Sheraden "are you going all the way out to Highland Park?"
its just across town...or East End residents "thats that Northside bunch over there"...

I have heard people say such like they live 200 miles apart or something..