Moving from Ca to Pa (Pittsburgh, Bethel Park: relocation, real estate, travel)

[narcoleptic]

I am moving from Ca to the Pittsburgh area in the next few weeks.Just wondering if any one has any advice(places to see,Places to stay away from..etc).Never really been out of southern California for more then a few days.

[BrianTH]

The sticky in this forum is a Newcomer's Guide with tons of great links and information. Of course that may be a little overwhelming, but I might suggest poking around there first and then asking some more specific questions. Also, more information about you would be helpful (e.g., knowing where you will be living and what sorts of things do you like doing would help guide us in suggesting places to go and things to try).

[narcoleptic]

Well I have three kids and would like to know what family friendly sites are popular.I'm trying for a place in the mt oliver area.I really don't know how the schools compare to the Southern California area.

[By~Tor]

Originally Posted by narcoleptic

Well I have three kids and would like to know what family friendly sites are popular.I'm trying for a place in the mt oliver area.I really don't know how the schools compare to the Southern California area.

I'm moving to Mount Oliver too, in fact, I have an entire thread on the journey we took in finding our place on Brownsville Road....

HELP!-- 3 Families Moving from NYC to Pittsburgh????

I hear "Kennywood" is the big Six-Flags-like attraction, and as for family friendly "sites", I'd need a bit more info on what you mean, in order to be able to help....

Hey-- maybe I'll see ya' in Mt. Oliver!!!!

[narcoleptic]

Well California schools(my area at least)Focus on English as a second language.My kids only speak English.The schools are pretty run down and the teachers really don't care about the kids(not all,but a-lot). I'm looking for a school district thats going to teach my children the arts as well as the basics.Something that is lacking here.

[narcoleptic]

"Kenny-wood park" will probably be a the top 10 list.I've heard a lot about it.Don't know how it compares to knotts berry farm,but its has to be nice from what I've seen.

[BrianTH]

Kennywood is a lot of fun (my favorite part is the old wooden roller coasters, which draw roller coaster fanatics from across the country). Other major kid attractions in the city include the Zoo and Aquarium in Highland Park, the Carnegie Science Center on the North Shore, and the Carnegie Museum of Natural History in Oakland (great dinosaur exhibits, among other things). Also in the city, I would recommend taking kids to some of the great parks--Frick Park, for example, is a great urban wildnerness park with lots of trails. Some of the neighborhoods are fun for kids too--a Saturday morning in The Strip is a great people-watching experience, and you can also visit the Heinz History Center while you are there. In the region around Pittsburgh, you can find a lot of outdoor activites, including boating, hiking, camping, climbing, skiing, canoeing, white water rafting, and so on.

In short, there is a lot to do with kids.

[By~Tor]

As for the schools in Mount Oliver, I can't speak, but you could always check Mount Oliver, Pennsylvania (PA) Detailed Profile - relocation, real estate, travel, jobs, hospitals, schools, crime, news, sex offenders

[ExPit]

Originally Posted by narcoleptic

Well I have three kids and would like to know what family friendly sites are popular.I'm trying for a place in the mt oliver area.I really don't know how the schools compare to the Southern California area.

No, Narco, No! Why Mount Oliver? It's rundown, old, and not all that safe. I grew up in Pittsburgh, now live in Southern California, and even when I was in Pgh. and broke I wouldn't have lived in Mt. Oliver. Also I used to be a teacher, and as an ex-teacher have an idea what you're looking for in a school district. When I grew up, Pittsburgh Public Schools were great, but not anymore. Try Mount Lebanon, that's a great school district, and the ones around it aren't bad either; Bethel Park, Dormont, Greentree, Upper St. Clair, Peters, there all better than Mt. Oliver, and depending on how old your kids are there's a new performing arts school downtown on, Seventh? Called CAPA. Good luck, but you are in for a big change. It's hard to think of two places more different than Pittsburgh and Southern California. If I can help at all, I'd be glad to. Take care.

[Humanoid]

I did this same move and you are in for a treat! Personally it took me a year to stop thinking about moving back all the time. The areas are rather different. There is so much more to do in Southern California than the Pittsburgh area. The majority of events in Pittsburgh that the locals think are great, seem rather cheesy! But you are pretty close to a lot of areas that have more to do - NYC, Philly, Washington DC etc.

Anyhow, at least for me the biggest piece of culture shock is the that Pittsburgh has a sense of community and Southern California does not. At first this may sound nice, but if you've never left Southern California its going to feel odd. But a lot is different - fashion, food, local hobbies etc.

Anyhow, I second what someone said above. Mount Oliver is gross. If I stayed in the area and I had kids I would've moved to Mt Lebanon. Without kids I would've stayed in the city, either Shadyside or Squirrel Hill. Sewickley is pretty nice too.

I hear "Kennywood" is the big Six-Flags-like attraction

Yeah, except its not so big and rather cheesy. Its sort of interesting to go to, but I went once and never had a need to go back.