Good neighborhoods for College Freshman to explore (Pittsburgh, Washington: homes, safe area)

[Joshbarblahblah]

I'm an Undergraduate Teaching Assistant for a Freshman Programs class at Pitt. One of the projects we assign is a neighborhood tour in which the freshman go, in groups, to an assigned neighborhood in the city to take pictures, explore businesses, examine the feel of the neighborhood, etc. I've been asked to figure out which neighborhoods should be assigned.
I was thinking of the following neighborhoods:

Squirrel Hill
Bloomfield
Lawrenceville
Shadyside
South Side Flats

Do you have any other suggestions? The only requirements are that the neighborhood be relatively safe during the daytime, within city limits (no Millvales or Homesteads, for example), and have something for the students to do (places to eat or shop, for example - so I would not like to assign neighborhoods that are almost entirely residential.)

I'm primarily familiar with Pittsburgh's East End - would any neighborhoods in other areas of the city be good?

Thanks.

[BrianTH]

This is another East End suggestion, but I would think about adding East Liberty to your list. At this point I think it is safe for a group of students to walk around in the daytime, and it is a fascinating neighborhood.

[Hopes]

Given the latest daytime muggings in some of the neighborhoods you listed, I'm not sure we can guarantee any safety. I think they'll be fine almost anywhere in a group though.

It's sad you have to stay within the city limits because Millvale is a very safe area.

If you need more neighborhoods, Squirrel Hill and Lawrenceville are HUGE neighborhoods and can be easily split into North & South Squirrel Hill and Central & Lower Lawrenceville.

Other ideas include:

Oakland
Northside
East Liberty
Mt Washington
Brookline
Beechview

(not sure about the shopping districts in the last three areas, but they are safe and technically within the city limits.)

[Scientist Mom]

The strip district and regent square

[Joshbarblahblah]

Thanks for the replies!
I thought about Mt. Washington and East Liberty before. What does Mt. Washington have? I've only been to the top of the incline.
The reason I won't assign Oakland is because almost all of the students live in Oakland, and the hope is to get them into different neighborhoods.

I'll do some research on Regent Square, Northside, etc.

[BrianTH]

Originally Posted by Scientist Mom

The strip district and regent square

The Strip is a great suggestion, which leads me to think Downtown would also be a good suggestion.

Unfortunately most of Regent Square, including the main commercial area, is outside of the City.

[ddietrich]

I taught Freshman Studies, too.

You'd probably be better served by picking neighborhoods closer to Oakland. I'd imagine they're doing this during class time, which is only an hour. There's only so far they can go.

Good luck.

[alleghenyangel]

Mexican War Streets / Deutschtown

Strip District

Fineview / Spring Hill (amazing views)

Highland Park (beautiful homes)

Polish Hill