Weekend visitor in need of some quick advice (Pittsburgh, Atlantic: places, town)

[westsideboy]

Originally Posted by guy2073

At that age my son loved the carnegie science center. This is also a good time when on the north shore https://www.ventureoutdoors.org/kayak-pittsburgh/ my son also liked the water steps https://riverlifepgh.org/riverfront-...e-water-steps/

Yes, we went to the Science Center two years ago. I thought about going back this year but saw at some exhibits (like the rope course) were still closed and others were going to be more socially distanced. That place is so hands-on, I think it makes more sense to wait until another trip before we return.

[Reggiezz]

Drive to Kennywood. Spend the day.

[westsideboy]

Originally Posted by Reggiezz

Drive to Kennywood. Spend the day.

I'd love too, that was the original plan behind spending a few days this time (that and buying pointe shoes for my 13 year old.) I am not sure the weather is going to work out for us though on Sunday or Monday.

[Reggiezz]

Originally Posted by westsideboy

I'd love too, that was the original plan behind spending a few days this time (that and buying pointe shoes for my 13 year old.) I am not sure the weather is going to work out for us though on Sunday or Monday.

The weather is always good at Kennywood.

[westsideboy]

Update:

We had a great trip. One day was not enough time to tour Carnegie Arts/Natural History. I was blown away by the amount and quality of the exhibits. We ended up getting a quick lunch on Craig St., UniqueEats I think was called, and spent the rest of the day in the museum.

We spent Day 2 at the Aviary in the morning. I had forgotten that as impressive and immersive as it is, it is only about a 2-3 hour attraction unless you buy all the add-ons, which meant we had 1/2 the day free and chose to go over to the Strip District to shop. My wife always brings her cooler to Pittsburgh (just in case ), so we loaded up on goodies to take home and had amazing Polish Kielbasa from a little hole-in-the-wall market between 23 and 24th St for lunch.

In the end, we didn't attempt Kennywood because of the price relative to the risk of rain. Maybe next trip.

My kids had an amazing time. My oldest loved Oakland and may be a Pitt Panther or Carnegie..uh...Melon(?) in a few years. The urban campus was very much her style. Both loved the Strip District and the diversity of stores/peoples/food and the vibrancy of the market. We live in a small city/big town and can't get that here. As always the food was great everywhere whether it was carry-out Italian/Greek, UniqueEats, or the Strip District offerings.

Thanks for all the suggestions and advice, it was all very helpful.

[szug-bot]

Carnegie Mellon (long ago called Carnegie Tech - fun fact).

Glad you had a great time!

edit - i am curious as to what small city/big town you are from. you probably do not know that when Pittsburgh was struggling for some identity in the 1990s and afterwards, people would resort to saying just that - we are a small city/big town, etc. I honestly do not think we are a "big town". but i think a "small big city" is apropos, if that terminology makes sense.

have a great rest of the summer - in fact, come back for another visit!

[westsideboy]

Originally Posted by szug-bot

Carnegie Mellon (long ago called Carnegie Tech - fun fact).

Glad you had a great time!

edit - i am curious as to what small city/big town you are from. you probably do not know that when Pittsburgh was struggling for some identity in the 1990s and afterwards, people would resort to saying just that - we are a small city/big town, etc. I honestly do not think we are a "big town". but i think a "small big city" is apropos, if that terminology makes sense.

have a great rest of the summer - in fact, come back for another visit!

Cumberland, MD, so right on the edge of your TV/media market. I have been visiting every few years since I was a kid. Pittsburgh competes out here with D.C. and Baltimore as the closest "big city." I like Pittsburgh because it does feel like a "big town" in some places and a significant city with historic and modern money coming in (Oakland neighborhood shows this off) in others.

I call Cumberland a "small city" because we are right at the population point to sustain small art galleries, museums, multiple neighborhoods with their own character, and are a destination ourselves for rural areas around us. Obviously "city" means something different when you get to the scale of Pittsburgh.

[szug-bot]

i do like western maryland! i think the east side of the state is beautiful (inner harbor, Annapolis, etc.)

but garret county, Fredneck - i mean, Frederick and even downtown Hagerstown is very nice.

[westsideboy]

Originally Posted by szug-bot

i do like western maryland! i think the east side of the state is beautiful (inner harbor, Annapolis, etc.)

but garret county, Fredneck - i mean, Frederick and even downtown Hagerstown is very nice.

Next time you are in the area, consider spending a night in the "other" Allegany County. Cumberland and surroundings are good a few days of fun, longer if you use it as a base of operations for day trips to outdoor type recreation.

[eschaton]

I have to say I never spent any time in Cumberland, but Hagerstown kinda feels like a mini-Pittsburgh.