Thursday's Child: Destination Pittsburgh

Thursday, August 22, 2013


Destination: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

When we visited: February 2011 and August 2013

Why to go:  Pittsburgh is a great destination for anyone who loves sports and culture.

What to see:

We've been to Pittsburgh twice in the last couple of years: two years ago to see a hockey game, and this summer for baseball.  Both venues were terrific, but PNC Park gets high grades for a retro-style stadium, great city views, statues honouring team heroes (Roberto Clemente, Bill Mazeroski) and post-game fireworks.
Roberto Clemente, great ballplayer and humanitarian
Pittsburgh is much more than sports, though.  The Carnegie Science Center was fun, and its SportsWorks exhibit brought out the competitor in my daughter and husband.  The Andy Warhol museum pays tribute to the father of pop art, who spent much of his youth in Pittsburgh.  Phipps Conservatory was full of stunning plants and flowers, with one room dedicated to butterflies.  And one of my favourite stops was at the Mr. Rogers' statue, dedicated to another famous Pittsburgh native, Fred Rogers.



Where to stay:

On each visit, we chose a hotel as close as possible to the sporting venue we were visiting. Cambria Suites are located next to the Consol Energy Center (where the Penguins play), and the Pittsburgh Renaissance is directly over the bridge from PNC Park.  They were both excellent choices.


Breakfast at De Luca's
Where to eat:

Cherries Diner in Market Square and De Luca's in the Strip were awesome choices for a diner breakfast.  Il Pizzaiolo, also in Market Square, served great Italian food for dinner.  And whether you enjoy it at the ballpark or one of their restaurants, don't miss a sandwich from Primanti Brothers.

Our final stop, the lovely Phipps Conservatory


11 comments:

amy (fearless homemaker) said...

Love this! My husband went to college in Pittsburgh (at Carnegie Mellon) so it's a city that's near and dear to us. =)

Belinda said...

That diner looks like it would be favorite regular spot. Pittsburgh is so underrated!

Beth said...

I agree, Belinda. I think Pittsburgh is a ton of fun! (Now if I could only go back for a Steelers game....)

Jess said...

Never been here! Thanks for the photos and sight-seeing suggestions!

Natalie Aguirre said...

Love the pictures of the flowers. And all the pictures make me want to go there. That's awesome how much your family travels.

Andrea_TheKitchenLioness said...

Beth, wonderful pictures of Pittsburgh - this must have been such fun visits - thanks for the virtual tour!

Liz That Skinny Chick Can Bake said...

Sounds like a fun trip!!!

Amy said...

What a lovely visit that you had. I'm not a big sports fan but I'm sure my hubby would appreciate it a lot. :) Thanks for your recommendation. Happy Friday and have a great weekend ahead.

Anonymous said...

Woo hoo for Pittsburgh! That's where I live! It's a lovely city, really.

You can't miss out on Primanti's and Phipps is one of my most favorite places, ever!

Choc Chip Uru @ Go Bake Yourself said...

What a beautiful city so full of excitement and fun :D

Cheers
CCU

Unknown said...

Pittsburg looks good and is a must visit city for me! Thanks Beth for your reportage ;)

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