I am visiting Pitt soon and want to get a feel for the city. I have never lived anywhere near a major city so I don’t know what to expect. What are some key things to see around Pitt that isn’t too expensive?
Primanti Brothers!
I’d go to Phipps (very rare corpse flower blooming right now https://phipps.conservatory.org/exhibits-and-events/calendar). Otherwise, explore Shadyside restaurants, Southside and maybe the Strip if you can. Schenley park is beautiful - free movies right off Pitt campus during the summer. http://pittsburghpa.gov/citiparks/cinema-schenley Be sure to visit the Nationality Rooms in the Cathedral too - you can pay a nominal fee for the keys and explore on your own.
Yes! Definitely go to the Cathedral and visit the rooms. Go over to Mt. Washington for the great view. We took the incline and then ate at a restaurant with a great view. But you can just stroll around in the great neighborhood and catch the views or duck into a bakery or corner food store to grab a quick bite.
Great suggestions. Pittsburghers are friendly, so don’t hesitate to ask people for their opinions about where to go. I have a friend who ultimately chose Pitt for this reason! The museums are in that neighborhood if that interests you.
I have heard about Primanti Bros a lot so I will definetly go there. Schenley Park also looks beautiful. I might also have to visit a few museums too.
We spent a day walking the city, visiting the Phipps conservatory and then happened upon the Pitt Puppy Therapy days at the Cathedral.
I and others have posted this before (and I apologize if you’ve already seen it). Here is a link to a really good online tour of Pitt and some Pittsburgh attractions from a sports website. (It starts with sports facilities, but then moves on to campus, the Oakland neighborhood and then the city.) http://csnbbs.com/thread-564078.html
Definitely go to the O (Original Hot Dog Shop) for fries. It’s right on Forbes Ave by the Litchfield Towers (freshman dorms). They’re amazing, cheap, and 2-3 people can share a medium. If the Pirates are playing, and if you like baseball, catch a game at PNC Park. Station Square has some fun restaurants and decent night life (as do Shadyside, South Side, and Squirrel Hill). If you go to Station Square, take the Incline up Mt. Washington. If you’ve got the time, the Pittsburgh zoo is fantastic, or you could go to Kennywood (a local amusement park with a few great coasters and a lot of charm).
Google “Randlyland in Pittsburgh”. We visited and thought it was so neat. Kayaking on the river is a popular activity in the summer (that’s on our list for next time). We loved walking past Phipps (stopping to check it out) then over the bridge into Schenley Park and back through campus. Top it off with Dave and Andys ice cream or Razzy Fresh frozen yogurt or waffleonia. Conflict Kitchen is neat too! Have a great visit.
@shortnuke , I was going to suggest PNC Park and Kennywood as well, but OP should know that neither is right in the vicinity of Pitt. If Kennywood is one of your favorite things about the 'Burgh, you’ve betrayed yourself as a local… And that’s never bad…
I believe one of the canpus tours offered takes you to some Pittsburgh sights.
@gardenstategal also kennywood isn’t necessarily cheap. It really isn’t that special either or something to spend a day doing if you’re just visiting.
@pitt2021 , no, it’s not cheap, nor would be indicative of how a pitt student might be spending his/her time so I wouldn’t (didn’t) recommend it for OP’s purposes. So on that, we agree. As for not being so special, we’ll have to agree to disagree there (although I haven’t been there since it was bought from the family who operated it for decades upon decades). It is it’s own world – historic register rides, including its carousel, great fair food, incredible landscaping, and roller coasters that use the river banks for vertical drop – it’s a park with a history and character unlike any other. And if you’re into people-watching, it’s nirvana. I would most certainly put this on the “to-do” list for a family visiting Pittsburgh. For a prospective college student, nah. Save it for when you’re enrolled.
@gardenstategal yeah of course it’s very nice and historic, it probably just isn’t as special to me since I’m 17. I meant not special in the ride aspect. Like it doesn’t necessarily compare to cedar point or something else when talking about rides.
I get it, @pitt2021!