Pittsburgh ? (1 Viewer)

[Nuhockey]

Hi PCF,

Question for those that live in or near Pittsburgh. Or maybe people who have been there. My wife wanted to plan a mini vacation 4-5 days in late July early August between my 11YO Son's Summer camps. She didn't want to go to any shore towns as we went last summer for 5 days down the shore. She wanted to do something that is drivable from Central NJ. Pittsburgh is about 5 1/2 hours which is very doable. We've been do MD, VA, and DC a bunch of times. We've been to Boston a few years ago to visit I went to Northeastern and lived there after. We've been to Philly a few times before and went to Niagra and Toronto last year and have been to the falls & Canada a few times. Legoland in NY and Hershey we've also been to, but those are not multiple day places. So the shore not being an option would rule out Ocean City, MD and the beaches in DE. We already went to Disney World last year and Disney Land in 2019. So I threw out Pittsburgh and my wife looked up some stuff and said that looks like a cool city to visit. So any suggestions about the things I listed below or any other suggestions of places to go see and visit would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Mike

Here are place we were thinking of in Pittsburgh going to see.

1. Kennywood Amusement Park
2. Carnegie Museum of Natural History - My 11 YO son is very still into Dinosaurs since he was in Pre-K. He still says he wants to be a Paleontologist.
3. Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium
4. Bicycle Heaven - I am into BMX Bikes and have a few in my collection.
5. Market Square & or The Strip
6. Falling Water
7. Mount Washington
8. National Aviary
9. Monongahela Incline
10. Children's Museum of Pittsburgh
11. PNC Bank - Pirates will be in town when we are there.

Places thinking of eating. I only came up with two I've heard of.
Primanti Brothers
Oyster House

​

 

[RocAFella1]

@CraigT78

 

[CraigT78]

Hi PCF,

Question for those that live in or near Pittsburgh. Or maybe people who have been there. My wife wanted to plan a mini vacation 4-5 days in late July early August between my 11YO Son's Summer camps. She didn't want to go to any shore towns as we went last summer for 5 days down the shore. She wanted to do something that is drivable from Central NJ. Pittsburgh is about 5 1/2 hours which is very doable. We've been do MD, VA, and DC a bunch of times. We've been to Boston a few years ago to visit I went to Northeastern and lived there after. We've been to Philly a few times before and went to Niagra and Toronto last year and have been to the falls & Canada a few times. Legoland in NY and Hershey we've also been to, but those are not multiple day places. So the shore not being an option would rule out Ocean City, MD and the beaches in DE. We already went to Disney World last year and Disney Land in 2019. So I threw out Pittsburgh and my wife looked up some stuff and said that looks like a cool city to visit. So any suggestions about the things I listed below or any other suggestions of places to go see and visit would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Mike

Here are place we were thinking of in Pittsburgh going to see.

1. Kennywood Amusement Park
2. Carnegie Museum of Natural History - My 11 YO son is very still into Dinosaurs since he was in Pre-K. He still says he wants to be a Paleontologist.
3. Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium
4. Bicycle Heaven - I am into BMX Bikes and have a few in my collection.
5. Market Square & or The Strip
6. Falling River
7. Mount Washington
8. National Aviary
9. Monongahela Incline
10. Children's Museum of Pittsburgh
11. PNC Bank - Pirates will be in town when we are there.

Places thinking of eating. I only came up with two I've heard of.
Primanti Brothers
Oyster House

​

I can help with food. What part of town are you staying?

Oakmont Bakery - must stop.

Primanti Bros - skip, I don't know why locals love this place. It's a chilis that puts french fries on sandwiches.

 

[Labrat]

I'm from Cleveland, but watching a Pirates game in the upper deck on the 3rd base line at PNC Field is awesome.

Going to be at Heinz Field this weekend for the Chesney show, as a matter of fact. (I know, I know, but it'll always the Heinz Field to me)

Other than that, the Steelers suck.

 

[Aggie930]

Falling river = fallingwater? the frank Lloyd Wright house? If so and you like the outdoors, Fallingwater is near Ohiopyle State park, which has a lot of hiking, biking, at whitewater rafting. I kayak and there quite often during the summer.

Some places near downtown that are good: DiAnoia's (Italian), Penn Ave Fish (sushi), Gauchos (Argentina - meat)

 

[BPTDirector]

I believe there is a Catholic Church in Pittsburg that has the largest collection of holy relics in the United States, if not the world.

 

[Nuhockey]

I can help with food. What part of town are you staying?

Oakmont Bakery - must stop.

Primanti Bros - skip, I don't know why locals love this place. It's a chilis that puts french fries on sandwiches.

Craig We didn’t decide on Hotel yet. I’m a Marriot member so one their places. Thanks

 

[Nuhockey]

Falling river = fallingwater? the frank Lloyd Wright house? If so and you like the outdoors, Fallingwater is near Ohiopyle State park, which has a lot of hiking, biking, at whitewater rafting. I kayak and there quite often during the summer.

Some places near downtown that are good: DiAnoia's (Italian), Penn Ave Fish (sushi), Gauchos (Argentina - meat)

Yes Fallingwater Thanks.

 

[Nuhockey]

I can help with food. What part of town are you staying?

Oakmont Bakery - must stop.

Primanti Bros - skip, I don't know why locals love this place. It's a chilis that puts french fries on sandwiches.

@CraigT78 we are staying in West Mifflin Spring Hill Suites. We needed to stay at a Marriot as I had 4 free nights. We went to the Pittsburgh Zoo and Aquarium today which was pretty awesome. For lunch went to a sandwhich shop near the Zoo called The Brinery in Shapesburgh. Holy cow were all the sandwiches awesome. The place looks so unassuming and the town looks older and rundown but the place was great. Tomorrow we are going to the Oakmont Bakery in the afternoon like you suggested after we go to Carnagie Science Center and then probably the Duquesne incline at night. For dinner maybe Tavern on the Hill. Saturday will go to the Museum of Natural History and maybe the illusion museum. Finishing off with a nice Steak and Seafoof house in Monroeville - Coast and Main. If you or anyone knows of a better steakhouse we still have time to change. No Primanti Brothers this time. The one thing I had to go see which we did on Wednesday when we got in was we went to Bicycle Heaven which is a bike museum which has two floors of vintage bikes and I’m into 80s and 90s BMX. Really amazing. We visited Squirel Hill Wednesday night which is a nice section of town full of Asian restaurants. Overall we’re finding Pittsburgh to be a nice city. One last thing I will have to say about Pittsburgh is holy crap I thought SF had some steep streets and hills. I didn’t know Pittsburgh has the steepest street in all of the US and we drove on some other streets which are like super steep also.

 

[Tham6165]

@Nuhockey I guess I missed the original thread. But I'm from Pittsburgh. Not sure if you need any more fill in the gap stuff. But I can help if needed.

As for the steak house you asked about. Never had it. I have eaten at most high end streak houses in Pittsburgh. Not a big seafood person so I can't speak to those.

 

[Tham6165]

If you choose to change your streak house plans. There are many options in the downtown area. One option although it's not my favorite steakhouse is Eddie Merlots. Which would put you in waking distance to point state park. It is a nice walk to go on and you can go up to the tip where the confluence of all 3 rivers meet.
Also suggest going up on to Grandview Ave for an overlook of the city. Best to do it at night when the city is lit up There are also plenty of high end restaurants up there with exquisite views of the city. Not my favorites but still good. I've never been to Monteray Bay restaurant but I've never heard a complaint. They specialize in seafood but I believe still have steaks also.
Any other things I think of I'll throw them out to you.

 

[Nuhockey]

@Nuhockey I guess I missed the original thread. But I'm from Pittsburgh. Not sure if you need any more fill in the gap stuff. But I can help if needed.

Thanks @Tham6165 for your suggestions.

 

[Tham6165]

Your welcome! Hope your enjoying the city!

 

[TheLegend]

Skip Kennywood and go to Cedar Point instead.

Well worth the detour…

 

[Tham6165]

Skip Kennywood and go to Cedar Point instead.

Well worth the detour…

I do agree with that comment!

 

[ChipFinderSK]

Primanti Bros - skip, I don't know why locals love this place. It's a chilis that puts french fries on sandwiches.

+1 There is a Primanti Bros location near Hershey Park. I had never had their food but was aware of the hype - maybe from something on tv.

The wait was long, the food was not very good, and I didn’t even finish the sandwich I bought (a rarity for me)

 

[mike32]

Threadjack 80’s bmx you say! I was an early member of vintagebmx.com in its heyday. Site is gone now I think.
I am the original owner of this GJS which still sits in my garage, got it in 1979 or 1980.
Anything cool bmxwise at the museum?

 

[Nuhockey]

Threadjack 80’s bmx you say! I was an early member of vintagebmx.com in its heyday. Site is gone now I think.
I am the original owner of this GJS which still sits in my garage, got it in 1979 or 1980.
Anything cool bmxwise at the museum?
View attachment 1367592

Very cool . GJS is highly sought after. Yes the Museum has 2 floors of Bikes. First floor is Vintage Schwinn and Roadbikes. Second floor is where the most of the BMX and freestyle. I took like 64 pictures of all the bikes. They have GT, Haro, Skyway, Hutch, Diamondback, Haro, Redline, DG, and many more. I’ll shared my pics in my google drive for all people with the link to see.

 

[Nuhockey]

@mike32 or anyone that wants to see the BMX and Freestyle bikes at Bicycle Heaven in Pittsburgh I do have google drive and was able to load all the pictures. Here is the link.

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1PgHqkf8BJ3YG4jN611xZMCe4sP0cOqrE

 

[Nuhockey]

We went to Coast and Main for a steak and seafood dinner tonight. It was great. I got the 16oz ribeye, my wife got the Swordfish, and my son the Double Cheeseburger Sliders for kids. It was in the Monroeville Mall which it was not in the mall but in a building next to mall across from the Barns and Noble. The food was excellent. The swordfish tasted great and my wife loved it. The steak was a perfect medium rare and tender. The service was good also. The Mall like many malls in America seemed a little depressing and sad as there wasn’t a lot of people for a Saturday. But the Steakhouse itself was pretty full of people. Unfortunately is rained pretty hard and we didn’t make it to Grandview Avenue. We’ll go tomorrow morning before we head back to NJ. One thing I will have to say about the Pittsburgh roads is the GPS takes you on some two lane one direction backroads and with it raining out and being dark and the GPS tells you to make a right or left there are forks in the road with three directions for you to choose at times can get confusing. But we figured it out. LOL Also I’ve never been to a place with so many curves and steep up and down hills. Maybe the Poconos in PA had steep roads too, but these here in Pittsburgh exceed SF. Overall a great city and we had a great time. The museums and places we visited were a lot of fun. The food was great too.

 

[Nuhockey]

We went this morning to Mount Washington where Grandview Ave is the views are truly awesome of the city below. It was a Great suggestion @Tham6165 . We didn't go last night because of the rain. But the views were still awesome during the day.

 

[Tham6165]

@Nuhockey your welcome! Definitely would have been better for you if the rain held off and you could have done it at night.

I should have told you to do the parkway through the fort pitt tunnel also. When you come through the tunnel people not from here don't realize as soon as you get to the end of the tunnel it opens up to the city skyline with the stadiums in the background only hundreds of yards away.
That usually happens when your coming from the airport towards the city. But maybe next time.

Hopefully you enjoyed yourselves and the yinzers treated you well!

 

[Nuhockey]

@Nuhockey your welcome! Definitely would have been better for you if the rain held off and you could have done it at night.

I should have told you to do the parkway through the fort pitt tunnel also. When you come through the tunnel people not from here don't realize as soon as you get to the end of the tunnel it opens up to the city skyline with the stadiums in the background only hundreds of yards away.
That usually happens when your coming from the airport towards the city. But maybe next time.

Hopefully you enjoyed yourselves and the yinzers treated you well!

Yes we loved the city and all the Museums we went to and zoo plus the science center. All fun places. We finished with a very nice dinner last night. The overlook on Grandview was spectacular in its views and was a good way to leave the city and head home. The only one thing I wanted to do but could not sneak away was play a few hours of Poker at Rivers, but maybe another time. The Poker room looks pretty nice. Thanks again very much for yours and everyone’s suggestions.