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Pittsburgh: Big City Amenities, Small Town Friendly
by Joe McGrath
Pittsburgh offers big city amenities and boundless hospitality in an atmosphere that is small-town friendly. Travelers arriving by plane can enjoy the first-class service and impeccable facilities of the Pittsburgh International Airport, voted Best U.S Airport by Condé Nast Traveler.
Any visitor who has entered Pittsburgh through the Fort Pitt Tunnel and crossed the Fort Pitt Bridge has been awed by an urban vista like no other. In fact, the New York Times called Pittsburgh “the only city with an entrance.” And the view from Pittsburgh’s Mount Washington ranked second on USA WEEKEND Magazine’s list of the 10 most beautiful places in America.
With its breathtaking skyline, sparkling clean rivers, and magnificent architecture, the city is ripe for discovery. Located at the confluence of three rivers and banked on all sides by green hills, Pittsburgh has earned its reputation as one of America’s “most livable” cities. Long a center for the production of steel, iron, glass, Pittsburgh’s economy is now driven by technology, medicine, finance, and tourism.
Big City Amenities…
Visitors to the region—more than ten
million annually—will discover a wealth
of attractions, culture, and history.
Downtown, a thriving Cultural District offers performances by the world-class Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, Pittsburgh Ballet Theater, Broadway Series, and Pittsburgh Opera. A new Cabaret at Theater Square features an intimate setting and year-round programming, while the city’s jazz legacy is preserved at Manchester Craftsmen’s Guild and various clubs throughout the area.
Named “one of the top 25 arts destinations in the nation” by American Arts magazine, Pittsburgh offers traditional and contemporary art in a variety of settings. In Oakland, the Carnegie Museums of Art and Natural History, founded in 1896 by Pittsburgh industrialist Andrew Carnegie, are home to a fine collection of Impressionist, Post-Impressionist, and contemporary works, as well as one of the world’s finest dinosaur and gem collections.
The Andy Warhol Museum, a seven-story museum featuring the work of pop artist and Pittsburgh native Andy Warhol, features an extensive permanent collection of art and archives showcasing one of the most influential American artists of the 20th Century.
Get into The Mattress Factory—literally! The contemporary art museum features room-sized environments created by inresidence artists and is a one of few museums of its kind anywhere. Art lovers will also enjoy Wood Street Galleries, which features multi-disciplinary artists from all over the world. Society for Contemporary Craft presents high-quality exhibitions and educational programs showcasing work by nationally and internationally known artists working in clay, fiber, glass, metal, wood, and found materials.
Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens is always blooming with tropical plants, a butterfly garden, Bonsai, miniature orchids, and seasonal flower exhibits to delight visitors.
The magnificent home of industrialist Henry Clay Frick, Clayton, is the focal point of the Frick Art & Historical Center and includes the Car & Carriage Museum and Art Museum (admission to both are free) and an award-winning café.
Pittsburgh has always been an avid sports town, and both football and baseball are played in newer ballparks on the North Shore. PNC Park, a 38,000-seat classic baseball park designed with a center field that opens to a dramatic view of Pittsburgh’s skyline, was ranked best ballpark in baseball by ESPN and lauded for its warm and intimate interior architecture, friendly staff, and accessibility. Nearby Heinz Field is a 65,000-seat stadium that provides another breathtaking view of the river and city, and sets the scene for Steelers and University of Pittsburgh Panthers football.
And 2006 brings Pittsburgh the special honor of hosting Major League Baseball’s All- Star Game. Pittsburgh’s got game, all right! More family fun is waiting in Pittsburgh’s East End, home of the Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium, one of a handful of zoos in the nation that includes an aquarium. The $16- million aquarium includes an indoor penguin exhibit and a rainforest exhibit.
Small Town Friendly…
One of America’s safest cities, Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh Point 7
that is Pittsburgh Image ©2005 Panoramas
8 Pittsburgh Point
offers first-class attractions, while retaining
a friendly atmosphere that will make any
visitor feel welcome.
Point State Park, where the three rivers meet, hosts annual festivals and concerts, including the Three Rivers Arts Festival, the Three Rivers Regatta, and the Head of the Ohio rowing competition.
During the winter months, PPG Plaza in downtown Pittsburgh is home to a newly developed ice skating rink with an ice surface of 9,586 sq. ft.—more than 2,000 sq. ft. larger than the rink at Rockefeller Center! During the holiday season, look for the plaza’s traditional 60-foot tree which is replaced by a fountain during the warmer months. A great gathering place for people of all ages to cool off!
Pittsburgh’s 88 distinct neighborhoods offer unique treasures and experiences. Hospitality abounds in these diverse ethnic neighborhoods, offering visitors a sampling of food, culture, festivals, and celebrations inspired and influenced by the city’s history and ethnic heritage.
Coffee houses, bookstores, and numerous art galleries are nestled along East Carson Street in the distinctive South Side neighborhood. Here, vintage clothing stores, bookstores, small galleries, unique shops, cozy night spots, and coffee bars offer plenty of day and evening fun. The new SouthSide Works, a 34-lifestyle development, includes a unique mix of shopping, entertainment, and restaurant options.
In the Strip District, the clubs are hot, the food is spicy, and dance floors pulse to the sounds of rock, blues, jazz and swing. By day, the Strip is alive with street vendors and shoppers buying the freshest breads, pastries, cheeses, coffees, and ethnic specialties. Just beyond the Strip is the 16:62 Design Zone, Pittsburgh’s interior design district. This unique destination, which extends from the 16th Street Bridge in the Strip to the 62nd Street Bridge in Lawrenceville, includes an eclectic range of shops, art galleries, and cafes.
Getting Around
One of America’s most compact and
walkable cities, downtown restaurants, theaters,
and shops are easily accessed on foot
or on the “T,” an underground rail system
that is free within the Downtown area.
Off shore, visitors can experience the city’s breathtaking skyline on a river cruise. During the summer months, water shuttles transport visitors back and forth among popular riverside destinations.
Leading from near Station Square to Mount Washington—a high perch that affords the best view of the city—are the Duquesne and Monongahela Inclines, the sole remaining examples of a once-prevalent mode of transportation in Pittsburgh. At the turn of the last century, at least 15 inclines served the working people of the city. While the inclines are still used by commuters, they’re an exciting—and fun— way to see Pittsburgh’s beautiful skyline.
Convention Center Accolades
Pittsburgh’s rivers and gracefully arcing
bridges provide the perfect backdrop for
the David L. Lawrence Convention Center,
the nearly $400 million center designed by
world-renowned architect Rafael Vinoly.
The Convention Center’s natural lighting,
ventilation and other energy-saving features
make it the first certified “Green” convention
center in the world. In fact,
Pittsburgh is the national pacesetter in
green building, with more “green” square
footage than any other city.
More to See and Do
Pittsburgh, a city of rivers, is a premier
location for recreational boating, kayaking,
fishing, and a variety of other water sports.
New waterfront trails make it even easier
for visitors to enjoy the rivers and the rest of
the region’s natural beauty.
History buffs can learn about the rich heritage of the Pittsburgh region at the Senator John Heinz Pittsburgh Regional History Center, which houses six floors of permanent and changing exhibits, including artifacts from the Smithsonian Institution. The new Western Pennsylvania Sports Museum celebrates the region’s rich sports tradition and captures the story of Pittsburgh sports through artifacts, handson interactive exhibits and audio-visual programs. Artifacts include Satchel Paige’s baseball glove, Arnold Palmer’s sweater and golf bag, and the shoes Franco Harris wore when he made the “Immaculate Reception.”
Next year, Pittsburgh is throwing a party and everyone is invited! “Pittsburgh Roars,” a new cultural tourism initiative, will promote the region’s vast array of arts, culture, and family attractions with themed events.
The campaign is one step in building momentum for a 2007 celebration of Pittsburgh’s glass heritage and the city’s 250th year-long birthday celebration in 2008.
Pittsburgh is a destination that connects travelers to a variety of interesting towns, outdoor adventure and scenic drives through the countryside into neighboring counties.
Outdoor enthusiasts will love Armstrong County’s Crooked Creek Lake Park with its beach, lake, campgrounds, picnic areas, and fitness trails. Visitors to Beaver County’s Aviation Museum can learn about the history of flight. Fitness buffs can head to Butler County for a walk or ride on the Butler-Freeport Trail, one of the nation’s first Rails-to-Trails bicycling/walking trails. Greene County offers hiking and equestrian trails and primitive and RV camping at Mason Dixon Historical Park. It’s a wonderful life in Indiana County, home to beloved actor Jimmy Stewart and the Jimmy Stewart Museum. Frank Lloyd Wright fans will enjoy Fallingwater and Kentuck Knob in the Laurel Highlands. Lawrence County offers a glimpse of the Amish Countryside. Adventure seekers can find a full range of outdoor activities at Shenango River Lake in Mercer County. And, visitors can take a ride into the past at the Pennsylvania Trolley Museum in Washington County.
Pittsburgh is a unique city with a smalltown, neighborhood feel. A world of fun, adventure, and exciting side trips await those who visit. To find more information, visit www.visitpittsburgh.com.
—Joseph McGrath is president and CEO of the Greater Pittsburgh Convention
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