Pittsburgh City Highlights
As the second largest city in Pennsylvania, located at the confluence of the Allegheny, Monongahela, and Ohio Rivers, Pittsburgh is known for being a metropolitan city that retains a small-town feel. There is no lack of opportunities to explore the city and indulge yourself in a myriad of activities. Point State Park is just a short walk from our convention hotel; it sits at the merge point of the three rivers and features the Fort Pitt museum and block house and one of the nation’s highest fountains (a 275-foot geyser that blasts 6,000 gallons of water per minute is fed by an aquifer found 53 feet underground). Also within walking distance is Market Square – a great place to sit and people watch, visit Cherries Diner, or get one of Primanti Bros. signature Pittsburgh sandwiches, where even the fries and coleslaw are between the bread. To experience the visual arts, go to the North Side and take in the Andy Warhol (1/2 price admission Fridays 5-10 p.m.), Carnegie, or Frick museums or the installation-art focused Mattress Factory. Take a trip over to the South Side and Station Square and enjoy dinner or a comedy show or ride up to the top of Mt. Washington on the Monongahela or Duquesne inclines. Shake your tailfeathers or explore a trendy shop in "The Strip" warehouse district (live Jazz Thursdays at Firehouse Lounge), or if the performing arts are your way to go beyond words, Heinz Hall houses the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra and the Benedum Center for the Performing Arts features the Pittsburgh Opera and Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre. WiFi Pittsburgh will give you two hours/day of free WiFi anywhere in the downtown area so you can update your Tumblr, Twitter, or Facebook status with ease – and contribute to the convention blog right from your favorite Pittsburgh “finds.”
Getting Around Town
Downtown Pittsburgh occupies a compact 50-acre area bordered by Grant Street to the east, Penn Avenue to the north and the Boulevard of the Allies to the south. You're never more than a few blocks to your destination, and downtown is easy to walk and nicely scaled for pedestrian enjoyment - with parks and plazas spaced conveniently between office towers and retail corridors. Outside of downtown, public transportation links the outlying city neighborhoods and suburbs.
Public Transportation
The Port Authority of Allegheny County has more than 875 buses, 83 light rail vehicles, and the Monongahela and Duquesne Inclines to help you get around Pittsburgh.
Subway - The 'T'
Pittsburgh's small but clean and safe 25.2-mile subway and light rail system, the 'T' serves downtown Pittsburgh with a four-stop loop including stops at Steel Plaza at Grant Street, Gateway Center Plaza (Liberty Avenue and Stanwix Street), Wood Street, and the First Avenue Parking Garage. Underground, the music is classical, the art whimsical, and travel within downtown Pittsburgh is free. The subway will also deliver you across the river to Station Square on the South Side for a minimal fare. After traveling under the Monongahela River, the 'T' runs above ground along three different light rail lines into Pittsburgh's south suburbs.
Public Bus
Multiple bus routes connect downtown Pittsburgh to cultural and other attractions on the North Side and Oakland as well as to the majority of the neighborhoods surrounding Pittsburgh. The Port Authority also sponsors the ACCESS program, the nation’s largest paratransit program of its kind for senior citizens and persons with disabilities.
Things to Love About Pittsburgh
Adapted from Kimberly Powell
If any city has had trouble shedding its old image, it's Pittsburgh. It can't seem to shake it's dirty steel town rap. There are, at least in my mind however, many more reasons to love the former Steel City than to hate it. Whether you're a potential transplant, a curious sightseer, or just planning a visit, here are some of the many great Pittsburgh sights, traditions, and reasons to come, stay, and live in the 'Burgh.
1. Topography & Neighborhoods
I gasped, much like everyone does, when I caught my first glimpse of Pittsburgh coming in through the Fort Pitt Tunnel back in 1987. The city's geographical location is definitely one of its most stunning features, with rivers, hills, and valleys coming together to form a remarkable tableau. The topography is also a big reason for Pittsburgh's interesting patchwork of neighborhoods - 88 in the city of Pittsburgh alone. Defined by hills, separated by rivers and bridges, and demarcated by ravines, Pittsburgh's neighborhoods are each small towns where families live for generations. Squirrel Hill, Polish Hill, Brighton Heights, Southside Slopes -- these are all distinct communities, each with their own ethnic heritage, personality, and charm.
2. Mount Washington & the Inclines
It's Pittsburgh's Eiffel Tower, and just as amazing. The stunning view from Pittsburgh's Mount Washington, once called Coal Hill for its generous coal seams, was ranked the second most beautiful place in America by USA Weekend's 2003 Annual Travel Report. Several overlook pods situated along the edge of Mt. Washington's Grandview Avenue offer breathtaking views of downtown and the surrounding area, as do most of the restaurants that line the street. Getting up the mountain is a big part of the fun, with two working 1800s inclines to take you both up and down again. The Monongahela Incline from Station Square is the most tourist oriented, but the Duquesne Incline features more beautiful cars, a historic museum, and the better view.
3. Arts & Culture
Pittsburgh is ranked #1 among mid-sized cities in American Style Magazine's 2007 "Top 25 Arts Destinations," for a reason. Thanks to the Andy Warhol Museum, Carnegie Museums of Art & Natural History, the University of Pittsburgh's Nationality Classrooms, and the always funky Mattress Factory, Pittsburgh is on the map when it comes to art. A nice selection of musical and theater performances can also be found in downtown Pittsburgh's thriving cultural district,
home to five major theaters and even live Cabaret.
4. The Steelers
Pittsburgh is a city that bleeds black and gold, the colors of our three professional sports teams. But much as Pittsburghers love the Penguins (2009 Stanley Cup Champs!) and Pirates, the Steelers -- proud winners of six Super Bowls -- are more akin to a religion here. It's not just in Pittsburgh either. Just about every town in America boasts an oasis of yinzers and twirling terrible towels - a true Steelers Nation.
5. Bridges & Steps
Pittsburgh has more bridges than just about any city in the world, including Venice, Italy, and more steps than Cincinnati and San Francisco combined! Three rivers and hundreds of hills will do that to a place. Most downtown bridges are painted a distinctive golden yellow (the official city colors are black and gold).
6. Plenty of Green!
If you like your cities on the green side, then Pittsburgh is for you. The city's four regional parks offer thousands of acres of wooded escape from the city, while a multitude of rivers and streams, and a beautiful network of rail trails offer additional opportunities for recreation within the city limits. And no Pittsburgher will let you miss the festivals, fort, and fountain at tiny little Point State Park. It's no wonder Pittsburgh was tagged as the top Urban Adventure City in the country by National Geographic Adventure magazine in 2006. Another plus is Pittsburgh's role as a pioneer in green technology -- the 22nd largest metro area in the nation ranks seventh for the number of LEED-certified structures.
7. Primanti Sandwiches & Pierogies
You haven't truly experienced Pittsburgh if you haven't been to Primanti Bros.Restaurant. The local Pittsburgh chain is renowned for its unique sandwiches, stacked high with meat, a pile of coleslaw, and an unhealthy helping of French fries - all between the bread. Many locals claim that Primanti Bros. developed these sandwiches for mill workers who didn't have the time for plates or silverware... If a Primanti sandwich doesn't already have your arteries shrieking in pain, the pierogies will. Here in Pittsburgh we eat more than 11 times the pierogies of any other city in the nation, according to a recent survey. The stuffed pasta creations are served up at church picnics and fairs all over the city.
8. Saturdays in the Strip District
No, it's not the Red Light District despite the way it sounds. Once the center of Pittsburgh’s wholesale produce industry, "The Strip" has grown into a marketplace of specialty groceries and restaurants, coffee shops, street vendors,and unique antique and gift shops. It's also the place to be on Saturday mornings in Pittsburgh. Stop by for a great breakfast, local produce, or an interesting perspective on our eclectic city.
9. Pittsburghese
How could a city this unique not have its own language? Of course, lots of cities can boast funny accents and unusual words. But Pittsburgh definitely has a language all its own. The first thing you notice when you listen to the locals is that words with an "ow" sound such as house, down and sauerkraut are sometimes pronounced with an "ah" sound (dahntahn for downtown). A few other sounds are changed as well, such as Pixburgh (Pittsburgh), warsh (wash) and Stillers (Steelers). And then there are the colloquial words and phrases: Gumband (rubber band); Slippy (slippery); Nebby (nosey); Redd up (tidy up); Jimmies (sprinkles); Jagger (thorns or briars); Yinz (you guys); N'at (and that, etc.).