Carnegie Museums
In 1895, Pittsburgh industrialist Andrew Carnegie established an
institute, which he intended to improve and educate local people.
Today, his ideal is realised in the form of a collection of four
museums funded by the Carnegie Institute: a Museum of Art, Natural
History, a Science Center, and The Andy Warhol Museum.
The Carnegie Museum of Art on Forbes Avenue has a notable
collection of contemporary art that includes film and video works.
The adjacent Natural History Museum takes visitors on a trip
through time detailing the wonders of planet earth.
The Carnegie Science Centre at Allegheny Avenue offers
planetarium and laser shows and a variety of hands-on activities
and exhibits for old and young. The final museum in the Carnegie
bouquet is the Andy Warhol in Sandusky Street, featuring extensive
permanent collections of art and archives relating to one of the
most influential American artists of the 20th century.
Carnegie Music Hall
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National Aviary
Situated in historic West Park on Pittsburgh's North Side, the
National Aviary is a few minutes from downtown. It's the only
independent indoor non-profit bird zoo in the USA and home to more
than 600 birds of more than 200 species, many of which are
threatened and endangered. There are birds from just about every
corner of the world, from hummingbirds to Andean condors. The zoo
places emphasis on rainforest and wetland habitats with most birds
kept in natural planted exhibits, allowing for close up views. The
National Aviary is a great family attraction in Pittsburgh.
Golden Conures
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Point State Park
Formerly a slum, Point State Park in Downtown Pittsburgh is now
a recreational delight. Declared a National Historic Landmark, it
played a key strategic role during the French and Indian War in the
middle of the 1700s.
Paved promenades feature along the Ohio riverfront, providing
dramatic views of the city with its busy waterways, scenic
hillsides, and bridges. The park is naturally landscaped and
enhanced by a 150-foot (46m) fountain. There's also a biking trail,
outdoor amphitheatre, and an inline skating route.
The Fort Pitt Museum is housed in one of the five original
bastions of the ruined fort, devoted to displaying local history.
The Fort Pitt Blockhouse is the oldest authentic building in
Western Pennsylvania and is also open to the public.
Point State Park
John Marino
PNC Park
Since its opening in 2001, PNC Park has awed all those who've
entered it. Consistently voted in the top three of all baseball
stadia in America, PNC Park is a breath-taking example of how
sports stadium architecture can be both artful and
spectator-friendly.
With a capacity of just under 40,000, it is a relatively small
stadium. But even the cheap seats command perfect views of the
playing diamond. Beyond the bleachers, views of the river, the
Roberto Clemente Bridge, Pittsburgh's skyline, and towering Mount
Washington catch the eye.
While daytime tours of the stadium are thoroughly rewarding,
visitors to Pittsburgh should do their best to attend a Pirates
game. A magical atmosphere bubbles inside PNC Park as evening
descends, the city lights starting to sparkle in the distance.
PNC Park
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Fallingwater
Just 60 miles (about 95km) southeast of Pittsburgh on Interstate
76, Fallingwater is a must-see attraction for visitors to the area.
Designed by Frank Lloyd Wright in 1935 for retail giant Edgar J.
Kaufman, the house sits among the waterfalls and woods of the
beautiful Bear Run Nature Reserve.
It remains arguably the world's best example of organic
architecture. A wondrous achievement, Wright managed to design a
fully functioning personal residence that blends fluidly and
harmoniously with its natural setting.
The sound of rushing water is a constant, a whispering presence
within the house. A boulder juts out into the living room and
doubles as a hearth, while the windows open outward from the
corners of the walls and leave no panes to obstruct the natural
view.
This triumphant feat of individualistic artistic expression so
inspired Ayn Rand that she largely based her novel The Fountainhead
on the ingenuous creation. Fallingwater is included in the
Smithsonian magazine's list of '28 places to see before you die'
and visitors to Pennsylvania shouldn't pass up the opportunity.
Make sure to book well in advance.
Fallingwater, Pittsburgh
Carol M. Highsmith
Pittsburgh's climate fluctuates between humid continental and
humid subtropical, with four distinct seasons. Pittsburgh winters,
between December and February, are cold, with average temperatures
between 21°F (-6°C) and 39°F (4°C), although the temperature can
drop significantly lower.
In spring, things warm up quickly and summers, between June and
August, are hot and sunny, with a range in humidity, and
temperatures averaging between 58°F (14°C) and 82°F (28°C).
Pittsburgh receives heavy rainfall, which is fairly evenly
distributed throughout the year, but late spring and summer tend to
be the wettest. Some snow does fall in winter.
Pittsburgh International Airport
Location: The airport is located about 18 miles (29km) west of
central Pittsburgh.
Time: GMT -5 (GMT -4 from mid-March to the first Sunday
in November).
Transfer Between Terminals:
The Landside and Airside terminals are linked by a moving
walkway.
Getting to the city:
Several taxi, shuttle bus and limousine companies service the
airport, providing transport to the city and nearby centres. Uber
and other similar mobile app based taxi services are also
available. Public transportation is limited to the Port Authority
Transit 28X Airport Flyer, which departs roughly every 30 minutes,
connecting to downtown Pittsburgh.
Car Rental:
Car hire companies represented at the airport include Alamo,
Hertz, Enterprise, Avis, Budget, Dollar, National and Payless.
Airport Taxis:
Taxis are readily available at the airport.
Facilities:
There are a wide variety of shops, restaurants and bars in the
two terminals. ATMs, currency exchange services, lounges and an
information desk are also available. Disabled facilities are
good.
Parking
Short-term parking is available just outside the terminal. It
costs $2 for the first hour, and $4 per hour thereafter, up to $26
per day. Long-term parking at Pittsburgh International Airport
costs $16 per day, and the extended-stay lots are just $8 per
day.
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Downtown Pittsburgh is compact and designed to benefit
pedestrians, with parks and plazas spaced out between the office
towers and shopping streets. If visitors need to travel further,
they descend to the subway known locally as the 'T'. It's a small,
clean, and reliable light rail system.
The city has an extensive bus network with multiple routes
connecting downtown to the attractions on the north side, as well
as Oakland and surrounding neighbourhoods. The Central Business
District is a Free Fare Zone and buses are free from 4am to 7pm
daily, while the 'T' is free 24 hours a day.
Pittsburgh's taxi cabs usually need to be called by telephone or
hired at a taxi rank, rather than hailed on the street. Cars rental
companies offer services in the city. Uber, Lyft, and other similar
ride-hailing apps and taxi services are also available.
Set between rivers and sprawling across seven hills, a holiday
in Pittsburgh offers a plethora of leisure options in a city built
on the hard work and struggle of immigrant labour. It has
neighbourhoods rich in culture, as well as important traditional
treasures.
Pittsburgh is filled with things to do and see, from an
18th-century French fortress to the National Aviary. Strolling
along the many picturesque footpaths is a pleasant way to while
away the hours, boasting more bridges than any other city in the
USA.
Culture enthusiasts will, in particular, enjoy vacations in
Pittsburgh, which sports world-class museums, theatres, and the
famed Carnegie Library. The Burgh also appeals to anyone interested
in industrial history and architecture.
The best seasons to travel to Pittsburgh are spring and autumn
when the weather is pleasantly mild. These seasons occur during the
months of April, May, September and October. Summers tend to endure
uncomfortable heat waves, while winters are bitterly cold.
Carnegie Music Hall
HoboJones
Golden Conures
Benny Mazur
Point State Park
John Marino
PNC Park
alpineinc
Fallingwater, Pittsburgh
Carol M. Highsmith
