Pittsburgh

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When meeting citizens of a city, a lot of them will be proud of where they’re from. Perhaps more than any other city, Pittsburgh is that kind of town. Manufacturing played a big role in the development of Pittsburgh so you will find a lot of proud, hard-working residents. The city has adapted to more of a white-collar setting, but that doesn't mean the heart isn't still there. Pittsburgh natives have a very unique way of speaking, eating, and even walking. Their hard work in labor has earned them the nickname of “The Steel City”.

Back when the industrial age was in full swing during the 1930s and 1940s, Pittsburgh saw a huge boom in population. It topped out at 676,800 in 1950 but has continued to decline ever since. Now, there are just over 300,000 residents in the city limits, but it still holds onto its roots and there is plenty to do and see. Currently, there is a population of 64.8% White, 25.8% African American, 4.4% Asian, and 2.3% Hispanic.

Pittsburgh skyline panorama -
Pittsburgh — Pittsburgh skyline panorama. Photo by Always Shooting

Sightseeing in Pittsburgh

Phipps
Conservatory and Botanical Gardens — Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens

The Phipps Conservatory is among the highest rated spots to see in all of Pittsburgh. There is a large botanical garden that has been around since the late 1800s and has a large glasshouse that contains over a dozen rooms full of garden scenery. People will travel from around the world to visit the Carnegie Museum of Art in Pittsburgh. Both Impressionist and Post-Impressionist art is on display in the Carnegie Museum of Art and envelopes the past 200 years of American and European art. The namesake is also responsible for the Carnegie Science Center which hosts over 200 displays that are interactive.

If art and museums are not your thing, and you want to take in Pittsburgh as a whole, then try out the Duquesne Incline. It is a railway that goes straight down the Duquesne Heights and has been around since 1877. There is also a museum inside the station. You may also want to check out the nearly two dozen bridges that help people cross the Three Rivers. The most unique bridge is the Roberto Clemente Bridge that sits across from where the Pirates play baseball at PNC Park (Wikipedia Article)

. It is the namesake for the Pirates' legend and has the same black and yellow colors that the sports teams wear.

Food

You can't head to Pittsburgh without thinking about food. The mix of Polish cuisine and blue-collar food makes Pittsburgh one of the most unique food cities in the world. The first dish that comes to mind is the Pierogie. It's a pasta dough that is filled with potatoes and cheese and even onion or sauerkraut.

You can also find many fans of the Kielbasa sausage in Pittsburgh, as well as hot dogs. The most famous restaurant in all of Pittsburgh is Primanti Brothers. They offer sandwiches with different types of meat, but will always add french fries and coleslaw onto it. Don't bother asking for any alterations, they don't do that there.

Hotels

If you are looking for the finest hotels in all of Pittsburgh, then there are three that you need to know about. The first is the Fairmont Pittsburgh, which you can't miss with its gorgeous steel and glass exterior. The rooms offer more space than guests will know what to do with, and it is always sparkling clean with the most comfortable beds and finest amenities the city has to offer. There is even an art gallery and a display of the artifacts that were found during construction.

The next hotel is the Omni William Penn Hotel. It has an unmistakable design as it is a brick building with three pillars that stands out. Once you enter the lobby, you will think that you have entered the ballroom of the Titanic, it's that pristine. The food here is award-winning, and up to 600 rooms are available. The furnishings are made from Cherry Wood and the rooms are all very large.

The last hotel features a similar name but it is a bit farther away in Bedford, and it's also the Omni. It recently underwent a renovation of more than $100 million USD and is more of a resort instead of a hotel. The resort is over 200 years old and offers the finest luxuries. The day spa here is world class and a golf course sits outside waiting eagerly for players. There are over 200 rooms available at this five star gem.

Budget

Comfortable

Luxurious

~~$ 212 USD~~
Fairmont Pittsburgh

Shopping

There are many different places to shop in each district of Pittsburgh. The one place you will want to visit, however, is the Downtown Pittsburgh area. The rest of the shopping centers surrounding the city is not very unique and can be found in most moderate to large cities. In Downtown Pittsburgh, there is a unique blend. You will find boutiques tucked away in some of the Downtown neighborhoods that have upscale wares and clothing. It's also a great place to find food to take home and original jewelry and art, as well as toys for the kids. Pittsburgh has always been a blue-collar (Wikipedia Article)

town, so their need for shopping hasn't been met as much as some of the more white-collar (Wikipedia Article)

cities, but that’s fine!

Pittsburgh Horizon - Pittsburgh — Pittsburgh Horizon. Photo by Gumilang Aryo Sahadewo

Sports

One thing that is interesting about the professional sports teams in Pittsburgh is the fact that all three of them have the colors of black and yellow. There is even a song about it. The team that Pittsburgh natives are most passionate about is the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League, and they play at Heinz Field (Wikipedia Article)

. In the National Hockey League, the Penguins are usually among the best of the bunch, while in baseball, the Pirates (who play at beautiful PNC Park) are certainly a team on the rise. If college sports are more of your speed, then the Pitt Panthers are always playing exciting football and basketball games.

Safety

For a city of its size, Pittsburgh actually has a lower crime index than most. There are a reported 7.5 violent crimes and 35 property crimes for every 1,000 residents in the city. The areas of Pittsburgh that surround the downtown area are all very safe, especially the South part of Pittsburgh which has extremely low crime rates. The safest neighborhoods are on Grove Street, Bryn Mawr, Broughton, Whitehall, and Cedar Boulevard. Even downtown is safe if you can avoid some of the trouble spots after dark.

Transportation

The more traditional route into Pittsburgh is by plane to the Pittsburgh International Airport, but some will still use the Allegheny County Airport for smaller planes. When traveling through PIT, getting a bus or shuttle into town is not a problem and there is even a shopping area to keep you occupied until your ride comes. The Amtrak station stops right in the heart of downtown if you are looking to take a train into the area. If you want to drive, then Pittsburgh is very easy to get to. The Pennsylvania Turnpike (I-76) can get you in from the North or the East, I-79 gets you in from the West, and I-70 will bring you in from the South. Many do not find difficulty making the trip to Pittsburgh and you can quickly get through the low traffic, rural areas before having to slow down for Pittsburgh traffic.

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Author: koreydbeckett. Last updated: Mar 20, 2015