Early Spring Waterfall Hike at Settlers Cabin Park in Pittsburgh

A lovely hike through majestic woodlands treated us to a view of a tranquil waterfall tucked away in Pittsburgh at Settlers Cabin Park. Traversing slightly muddy trails on a recent spring visit was well worth it as we soaked in views of the picturesque waterfall gently trickling over layered rock. Pure bliss!

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Fall Run Park Near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Fall Run Park Treats with a Waterfall Near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Fall Run Park in Glenshaw, Pennsylvania is home to a delightful 25' waterfall close to Pittsburgh. Approaching the waterfall, wanderers enjoy a hike along a rambling creek full of rapids and mini-waterfalls. The hike on the edge of the creek to the waterfall captivates and crafts such a special nature adventure.

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Mixing It Up With Condado Tacos in Pittsburgh

On our way home from Annapolis, we stopped in Pittsburgh for dinner. We always make a stop in Pittsburgh on our way out to see my family or on the way back because we love the city and, of course, love this view:

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Road Trip to Annapolis, Maryland

This week, we took a road trip to Annapolis, Maryland! Over the next couple of weeks, I will share our discoveries and stops on the way and back.  Overall, the trip from the Chicago area to Annapolis is about 11-12 hours, therefore there is a lot to discover there and on the way! We were able to stop in Pittsburgh on the way there and back:

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The Artsmiths of Pittsburgh

On our road trips east to New Jersey, we often find ourselves spending a little time in Pittsburgh. The city has quickly become one our favorite cities to explore. The city itself is striking especially from a perch upon Mount Washington where you can soak up the skyline surrounded by rivers and bridges.

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Beautiful Views of Pittsburgh

As I end my series on Pittsburgh, I am reflecting on the beauty of the city. Pittsburgh has long been one of my favorite cities aesthetically. The city thrives at the confluence of the Mongongahela and Allegheny Rivers---forming the Ohio River. Water views and glorious bridges throughout create spectacular scenes!

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Exploring Western Pennsylvania History and the Special Toys Exhibit at Heinz History Center {Pittsburgh}

During our first visit to the Heinz History Center a few years ago, we were immediately amazed by the wealth of engaging exhibits. We spent close to three hours going through each gallery gathering a store of knowledge about the history of Western Pennsylvania. We were just as captivated on our recent visit, soaking in familiar exhibits as well as appreciating the special Toys exhibit and exploring the Heinz exhibit that was being remodeled during our earlier excursion.

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An Afternoon With the Animals of the Pittsburgh Zoo and PPG Aquarium

One of our afternoons in Pittsburgh was glorious, sunny and 70! A picture perfect day! We headed for the Pittsburgh Zoo and PPG Aquarium to take a peek and visit with our furry friends who we were sure were also enjoying the lovely spring weather!

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A Family Visit to The Andy Warhol Museum {Pittsburgh}

Last year, I visited the Art Institute of Chicago with my daughter and she was determined to see at least one Andy Warhol. She had been introduced to his art and particularly enjoyed his famous pop art. While planning our trip to Pittsburgh, I learned that the city is actually Warhol's hometown. Today, the city is home to an impressive museum presenting his legacy and art. Since my daughter is such a fan, I added a visit the Andy Warhol Museum to our itinerary.

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Walking with the Dinosaurs at the Carnegie Museum of Natural History {Pittsburgh}

Here come the dinosaurs!

There is just something so captivating and enchanting about the world of the dinosaurs. Upon learning about the collection housed at the Carnegie Museum of Natural History in Pittsburgh, I knew that we would have to make a visit. The collection is the world's largest of Jurassic dinosaurs and the display dinosaurs represent the third largest in the entire U.S.A. So, amazing!

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Where to Eat in Pittsburgh's Strip District

Part of the Strip District adjacent to St. Stanislaus Kostka Church.

Along the Allegheny River, Pittsburgh's Strip District once buzzed with the work of factories and mills. The location facilitated easy transportation of goods and raw materials. As industry left, the area morphed into a historic market district alive with local flavor including many restaurants and an open-air market.

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The National Aviary: A Fine Feathered Treasure in Pittsburgh

A curious Palm Cockatoo!

During our Spring Break vacation, we had the opportunity to visit one of my favorite cities--Pittsburgh! As a 7-hour drive from the Chicago area, Pittsburgh is a road trip destination to have on your radar for longer breaks. Pittsburgh has a wide range of family-friendly destinations that easily keep families busy and active rain or shine! Plus, the flavor of the city is one that will easily have you branching out from the ordinary attractions to explore more. I am excited to present the city to you over the next few days!

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Primanti Brothers: a Pittsburgh classic

No trip to Pittsburgh is complete without visiting Primanti Brothers, especially if it is your first visit. The Primanti Sandwich was born in the 1930's and has been a classic ever since. Any fan of Man vs. Food is most likely acquainted with this sandwich full of meat, French fries, Primanti's cole slaw and tomatoes. While Primanti's has other menu items like soup and salads, how can you not try the sandwich at least once?

We were very lucky to be staying at a hotel near The Strip, a shopping and restaurant district in Pittsburgh. We were able to walk to Primanti Brothers from our hotel. After a pleasant walk, we settled in. The restaurant fills in quite quick in the evening, so you may want to get there a little early. We were there around 4:45PM and by 5PM there was a line for tables. You can also carryout. Here is a look at the cute joint:

There are actually a surprising number of sandwiches to choose from. It took me awhile, but I settled on the turkey. My husband had the pastrami. The staff was very accommodating when it came to my daughter. They made her a ham sandwich with fries and cole slaw on the side. This, of course, made me breath a sigh of relief--you know how picky the little ones can be!

Our sandwiches came quick. Look at the wonderful creation below:

I loved the slaw. It was a tad sweet and not mayonnaisey. I hate when a slaw is drenched in mayo! I felt like there was there right amount of fries on the sandwich. I was worried that there would be too many. Instead, the sandwich seemed balanced. That being said, I only ate half of mine and brought the rest back to the room to nibble on later. The sandwich held up well for later that day.

Some other things to note about Primanti Brothers: The restaurant in The Strip is open 24 hours, perfect for travelers unsure if when they will arrive. Also, it is cash only, so make sure to bring some greenbacks with you. The other locations all appear to have generous hours as well, so you can definitely hit Primanti's anytime you arrive.

We enjoyed our taste of Pittsburgh and will be heading back to Primanti Brothers when we return to the city. Besides the good food, the restaurant also was very lively, giving you the beat of the city. Quite a way to truly be part of Pittsburgh!


**Disclosure: No compensation was received for this post. All opinions are 100% my own.

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Historic Wonders at the Heinz History Center {Pittsburgh}

There so many wonderful sites to see in Pittsburgh, so it was difficult to choose what to visit on our past trip. However, when I read about the Heinz History Center, I just knew that we had to visit! You see, it has 6 floors packed full of history! With so much history, there is definitely something everyone will love. We ended up spending over 3 hours there!

At the Heinz History Center, history just jumps out at you. No dusty shelves here! When you enter, you are immediately greeted by interesting vehicles including a steel car, a Conestoga  wagon from the 1700's and a wagon that transported Heinz products back in the day. Already, history is more tangible, perfect for kids to grasp those things that they have read about in books.

Shiny!

Of course, kids need to play! In the Great Hall, you will find Kidsburgh, a two tier play area where kids can learn about Pittsburgh through activity.  Once kids are finished playing in Kidsburgh, they can wind down a red slide back to the main hall. There is a video screen set up so parents can watch their kids in Kidsburgh without having to climb to the top tier themselves. Nice!

I see you!

After experiencing the Great Hall and Kidsburgh, we headed to the special exhibit on 1968. This exhibit and its use of multimedia just blew us away. Each portion of the exhibit showcased important events as well as day to day life in 1968. The exhibit intermixes the difficult events of the year with some more lighthearted pieces of culture. When you first enter the exhibit, you immediately encounter the ominous humming of a medic helicopter like those from Vietnam. However, soon you find yourself greeted by '60's TV screens full of the popular shows of 1968. The Monkees, Laugh-In, or Mission Impossible anyone? My daughter loved that part and probably would have sat in front of the TVs for an hour. Another highlight--the section on Mr. Rogers. What a way to transport some of us back to childhood?

Won't you be my neighbor?

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Duquesne Incline: old time fun in Pittsburgh!

Over Spring Break, we took a little road trip to Pittsburgh. Since we were a little ahead of road construction season, the 8-hour drive was quite pleasant and uneventful. While we are frequently in the area, we have never stopped in Pittsburgh before. We were excited about the trip and found Pittsburgh to be a wonderful location for a little trip away from Chicagoland.

Pittsburgh is really a beautiful city. The city lies at the confluence of the Allegheny, Monongahela and Ohio Rivers. The rivers definitely add to the majesty as do the bridges. (My daughter oooed and ahhhed upon seeing the bridges.) To take in the sites, we rode the Duquesne Incline. The Duquesne Incline follows the path of an old coal hoist. It carries passengers from the base of Mt. Washington to its summit. During the ride up to the summit, you get an amazing view. The incline was opened to the public in 1877 and still provides some old time fun up to this day.

The Duquesne Incline is a fun activity for children. My daughter enjoyed watching the cars move up and down the incline. She spent some time trying to figure out how it worked. Little ones and big ones alike can watch the machinery work as the cable cars move up and down. The wooden cable cars are just beautiful and it was neat to see my daughter so enthralled by something relatively simple compared to many other involved attractions that children gravitate towards.

The view of Pittsburgh from the cable cars is spectacular. There is an amazing view of the city, the rivers and the stadiums. Something for everyone! We also had fun looking at boats on one of the rivers. We spotted some coal barges that were interesting to look at. Walking along the mountain, we enjoyed may views.

The Duquesne Incline is open all year and is open most of the day (5:30AM-12:45AM Monday-Friday, 7:00AM-12:45AM Sundays and holidays). With so many hours, it is easy to add this attraction to any Pittsburgh itinerary. I would recommend going either before or after the opening hours of other attractions to make the most of your trip. An evening visit may be fun!

Fares for the incline are $5 per adult for a roundtrip, $2.50 per child 6-11, and kids under 5 are free. Please be sure to bring cash as the incline is cash only.

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