Springtime for Pittsburgh
Old and new blend perfectly in an ever more interesting Steel City
Last Updated: 10:11 AM, April 1, 2011
Posted: 5:58 PM, March 28, 2011
Comments: 3
PrintTHE OUTDOORS ARE TRULY GREAT As complicated as Pittsburgh can be to navigate, there’s still plenty of it that’s easy to figure out on foot, from the museums and sports stadiums of the North Side to the bars and restaurants of the South Side, all the way out the Strip District and, of course, right downtown. When the weather’s nice, there’s nothing better than exploring on two feet — particularly along the increasingly developed riverfront. The Three Rivers Heritage Trail is a many-segmented and growing trail network that covers an impressive 21 miles; pretty much any direction you want to go from the center of town, there’s a path for that. If you prefer an upper-body workout, Kayak Pittsburgh, which reopens May 1 for the summer season, provides affordable rentals in its downtown location under the Sixth Street Bridge. And while you won’t get much of a workout climbing Mt. Washington — the Duquesne Incline will do the job for you, for a low cost of just $2.25 each way — it's an exhilarating, 800-foot climb on a cable car plying a steep route (a nearly 60 degree angle!) that went into operation in 1877. Whether it’s your first or tenth time to Pittsburgh, the view from up here is a must-see (duquesneincline.org).
SO’S THE INDOORS Spring not moving forward fast enough for you? Get a jumpstart on summer indoors at the gorgeous Phipps Conservatory up in Oakland, where 19 indoor and outdoor gardens, representative of many different types of habitats, have been thrilling Pittsburghers for more than a century. While it takes a little less than two hours to do the site justice, stick around for lunch in the airy café; if you get in to town early enough on a Friday, note that the gardens are open all the way up until 10 p.m. (phipps.conservatory.org). An easy hike from most Downtown hotels, the surprising National Aviary, an all-bird zoo that features 600 winged-things from the world over in a beautiful indoor garden setting, is an only-in-Pittsburgh must. Do not miss the pink flamingos (aviary.org).
BEEN TO FALLINGWATER YET? It must be said that no museum in the city quite competes with Frank Lloyd Wright’s Fallingwater, one of the most iconic residences in the free world, located just an hour or so from town, in the heart of the beautiful Laurel Highlands. Designed as a weekend spot for the Kaufmann family, local luminaries who most famously owned that big department store downtown that is now a Macy’s, Fallingwater is reason enough to come to Western Pennsylvania, never even mind Pittsburgh. Book the extended tour, well in advance. For $67, you get more access to the home than most tours do — either way, plan on half a day at least, all in (fallingwater.org).
THERE’S FINALLY A DECENT HOTEL Every once in awhile, you run across a hotel that just gets it right. Sometimes, where you least expect it. Like, say, Downtown Pittsburgh. A city that hasn’t had a really great hotel for years now lays claim to one of the nicest in the state — the shiny new Fairmont. Occupying an attractive glass tower that’s part of a larger redevelopment project off of the city’s impressive Market Square, sleek, outsized rooms, good service, an outstanding health club with floor-to-ceiling views of one of the city’s busiest corners and a location of the city’s hippest café — 21st Street Coffee — located out the other side of the building make this the sort of hotel that could have you forgetting there’s a city out there worth exploring. Book the "It’s a Date in the Burgh" package Thursday-Sunday through Dec. 31; it includes accommodations and credits for food and beverage ($50) and spa ($25). The starting rate is just $199 (fairmont.com).
additional reporting by George Hobica
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NYPOST Comments (3)
wishanem
03/30/2011 9:32 PM
This article contains an error; it refers to the Monongahela Incline, but describes the Duquesne Incline.
The Monongahela Incline is run by the bus system, and modeled after a 1970's subway car. It has a small window in the bottom of the car and a mediocre view of the city.
The Duquesne Incline is a treasure, a true working museum piece run by a friendly and enthusiastic non-profit group.
AD15217
03/30/2011 11:15 AM
Another don't miss during a visit to Pittsburgh -- the Millvale Murals of Maxo Vanka.
sjsteimer
03/29/2011 11:25 AM
Great article... but Sean Ehland is the chef at Kaya. Kevin Sousa is the chef at Salt of the Earth