If you are new to Pittsburgh, the name can be a bit confusing, but it refers to being a literal…read morestrip of land between the river and steeper banks. Although some also say it is from the strip mills that were once in the area. Regardless of how it got its name, it is a wonderful place that anyone spending time in Pittsburgh should visit! There are restaurants of every variety. Polish, Vietnamese, seafood, Italian and the original Primanti Brothers location! There is a winery, butcher shop, places to buy kitchen items, a spice store, tons of Pittsburgh themed sports and souvenir shops. Candy stores, Pittsburgh popcorn. Maybe the most known entity is Wholey's Market with their amazing selection of fresh seafood. The strip is always busy during the day, especially on Saturday and Sunday. It is a little less crazy in the evenings because a lot of the retail stores are only open until 5, but there are still plenty of great spots to grab a bite. It is easily walkable and there are a wide variety of parking options (a municipal garage near one end, surface lots, metered spots and some businesses (like Wholey's) have their own lots. What is great is that anyone can enjoy the Strip District. You can enjoy time with your family, wander on your own, have a girls day our or have a date day. So many fun things to choose from. Definitely one of the top Pittsburgh "things to do"

Yes it's a must see strip. Lots of food places , something for everyone. Cafes to choose from …read more Shopping , road side vendors. We went to play mini golf, amazing place , it's huge, kids area is separate, restaurants is separate, people host birthdays, there is a bar, but lots of shops closes at 4 pm on a Sunday .

Andrea Polli's masterpiece in the heart of the Cultural District is an absolute gem of immersive…read moreart! A place I would often take visitors to our great city and a spot I still swing by whenever I'm home. The canal aka Garrison Place was originally a dank and dark alley (Garrison Alley) that transformed with the Cultural District coming into fruition. The LED art installation wasn't unveiled until 2018 but is still considered a vital and iconic piece of Pittsburgh art & history. The idea of the artwork is to mimic swimming under water. The lights change colors depending on weather. The animated waves also shift & change around the weather. If you're visiting Pittsburgh, be sure to check it out (after the sun goes down) in the 900 block of Liberty.

Garrison Canal was all messed up this morning. Dumpsters blocking the alley, garbage strewn…read moreeverywhere, broken glass, and even some person going to the bathroom behind a dumpster ... GROSS!!! Do better Pittsburgh!!!!

Strawberry Way is an alley in the heart of downtown Pittsburgh that's been transformed into an…read moreeclectic outdoor seating area that attracts people from all walks of life: business professionals, students and artists. The street has been painted in a vibrant and funky pattern and in the summer months filled with multi-colored tables and chairs. The seating area provides a fun experience for lunch hour or just to take a break and enjoy the views of surrounding buildings. This is one of those little gems I'd love to stumble across as a tourist in another city. Definitely worth enjoying and not taking for granted as a city resident or area local.

Fun, funky, quiet, an oasis. This little neighborhood alley can be anything you want it to be. The…read morewalkway has been painted in a multitude of colors/shapes and there are planters and tables and chairs throughout to take a load off and just relax. If you need a spot to unwind, come on down!

What's not to love about the place that gives you incredible views of Pittsburgh?!…read moreThere are so many neat things here. Public parks, some interesting sculptures, viewing platforms, the top stations for both inclines, tons of great restaurants, bars and bakeries. It is such a cool place! Really something for everyone. And the absolute best views of the beautiful Pittsburgh skyline.

It's a bit of a stretch to call this a "mountain", but it is an absolutely STUNNING place to…read morephotography PGH from! I recommend coming around sunset/sunrise or even at night! Fading natural light is a great contrast to artificial city lights. If you do this, I highly recommend bringing a tripod. There are some decent places to eat up here as well! I hiked up through a trail system from the Sheraton, it was a blast!

Some of the best views of the Pittsburgh Skyline…read more I ended up using my tripod-mounted DSLR and 70-200mm lens to get some great photos of the Pittsburgh Skyline from this location. Although the park itself is safe with visitors typically present...the surrounding area is very very quiet. In driving to the park's parking lot on Fairview Avenue, you will notice this. At no time did I feel unsafe, even with my photography equipment on hand. A police cruiser did circle around the parking area during my visit...which is reassuring. There are about 15 parking spaces in the main lot. There is also a port-a-potty there.

While not as well known as it's more famous sister on Mt. Washington, the West End Overlook is a…read moregreat spot to get a head on view of downtown and look up the Monongahela and Allegheny Rivers. I love to come here as it's a little quieter than Grandview Ave and has lots of trees and greenery about.

This is a very eye-catching piece of art! It's located on the Carnegie Mellon campus, within view…read moreof the street. After spotting it when driving by, we walked back to take a closer look. Sculptures of several people walk up a 100 foot tall steel pole, while additional figures are situated at the base, looking up at the others. It was designed by Jonathan Borofsky and is one of two copies. We really enjoyed checking out this piece!

You don't have to shell out any Dough to visit the Doughboy, because of course it's free…read more This is a popular little roundabout with an ice sculpture in the middle of it... actually it's a "nice sculpture" but google dictate hates me. Having said that, an ice sculpture would probably survive here for several months a year in icy Pitt. So it's pretty awesome, and one which is located in Pittsburgh's Lawrenceville neighbourhood. As you can see Barbie came here, and like her, it adds a nice little bit of culture and artistic flavour to the neighbourhood.

British fare in the 'burgh? A variety of pastys (either fresh or frozen) and grocery items too. The…read moretraditional Cornish Pastie was tremendously flavorful but a littlle grisly -- the vegetarian was fabulous. Flaky, tender, yet sturdy crust is the hallmark of a homemade product made with pride. Must have is the Banoff Pie -- super! Next time I'll be sure to try the sausage rolls, Yorkshire pudding, and Shepherds Pie. BTW -- Blighty is an affectionate nickname for England given by it's Inhabitants.

I have definitely learned that contemporary/modern art is just not my thing. That being said, that…read moredoesn't mean that Mattress Factory isn't worth a visit. The museum does not have its own parking lot, so you will need to find street parking. However, there seemed to be plenty of options in the area. They exhibits are spread out over various floors and areas. They have a suggested path, but you can really explore at your own pace and interest. The "famous" work is the polka dot room which is really intriguing and visually appealing. My daughter like to say "art is all about how the artist sells it and what you make of it" and this is the perfect place to put that mentality into effect. There were some pieces that I was just baffled about being "art" and there were others that while I personally didn't enjoy them, I could appreciate the time and talent that went in to creating them. If you are looking for a unique museum experience, this is definitely the place for you.

The Mattress Factory excels at site-specific imersive installation art, and their permanent…read morecollection has some origami art by some of the biggest names in installation art. The museum also hosts private events, a few of which I've attended, and they were outstanding. The staff are very welcoming. The museum gives back to the local community in a big way.

In an otherwise unassuming house you walk in through a chilly hallway, down some stairs to the…read morebasement and are immediately greeted by a... lighthouse. The lighthouse is the structure of this otherwise previously dilapidated home, where you can see remnants of its past... look up from your spot in the basement and you can see tile from the kitchen and the opening for where the pipes were once attached. Enter the lighthouse and feel how real it is -- save for being hidden from the world outside rather than visible for all travelers, lighting their way. Enjoy the living space in the middle complete with a curved bed and cooling area and a few books to make the time go by. Travel higher to the attic, and see the top of this lighthouse, going round and round and shunting light like a kaleidoscope through an intricate glass 'shade'. Make your way partway back down to what used to be a bathroom, fit with a clawfoot tub and tacky retro curtain to match the typical pink tile if the time. Then venture outside and down the stairs after contemplating the black color of the semi-burnt (deliberately) wood to honor the history of the home. Take a loop in the backyard flush with coastal grasses growing wild around a massive orange cone. Bottom line: Weird, authentic-feeling to lighthouses and the coast (although I wonder if the non-native species are okay...?), and worth a stroll.

The latest of 3 art houses in Troy Hill, Darkhouse, Lighthouse has generated substantial excitement…read moreand acclaim by imbedding a lighthouse in the middle of a house. As you move your way through the house to the top floor, you are able to see the authentic Fresnel Lens, which is both beautiful and compelling. Touring the art houses is free, and the online booking has made the process easier than ever. It's difficult to describe, however a visit to Darkhouse Lighthouse is experiential, self reflective, and fun.