How have I never reviewed this fine establishment located just outside of Pittsburgh? It's actually…read morein Oakdale, PA about 15 miles from downtown Pittsburgh and worth the drive. I have attended a couple of events here (wedding, birthday) as well as regular visits. With over 65 acres, it was first established in 1988 and has certainly grown in leaps and bounds. It's a wonderfully peaceful and lovely garden that boasts walking paths, light shows (spectacular winter holiday displays), various exhibits, and more. So many plants and flowers to look at and smell. Everything you would expect a botanic garden to be. The last time I went home to Pittsburgh for a visit we took our dog with us and that was amazing. He loved it and I love that he was permitted to visit without issue at all. Everyone who works there is there for a reason, the love of nature and ensuring longevity.

A delightful place to walk and enjoy the plants and birds. More than 119 species of birds have been…read moreidentified on the grounds. They have had several special exhibits in recent years. Their membership plan is worth looking into.

I am a yinzer through and through and cherish all the history that is Pittsburgh…read more Carrie Furnaces are no different. The tours are incredible and you learn so much. I come from a long line of steelworkers and thought I pretty much knew all there was to know. That was, until the tour. The tour guide was extremely informative. Most of the folks working (volunteering) at Carrie have some connection to the steel industry. In addition to the tour, I have had the privilege of attending events there as well. Yep, they rent out the space. Everything was well put together at the events and having the furances as backdrop took it to the next level. As far as the tours go, I feel so strongly that Pittsburgh natives and tourists alike take one. It's really incredible to learn how much of the country was built because of Carrie.

We thoroughly enjoyed our tour with Keith! He had to do much first hand knowledge of the facility,…read morehaving worked there himself when he graduated the army. The tour lasted about 2.5 hours and was mostly outside in direct sunlight. There were a few opportunities for shade, but not many. If you come on a hot day, plan to arrive hydrated and grab a complimentary water bottle from the check in desk. You'll need it. Parking is plentiful, the history is intriguing, and the art scattered about the property is thoughtful and engaging. If you're lucky, you'll spot some wildlife who inhabit the surrounding area.

Pittsburgh Hienz Museum…read more Whether you are new to the Pittsburgh area, or are returning there after years away, or you are a lifelong "Yinzer," I highly recommend that you visit the Heinz History Center. It covers the history of the Native Americans, to the French Indian War, through the Revolutionary War, and the role Pittsburgh played in the two World Wars! It also celebrates the sports accomplishments of its Professional and College Teams. Finally, a tremendous history of everyone's favorite, Heinz Tomato Ketchup!

If you want to know anything to everything about Pittsburgh, there is no argument that this is the…read moreplace to go. I was expecting a flea market-style hodgepodge of artifacts on display, but it was more organized given the breadth of exhibits shown. Housed in a century-old red brick building, the museum is presented in discrete sections across six floors. Right after entering, I could tell the space was oriented more toward families with vintage vehicles, a twisting tube slide, and a set of rockers for young parents. There are several permanent exhibits focusing primarily on local history and sports. Specific sections are devoted to the British, French & Indian wars of 1754-1763; the African American history in Western Pennsylvania; and Pittsburgh's contributions to the world for the past 250 years. The most popular exhibit was unsurprisingly the Western Pennsylvania Sports Museum highlighting the city's rich sports heritage with particular attention on the Steelers, the Pirates, the Panthers, and the Penguins. There are sections spotlighting the history of the H.J. Heinz Company and their influence in popularizing home staples like ketchup (of course), pickles, and baked beans, as well as an extensive timeline of the museum's namesake, Senator John Heinz. Of particular interest to Gen X'ers is Mister Rogers' Neighborhood featuring the regular characters, set pieces and artifacts from the series. Admission is $20 for adults, and I'd guess ninety minutes is enough to allocate for a visit, at least for this Yinz-ignorant Californian. RELATED - Exploring Pittsburgh? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: https://yelp.to/qN_tq21lnL

We were looking for a fun experience for my husband's big sis, and boy did we find it at Bayernhof!…read moreI couldn't recommend this museum more highly. Lisa, our tour guide, was just perfect - entertaining, enthusiastic, knowledgeable, and fun. Our 2-hour experience was a joy - it passed so quickly! You call ahead to arrange a tour, and Lisa returned my call maybe a day or 2 later. We arranged it for a Tuesday morning at 10am (the other option was something like 2pm). The 19,000 square foot Bavarian-inspired home is atop a large hill outside Sharpsburg overlooking the Allegheny - and with a lovely view of downtown. You come thru the gate and park near the door. Inside, Lisa talks a bit about the foyer - chock full of collectibles - and takes you to the main room with that fabulous view, a comfy room with a bar just off the kitchen. You settle in to wait for everyone to arrive. The lecture there takes about 30mins, & you learn about the wealthy, quirky eccentric, Charlie "Chuck" Brown, who built this quirky home in 1982. He was a total prankster who had very little sense about how to build a really stable home. After his death, the board would save the home for all to enjoy. The real treat is hearing from some of the 165 music machines spread thruout the house - some Chuck collected, some purchased by the board set up by Chuck's lawyer, Dave, who - with Chuck's faithful secretary - took on the Herculean task after Chuck's death of fulfilling his dream of turning the home into a museum. The mysteries of the home reveal themselves as you go - and Lisa relishes in showing them off - from the hidden doors, wet bars (in almost every room! Chuck loved to entertain though he was socially awkward!), observatory, below ground cellar, cave, and pool room with a waterfall. It's great. Lisa shares tons of stories, knowledge, anecdotes, and more. Our favorite of the fabulous musical machines: the cylinder player on the landing that has a tiny dancing black bird figure inside; the singing birds with real feathers (!!) in the bird cage upstairs; the uber-art deco Decap machine downstairs with the purple velvet pool table; and the fringe lamp victrola in the upstairs guest room. As you're walking thru the house, you can't believe all there is to see and learn. We were fascinated! Just go! You won't regret it.

AMAZING! HIGHLY RECOMMEND. My friend is a music lover and I thought this would be interesting…read more He enjoyed it and I loved it even though I don't appreciate music the way he does. The museum reminded my kids of a real-life Clue game - it is definitely worth visiting! I highly recommend.

A wonderful place to live. We are quite close to scenic Riverview Park. The park had great trails…read moreand free Jazz concerts in the summer. The Observatory itself is an amazing historical landmark and I highly recommend the free tours (which require advance registration). We have excellent neighbors here who look out for each other. The annual House Tour highlights some of the great architecture in the community. There are some beautiful older homes in the neighborhood. We have quick access to the parkway and only 5 minutes from Downtown.

Attended a 1 hr Behind the Scenes of Dinosaur Bones tour advertised to members. $50 per person 10…read morepeople per group. Limited number of tickets. Well worth money spent. Our tour was led by the head pf the department. The breadth of her knowledge of the museum, her predecessors, and collection was impressive. Did you know that England has a copy of our T Rex in their Natural History museum? Dippy's extra bones need a new resting place. Currently they have been resting on this shelf since 1800's. The wood is injuring the bottom of the fossil. (I think dinosaur lovers would donate the $30k to get Dippy's bones a new resting place.) Researchers come to study the collection. Fork lifts are used to transfer the bones from one surface to the next. A local college student found an undiscovered amphibian while searching for fern fossils on FedEx property by Pittsburgh International Airport. It was named after FedEx and the student: https://www.nationalgeographic.com/history/article/100315-new-fossil-amphibian-fedex Great experience! Would definitely attend again. I wonder what is Behind the Scenes of the art museum ...

This section of Pittsburgh has a lot to offer. You would have to take an Uber or Lyft from…read moredowntown. This is a World class combined art and history museum. Your admission ticket includes both the art and natural history museums. Admission is half price after 3pm, but the museum closes at 5:00. A few minutes away from the museum you have the Heinz Chapel, Nationality Rooms, and the outfield wall of Forbes Field.

At first, I wasn't sure what the space was going to be or look like. Now that I had a chance to go…read moreduring the Arts Festival, I see how nice it is. My friends and I went to see the Spin Doctors for the first week of the Arts Festival. The stage and grass area is very nice. They even have wooden and iron benches in the back that you can sit on and still see. People also brought blankets and chairs to the concert. There are a few play areas for kids that are very nice. There were a bunch of kids playing there and they looked very happy. You get some great city and Northside views from there too. It was right in the heart of the Arts Fest on the bridge which was nice.

Walked across the bridge from the North Shore to check out the new Arts Landing. Seemed nice…read more Nothing fancy or exciting. There were food trucks lined up on the back entrance. They are still working on the right side as it is under construction.

This place is very nice. It took us forever to finally visit this winery. I will say the prices are…read moremuch higher than most wineries in the area. Most wines cost between 13-22 around this area. These wines were 35 - 60 per bottle. However, all of the reds/whites were amazing. Pinot Noir was my favorite. I recommend if you're looking for a setting that is quiet, good wine, and relaxing it's here. I liked this place. The staff was very friendly. They provided us a sample of the sparkling wine after tasting was finished. We recently visited again in June 2019. This is a great place. So relaxing and if you like California wines, you will like this place.

What a great venue! This weekend I visited engine house for a holiday party and just loved it. What…read morea great space! It was perfect for the event. The decor in the bottom floor was awesome with wine barrels, wooden tables, and a cigar room. For my taste, their red wine selections all had a little bit of a spicy finish, but I'd love to go back and give them an another try. The owner and the rest of the staff were all so pleasant and helpful as we all roamed around and tried all their wines. Definitely a nice addition to lawrenceville and I will be back!