Things to Do in Pittsburgh!
Activities for Friends and Families
♥ Senator John Heinz History Center
Located in the heart of the Strip district. Pennsylvania’s largest history museum and an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution.
♥ The 4 Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh
Located on Pittsburgh's North Shore. It is the largest museum in the United States dedicated to a single artist. The museum holds an extensive permanent collection of art and archives from the Pittsburgh-born pop art icon Andy Warhol.
Carnegie Museum of Art is arguably the first museum of contemporary art in the United States.
Carnegie Science Center
Located on Pittsburgh's North Shore. Visit Pittsburgh’s best attraction and the most-visited museum, with four floors of interactive exhibits. Marvel at astronomy in Buhl Planetarium, discover the science behind robotics in roboworld®, and learn about the human body in BodyWorks. Don't forget one of the many sports-related activities in Highmark SportsWorks®.
Carnegie Museum of Natural History
Considered one of the top natural history museums in the country. It maintains, preserves, and interprets an extraordinary collection of artifacts, objects, and scientific specimens used to broaden understanding of evolution, conservation, and biodiversity. Home to the first T-Rex fossil ever identified!
♥ Visit Animals
Located in Pittsburgh's North Side. The National Aviary is America’s only independent indoor nonprofit bird zoo.
Located in Pittsburgh's Highland Park. Go wild at one of only six major zoo and aquarium combinations in the United States. A visit to the Pittsburgh Zoo and PPG Aquarium will be a day well spent.
♥ Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens
Located in Pittsburgh's Schenley Park. Enjoy the beauty of the botanical gardens within city limits. A great activity on a rainy day.
♥ Rachel Carson Homestead
Located in Springdale, PA. Rachel Carson's life work was dedicated to studying environmental impacts and was her theme of her famous book, Silent Spring. She grew up on the land where Amanda and Kevin went to high school. Her work inspired the creation of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and she was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Jimmy Carter.
♥ Tour the Historic Allegheny City
Located in Pittsburgh's North Side. A tale of two cities separated by a river, Pittsburgh and Allegheny City. In the late 1800's it was home to more millionaires per capita than any city in the world. This ended in Supreme Court case D. Hunter Jr., [et al.] v. City of Pittsburgh.
♥ Tour Pittsburgh's History of Steel
The tours take place at various locations around Pittsburgh but we recommend the Carrie Furnaces! Discover the artistry and innovation of southwestern Pennsylvania’s rich heritage on a Rivers of Steel tour.
Breakfast, Brunch, Lunch, and Dinner Recommendations
♥ Breakfast
Many locations including Pittsburgh's Strip District. A Pittsburgh breakfast staple. Pamela's is cash only!
Located in Pittsburgh's Dormont neighborhood and a quick drive from Station Square.
Geppetto's Cafe
Located in Pittsburgh's Lawrenceville neighborhood. Geppetto has an amazing variety of sweet and savory crepes and a smaller charming atmosphere.
♥Brunch
Located downtown near Market Square. A great bottomless mimosa brunch spot if that is your goal.
Located in Pittsburgh's Point Breeze.
Located in Pittsburgh's Strip District. A yinzer favorite.
Located in Oakland.
Grand Concourse
Located in Station Square. The Grand Concourse is a fancy Pittsburgh restaurant with an amazing Sunday only brunch.
♥ Lunch
Primanti Bros.
A Pittsburgh staple, fit for a king or a coal miner. No need for any sides for your sandwiches already include your French fries and coleslaw. Hungry after the wedding? Locations are all open until 2 expect in the Strip Distinct where the original location is open 24 hours.
S & D Polish Deli
Authentic polish perogies in the heart of Pittsburgh's Strip District. Available for lunch 7 days a week.
A food hall located in Pittsburgh's North Shore and is the launch pad for the most noteworthy new restaurant concepts in Pittsburgh.
♥ Dinner
Sienna Mercato
Located in downtown Pittsburgh. 3 experiences in one building. One the first floor we have Emporio which features delicious gourmet meatballs. On the second floor a gourmet Italian fare restaurant called Mezzo. On the third floor is Il Tetto which is a rooftop beer garden with a retractable glass roof!
Located in downtown Pittsburgh.
Located in downtown Pittsburgh.
Located in Pittsburgh's North Side.
♥ Dessert
Located in Oakmont, PA which is close to Springdale. This is hands down the best bakery that Pittsburgh has to offer.
Located downtown as well as in Pittsburgh's South Side. They have delicious hand made Milkshakes and chocolates!
Located in Springdale, PA. Amanda and Kevin's hometown custard stand.
Daytime and Nightlife Favorites
A Pittsburgh craft beer favorite. Located outside of the city but a short drive away in Millvale. Kid and dog friendly as well!
♥ Southern Tier's Pittsburgh Taproom
Located on Pittsburgh's North Shore.
Want to try many local and awesome brews in one location, look no further! Bierport is Pittsburgh’s favorite craft beer bottle shop located in the heart of Lawrenceville. They have a large selection of beer and cider and specialize in local Pennsylvania beer.
A great addition to the downtown scene. A modernist cocktails and small plates restaurant. Our recommendation to get a smokey bourbon or instagramable cocktail.
Located in Pittsburgh's Strip District. An ubran winery that is a great place to meet up with friends while being close to downtown. And the wine is tasty too. Small plates are available as well.
♥ Narcisi Winery and Restaurant
Located outside of Pittsburgh in Gibsonia, Narcisi is a family owned winery. A beautiful place to meet and enjoy delicious wine, inside or outside.
Wine bar and tap room located in Pittsburgh's Lawrenceville neighborhood.
Wigle Whiskey (pronounced "wiggle") is an artisan small batch whiskey distillery in the Strip District neighborhood of Pittsburgh.
Places of Interest
Stand where George Washington once stood in Fort Pitt. (It wasn't that big of a fort so probably wherever you stand George once was.) Located at Point State Park where the 3 rivers meet stood Fort Pitt. Still standing is the Fort Pitt Blockhouse of 1764. There you will also find a museum to help tell the story of Pittsburgh's history starting from the Revolutionary War.
♥ The Steepest Street in the United States
Wanna test out your car's breaks? Try out Canton Avenue in the Beechview neighborhood of Pittsburgh! It is identified as the steepest street in the United States and possibly in the world with a max gradient of 37%. For some reason a street in New Zealand gets called the steepest in the word but only has a gradient of 35%.
Pittsburgh's Saint Anthony's Chapel is home to more Catholic relics than anywhere else in the world expect for the Vatican!
Watching a lot of HGTV and want to redesign your house? Visit Randyland for some inspiration to help your next project. Randy's house is a colorful treasure to be seen in the beautiful Northside of Pittsburgh.
Laugh til yinz can't laugh no more at a comedy show hosted at Arcade Comedy Theater.
Learn to make your own glass masterpiece at the Pittsburgh Glass Center. if you come in early for the wedding they have "Make-It-Now" classes to get you in a fall and Halloween spirit with glass pumpkins and ghost pendants.
For music fans! This museum houses a world-class collection of music boxes and other antique automatic music machines, as well as many other fascinating items.
♥ Braddock's Grave and Fort Necessity (An hour drive outside of Pittsburgh.)
Whoever locates the exact location of Braddock's grave site gets to take a centerpiece home from the reception!