Hello and welcome to my very first blog post from my still very new website. Just because this is my first blog does not mean that I don’t have a lot to write about. I wanted to make my first post about where I grew up, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Growing up in Pittsburgh, you never really know what you have until you leave and come back to see how it has changed.

I remember growing up and there were lots of farms on the way to school , we used to be able to stay out all night in the neighborhood and played sardines. Did you ever play that?  Back in the day, that’s what we did, very unlike the kids today.  Things are so different now compared to where what we did back then.   Today, its all neighborhoods filled with kids, on their IPADs and iphones and if you played sardines in today’s society, people would call the police on you.  The school district where I grew up is growing everyday. Pittsburgh is one of the “Most Livable” cities in the country and it has maintained that title for at least the last 3 years. Tech companies are getting the idea that Pittsburgh is a great place to bring business and Pittsburgh is booming with colleges and hospitals. Some of the best colleges and hospitals world-wide, actually. We are the city of bridges and we have lots of great places to eat. We are home to the Pittsburgh Steelers, Pittsburgh Pirates and the Pittsburgh Penguins and we have THE VERY BEST sports fans anywhere in the country. We have a lot of pride for our sports teams and we have a lot of pride for our city.

I think growing up, you think that where you live, is where you live, it’s nothing special, it is something you are used too, but since leaving in 2014 it has changed so much that NOW I feel like, WOW! Pittsburgh is a great city for tourism. Growing up I didn’t think that, but once I returned as a tourist last year, I easily saw that. I was introducing my boyfriend to my family for the first time and it was his first time in the city, so I wanted to make sure we saw as much as we could so we can maximize the experience as a tourist. So, here we go!

First thing is first, we flew into Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT) and was picked up by my mom and we stayed at Marriott’s Springhill Suites in Mt. Lebanon. The next morning we took the “T”, which is Pittsburgh’s version of the local light rail system and we took it downtown so that we can explore the city. We went to Oakland, which is where the University of Pittsburgh is and where I am an alumni. It is a beautiful campus filled with older buildings and lot of history. We went into the Cathedral of Learning where they have classrooms from around the world. It is so very cool to see what the different classrooms look like from around the world. It’s free to check out, you just have to be mindful of the classes that are taking place there if school is in session. I highly recommend it!

Right behind the Cathedral of Learning, you have Heinz Chapel. They offer mass there daily and if you attend the University of Pittsburgh, you can also get married there. It’s a beautiful chapel that has been there for a really long time, filled with beautiful stained glass windows and high ceilings.

The Best Food

One of the best things about Pittsburgh is the food that is created here. We too have our own Little Italy, Germantown and Polishtown, although we are missing a Chinatown. We have amazing food in every part of the city. When you come to Pittsburgh, you must, I repeat, YOU MUST go to Primanti’s. It opened in 1933 in the Strip District and today there are several locations throughout Pittsburgh and even a few in Fort Lauderdale. So now when I want Primanti’s I can just go up the street. The original location is open 24 hours a day and is a popular bar to go during games and after a night of clubbing, The sandwiches are made with 2 slices of sourdough bread, a variety of meat of your choice, coleslaw and of course french fries (yes on the sandwich) Please see below and allow your mouth water, its so good! I definitely recommend coming here!

This is a classic and if you go to Pittsburgh, this is a must. We also went to the Kimpton Monaco Hotel for their rooftop bar and it was unfortunately the very last day for their rooftop bar. They were going to close for the winter, but we were so happy to be able to experience that place. My only recommendation is to call ahead to make sure the rooftop bar is open for service, so you can have this deliciousness. They had the very BEST German Pretzel with beer cheese that I have EVER had and I’m German so I know these things. Just check it out below:

When you visit Pittsburgh, you have to go Mount Washington so you can see the view of the city from the highest part of the city. You can get to Mount Washington by either driving or by taking the incline up the hill side. It is a small fee to go up but it’s worth it and it only takes a few minutes. There are two of them and they operate via a pulley system. As one goes up, the other is coming down.  I recommend you go there during the day and again at night. Once you get up there, you can see Point State Park, which is where the three rivers meet. Which is where the “Three rivers” comes from. You can also see many of the bridges of Pittsburgh, the Northshore which is where Heinz Field (Football Stadium) and PNC Park (Baseball Stadium) are and you can see the tallest buildings of Pittsburgh as well. Mount Washington is very popular on Holidays that offer fireworks. Best view of the city. Along Grand Avenue, there are many restaurants that you can have dinner overlooking the city. They are more on the high end, but if it’s a special occasion, then it will be worth it.

Being a tourist in Pittsburgh, was pretty cool. I got to experience things that I never got to experience. If you have questions about Pittsburgh or other things to do there, please let me know. I am happy to help in anyway I can. Happy Traveling!