PITTSBURGH - ATTRACTIONS

There is plenty to do in Pittsburgh besides watching baseball, here are some unique things that we particularly enjoyed.

1. Duquesne Incline -  Part of the transit system, the $3.20 round trip is a bit pricy for a five minute ride, but the view from the top of the hill is perfect. You can see the entire Golden Triangle, Point State Park, Steeler Stadium, and of course, PNC Park. You can actually drive there, but we rode the ancient tram up the hillside. You can board the train at 1197 W. Carson Street, there is a parking lot from which you walk over a bridge to the platform. 
The tram arrives at the top

2. Aviary -  Located just north of PNC Park in the Allegheny Commons, the National Aviary boasts of over 250 types of exotic birds. There are about 20 recreated habitats, a couple of which are large enough to spend a few minutes in searching for all of the different species within. If you enjoy birds, this is a good place to go, don't forget to pick up a checklist before you begin your tour.

Grey-winged trumpeters displaying affection

3. Allegheny Observatory -  At the top of Riverview Park on the north shore, this observatory gives free tours on Thursday and Friday evenings. The tours are given by students and are very interesting, as they are mostly ad-libbed. On a clear night you also get to see through one of the telescopes. There is a lot to learn about early astronomy here, and the tour guides are very eager and informative. On the night we went, there were two guides and three tourists, so it was a fun time. Call 412-321-2400 to book your free tour.

4. Fort Pitt Museum/ Point State Park -  At the very head of the Golden Triangle lies Point State Park. The highlight of the park is the large fountain right at the tip which can shoot water up to 150 feet into the air. It can be very refreshing on a hot day. Another attraction here is the Fort Pitt Museum which explains the origins of Pittsburgh from Indian settlers to French colonizers to English invaders. It was undergoing renovations when we visited, but if you are interested in the history of the area, it is still worth visiting. The Fort Pitt Blockhouse, the sole remaining building from Fort Pitt, is also worth stopping in to have a quick look, it is near the entrance to the museum.

Fort Pitt Blockhouse, built in 1764

5. Carnegie Museum of Natural History -  The final attraction that we recommend is probably the most famous - the Carnegie Museums (Natural History and Art) require a full day to explore, but at only $6 to get in, just seeing one is still a bargain. We chose to visit the Natural History museum and enjoyed the well-known, comprehensive dinosaur exhibit. This museum is filled with other exhibits as well, including a cool insect display where you can see the inside of a beehive as well as its entrance which lies on a ledge outside the building. Parking at the Carnegie is $3, so you may want to try to find something on the street, but if you have time, make sure to see at least one of these museums.