Cool Things Close to Pittsburgh
Let me start by saying that if you’re only going to be in Pittsburgh for the duration of the conference with maybe a few extra days tacked on, there is no need to leave the city to find something fun to do. However, there are some unique attractions in Western Pennsylvania that you many want to see and so I’ve put this diary near the beginning of the series so that people can plan ahead if they see something here they like.
This list will not be exhaustive, but will highlight some unique or interesting (at least to me) area attractions. I’ll provide links to some other resources at the end in case the following ideas don’t suit you.
Within 30 Minutes of Downtown
Tour-Ed Coal Mine:
Coal and steel built Pittsburgh, so visiting this 160-year old mine in Tarentum, PA is one of the more authentically Western PA adventures you could choose to undertake. I can’t vouch for the experience, as it was on my list of things to do that never got done, but perhaps someone can offer a review in the comments. The mine website gives a good bit of info and the tour entails some education about mining practices and then a half-mile journey down into the mine itself.
There is also a strip mine on the property (I am not sure if it is active or educational). So if you find that disturbing/offensive, you many want to skip this trip.
Animal Friends:
It may seem odd that I include an "animal shelter" on the list of activities for Pittsburgh, but Animal Friends is more than just a shelter. When I adopted two of my kitties from them in 2003, they were based out of a small building in the Strip District. But even then, they were in the process of raising money to build the Caryl Gates Gluck Resource Center. This isn’t just a shelter, but a 14-acre pet campus and community resource center. They offer behavior training, cruelty investigations, classes for children and adults, and just recently launched a mobile spay/neuter clinic with the goal of fixing 8,000 animals over the next year. They are a fantastic organization and given the regular "Pootie" diaries on DKos, I thought there might be a couple people who would want to swing by Animal Friends for a visit.
Check their FAQ page for directions.
Sage and Cedar (left to right) adopted Fall 2003
Within 45-60 Minutes of Downtown
PA Trolley Museum:
I’ve never been here myself, but it may hold interest for some people. They have over 50 cars and a section of rail line where they run a restored trolley. Check out the site and decide for yourself.
Meadowcroft Rockshelter & Village:
As I mentioned in the first history diary, this is the oldest known inhabited site in North America. It was occupied 16,000 years ago. In addition to the rockshelter, there are two recreated historical villages to tour – one a 17th century Indian village and one a 19th century American village.
Nellie Bly Childhood Home:
Nellie Bly, famous journalist and author from the late 19th century and early 20th, was born just 40 miles outside of Pittsburgh in Armstrong County. She is probably most well known for her undercover exposé 10 Days in a Mad-House, which she researched by feigning insanity and getting herself committed to a mental institution for women.
Her childhood home still stands on Terrace Avenue in Apollo, PA. As far as I know, it is not a museum or historical site, and is actually occupied, but it might be worth a drive-by.
Within 90-120 Minutes of Downtown
Fayette County
Homes by Frank Lloyd Wright:
There are three homes by this famous architect located within a reasonable distance of Pittsburgh. The most famous of these is Fallingwater. Either FLW’s work is your bag or it’s not, so I won’t burden you with additional commentary except to say if you love unique architecture, check at least one of these houses out.
Individual home sites can be found here -- Fallingwater, Kentuck Knob, and the Duncan House.
Fallingwater (photo by Sxenko; CC license)
Coming from Pittsburgh, you'd hit the Duncan House first, in Acme, PA. This is about 50 miles (60 minutes driving) southeast of the city. Fallingwater is another 15 miles (35 minutes) due south from there. Kentuck Knob is another 7 miles (or 15 minutes) south of Fallingwater. All three homes lie roughly along PA-381. And the drive from Fallingwater to Kentuck Knob takes you directly through Ohiopyle, which is our next topic.
Ohiopyle State Park:
Ohiopyle is a small town on the Youghiogheny River (pronounced like "yacht" but with a "k" sound at the end, so Yachk-a-gainey), which is a tributary of the Monongahela. Ohiopyle is essentially a recreation destination. You can hike, white water raft, kayak, or just sit next to the river and eat a picnic lunch. You can also rent bikes and ride some very straight, smooth, and shaded trails that follow the river both north and south. It’s a beautiful area and well worth visiting on its own, but also works as a good combo with the Wright houses.
Indiana County
I spent four years in Indiana County as an undergraduate at IUP, so although it’s about an hour and a half from Pittsburgh, I can recommend some things from copious experience.
Jimmy Stewart Museum:
Indiana, PA’s claim to fame, apart from its excellent public university, is the Jimmy Stewart Museum. If there are any fans of the actor, then you’ll probably want to check this out.
The town of Indiana itself is fairly small/rural, but it does host a restaurant that serves the best wings I’ve ever eaten (Murphy’s II), another that serves the best meat-lover’s pizza I’ve ever eaten (H.B. Culpepper’s), and a third that offers an all around fantastic, higher-end dining experience (Benjamin’s). So if you go for the museum (or for one of the other nearby attractions I highlight below), be sure to stay for some good food!
One of the additional attractions of Indiana County is a series of covered bridges. I haven’t seen these myself, but check out the link for photos. If that’s your cup of tea, it’s worth a drive out there. And though there is no necessary link between covered bridges and wine, the two seem romantically connected now that I think about it. So you might end your bridge-gazing with a stop for a tasting (or a bottle) at Windgate Vinyards and Winery.
About a 15-20 minute drive from Indiana (westward back towards Pittsburgh) is a quaint borough called Saltsburg. It lies right on the Conemaugh (Con-e-maw) River and hosts a great outfitter called Saltsburg River & Trail. They rent bikes, kayaks, and canoes. There are also hiking, fishing, and swimming opportunities in the area.
Salzburg is also home to the Thunder Mountain Lenape Nation, and it just so happens that you will be in the area during their annual Pow Wow. It will be taking place August 15th & 16th. I’ve been twice and thoroughly enjoyed it.
Wrap Up
Like I said, Pittsburgh proper has more than enough to keep you busy over the course of your stay in Western Pennsylvania. But if you want break out of the city, the list above provides plenty of opportunities. If you still want more options, I would go to the Visit Pittsburgh website and check out its "countryside" page; or fill out this brief form to access downloadable guides to Pittsburgh itself, the surrounding counties, and GLBT-centric establishments and activities.
Past and Future Diaries (Posted Mondays and Wednesdays)
Part 1: Introduction
Part 2A: Pgh History through 1800
Part 2B: (Soon) Pgh History 1800 through 1900
Part 2C: (Soon) Pgh History 1900 through the Present Day
Part 3: If You Do Nothing Else, Do This ...
Part 4: ---Today's Diary---
Part 5: (Mon 7/27) For Sports Fans
Part 6: Museums & Cultural Activities
Part 7: For the Kids
Part 8: Culinary Delights
Part 9: Outdoor Activities
Part 10: (Optional) Anything forgotten or that doesn’t fit above
Pittsburgh Point of Interest #4: Pennsylvania has more covered bridges than any other state in the union. (We clock in at 210). 47 of these are located in the southwestern PA.
