One of my favorite areas in Pittsburgh, definitely my favorite area for shopping. There's so much…read morevariety from Pittsburgh sports paraphernalia to all kinds of groceries to handmade artisanal gifts. There are also plenty of restaurants and vendors where you can find whatever it is you are looking for!

This is a must visit tradition when I go home to the Burgh! Walk along the age old Strip for very…read moreaffordable local color attire and souvenirs, the famous PennMac Company, Roland's Seafood, Pittsburgh Popcorn... or hop one street over for the newer version of the Strip with a modern look, the Pittsburgh Walk of Fame (look for our beloved Michael Keaton) and new spots for food and drinks. Anyone visiting this city needs to experience the Strip!!

"Garrison Canal" is a piece of artwork that was designed by artist Andrea Polli and installed in…read morethe Garrison Place alley between Liberty Avenue and Exchange Way. The artwork consists of thousands of lights that were recycled from the "Energy Flow" art on the Rachel Carson Bridge. According to the website for the artwork, Polli describes the artwork as waves of big-data lights under which visitors "swim." The lights change color in response to the weather. Recently late in the evening, my husband and I walked under this artwork. The shimmering lights looked very beautiful. Unfortunately, a man stopped and really stared at us, and even my husband felt worried that we would be robbed. We were not harmed at all (phew!), but I recommend that people walk with a buddy and keep a safe distance from others.

This walk way is located In the cultural district. During the day you can't really see the lights…read morebut as the sun goes down you can get some fun artsy photographs. Also the map is a block off so keep your eyes open so that you don't get too far from it.

Strawberry Way is an alley in the heart of downtown Pittsburgh that's been transformed into an…read moreeclectic outdoor seating area that attracts people from all walks of life: business professionals, students and artists. The street has been painted in a vibrant and funky pattern and in the summer months filled with multi-colored tables and chairs. The seating area provides a fun experience for lunch hour or just to take a break and enjoy the views of surrounding buildings. This is one of those little gems I'd love to stumble across as a tourist in another city. Definitely worth enjoying and not taking for granted as a city resident or area local.

Fun, funky, quiet, an oasis. This little neighborhood alley can be anything you want it to be. The…read morewalkway has been painted in a multitude of colors/shapes and there are planters and tables and chairs throughout to take a load off and just relax. If you need a spot to unwind, come on down!

It's a bit of a stretch to call this a "mountain", but it is an absolutely STUNNING place to…read morephotography PGH from! I recommend coming around sunset/sunrise or even at night! Fading natural light is a great contrast to artificial city lights. If you do this, I highly recommend bringing a tripod. There are some decent places to eat up here as well! I hiked up through a trail system from the Sheraton, it was a blast!

A beautiful neighborhood! The people are friendly, and the views of the city are unreal! My two…read morenephews live in Mount Washington now, so I have an excuse to visit! Highly recommend.

Some of the best views of the Pittsburgh Skyline…read more I ended up using my tripod-mounted DSLR and 70-200mm lens to get some great photos of the Pittsburgh Skyline from this location. Although the park itself is safe with visitors typically present...the surrounding area is very very quiet. In driving to the park's parking lot on Fairview Avenue, you will notice this. At no time did I feel unsafe, even with my photography equipment on hand. A police cruiser did circle around the parking area during my visit...which is reassuring. There are about 15 parking spaces in the main lot. There is also a port-a-potty there.

While not as well known as it's more famous sister on Mt. Washington, the West End Overlook is a…read moregreat spot to get a head on view of downtown and look up the Monongahela and Allegheny Rivers. I love to come here as it's a little quieter than Grandview Ave and has lots of trees and greenery about.

This is a very eye-catching piece of art! It's located on the Carnegie Mellon campus, within view…read moreof the street. After spotting it when driving by, we walked back to take a closer look. Sculptures of several people walk up a 100 foot tall steel pole, while additional figures are situated at the base, looking up at the others. It was designed by Jonathan Borofsky and is one of two copies. We really enjoyed checking out this piece!

You don't have to shell out any Dough to visit the Doughboy, because of course it's free…read more This is a popular little roundabout with an ice sculpture in the middle of it... actually it's a "nice sculpture" but google dictate hates me. Having said that, an ice sculpture would probably survive here for several months a year in icy Pitt. So it's pretty awesome, and one which is located in Pittsburgh's Lawrenceville neighbourhood. As you can see Barbie came here, and like her, it adds a nice little bit of culture and artistic flavour to the neighbourhood.

British fare in the 'burgh? A variety of pastys (either fresh or frozen) and grocery items too. The…read moretraditional Cornish Pastie was tremendously flavorful but a littlle grisly -- the vegetarian was fabulous. Flaky, tender, yet sturdy crust is the hallmark of a homemade product made with pride. Must have is the Banoff Pie -- super! Next time I'll be sure to try the sausage rolls, Yorkshire pudding, and Shepherds Pie. BTW -- Blighty is an affectionate nickname for England given by it's Inhabitants.

The Mattress Factory excels at site-specific imersive installation art, and their permanent…read morecollection has some origami art by some of the biggest names in installation art. The museum also hosts private events, a few of which I've attended, and they were outstanding. The staff are very welcoming. The museum gives back to the local community in a big way.

I've visited the Mattress Factory many times over the years, and it's always a place I enjoy…read morereturning to. I love the main building and how the exhibits are constantly changing, while some of the iconic spaces--like the mirror rooms--remain favorites that you can always count on seeing again. During this visit, I noticed the Dollhouse building has been completely redone. The new exhibit is much darker and heavier in tone, which honestly made me a little disappointed since the dollhouse installation used to be a staple of my visits and something I always looked forward to. The third building had construction going on on the first floor, but from what I could see it looks like it's going to be an incredible new display once it's finished. I was also a little sad to see the delayed recorder projector piece gone, but the new installation in its place was still interesting. One thing I still absolutely love is the water flowing down the handrails--it's such a small detail but always one of my favorite parts of the experience. Overall, it's still a place I enjoy visiting and seeing how the exhibits evolve over time.

Wow. I wasn't sure what to expect. But it is indeed a full lighthouse inside a house. Tour guide…read morewas incredibly knowledgeable and this was a one-of-a-kind experience. Appreciated that they cater to small groups. I called day-of and they were able to get us on a tour later in the day. Definitely worth checking out.

The latest of 3 art houses in Troy Hill, Darkhouse, Lighthouse has generated substantial excitement…read moreand acclaim by imbedding a lighthouse in the middle of a house. As you move your way through the house to the top floor, you are able to see the authentic Fresnel Lens, which is both beautiful and compelling. Touring the art houses is free, and the online booking has made the process easier than ever. It's difficult to describe, however a visit to Darkhouse Lighthouse is experiential, self reflective, and fun.