Sunday June 8th Tony Vanoy & I took a tour of the Historical Carrie Blast Furnance once owned by…read moreAndrew Carnegie & later JP Morgan! The tour was a little over 2.5 hrs in the rain sometimes pouring! We left very wet! Our tour guide was a local named Andrew! He was very informative! Recommend if you are in the area and enjoy Historical knowledge!

I am a yinzer through and through and cherish all the history that is Pittsburgh…read more Carrie Furnaces are no different. The tours are incredible and you learn so much. I come from a long line of steelworkers and thought I pretty much knew all there was to know. That was, until the tour. The tour guide was extremely informative. Most of the folks working (volunteering) at Carrie have some connection to the steel industry. In addition to the tour, I have had the privilege of attending events there as well. Yep, they rent out the space. Everything was well put together at the events and having the furances as backdrop took it to the next level. As far as the tours go, I feel so strongly that Pittsburgh natives and tourists alike take one. It's really incredible to learn how much of the country was built because of Carrie.

I never noticed the building before. Inside looks like it was recently painted. The displays are…read morenice and explain the battle. There is a a movie that loops which which explains George Washington's involvement in the campaign. If you want to learn about history, stop in and visit this hidden gem.

If you are a fan of history, and more specifically, of the French & Indian War, then this museum /…read morehistory center is excellent. There is an overview of the entire war and events leading up to the war, but the main concentration here is on one specific event during the war, The Battle of the Monongahela (also known as the Battle of Braddock's Field) which took place on July 9th, 1755, at the beginning of the French and Indian War (in what is now Braddock, Pennsylvania, where this museum is located). They have lots of informational signs, lots of paintings, replica uniforms, and weapons, plus some actual relics from the war on site. There is a tour guide to explain things, and they also have a video room where you can see a 15 minute documentary of George Washington, who was present at this battle. Great place for history buffs ... Cheers!

Hop and stop is cool until you actually decide to hop. Who knows when the next time you will get…read morepicked up. We got off at n the South Side, so they were 20 Min late. We were ok with that. Then we got off again, they were 15 min early (from posted time). So we walked a couple of miles so we didn't just have to stand there. 20 min late again after getting here 20 min early so we wouldn't be left on the side of the road again. Ride at your own risk in terms of being flexible. On a positive point, the guys doing the narrative/guides were great! You pay extra for "hop and stop" the pick ups need to be a little more accurate. Don't tell us to be there 5 min early when you need to 25 min early and be willing to wait 25 min after scheduled pick ups.

DID YOU KNOW; Pittsburgh is known as the "City of Bridges" because it has 446 bridges which is more…read morethan Venice, Italy, or any other city in the world? The emoticon was invented in Pittsburgh in 1980 by Carnegie Mellon University computer scientist Scott Fahlman? The world's first T-rex skeleton is on display at the Carnegie Museum of Natural History? Pittsburgh has more days of rain and snow than Seattle, Washington? In 1920, 80% of the glass made in the United States came from Pittsburgh? That Pittsburgh is famous for its two inclined planes on Mount Washington (one being the Duquesne Incline) but at one point, there were as many as 15 inclines in the city? AND that they were built for the steel workers that lived on TOP of those inclines so the workers could make it to the factory (making a few bucks off them too)? Find out WHY the steelworkers lived on TOP of the incline! You can also take a deep dive into the lives of your steelworker ancestors -NOW- at the Heinz History Center. Did you know that 'The Silence Of The Lambs' was shot in Pittsburg? -Eww. Just eww- Do you think I just gave all the information away? I haven't even scratched the surface of what this tour offers you! I had NO IDEA Pittsburgh was SO INTERESTING! The company was unusually considerate and WAITED for us when we got stuck in traffic on our way there. Not long, but WHO DOES THIS? Our guide was so funny (family friendly humor), personable, entertaining, interesting and seemed like he sincerely enjoyed his job. We learned so much and got a wonderful tour of the city! We left feeling a newfound respect and appreciation for Pittsburgh after taking it. HIGHLY RECOMMEND!

A cool historical site. A good meeting spot to park your car and ride or walk the Steel Valley…read moreTrail at the entrance to The Waterfront. Clean and well kept. Scenic trail along the Monongahela River. A good time to take in history and nature. Enjoyable time.

Serious hidden gem amongst the shopping mecca that is The Waterfront. It's a historic building…read morethat used to be used for pumping (dah) water back in the dizzay. Now it's beautifully restored to house some pretty great things! The Rivers of Steel operate the Pump House Market that runs on Saturdays and Sundays that have local food vendors and artists who sell merch. It's a really great place to pick up local instead of shopping at the Iggle. The one thing I always think of when I go in there is how great it would be to rent out for a wedding or small event. I'd say it would fit maybe 100 people comfortably, but it would be a really unique place to hold an event. Looking for something different, this is the place!!

This is a really cool park near Trader Joe's, Whole Foods, and Target around Upper St. Clair that I…read morelike to stop at whenever I'm in the area. The trail is great for beginners or if you just want a quick jog. There are several benches you can sit down on along the way, plus a tree stump in the woodsy part that you can also sit on to rest. It's a very well maintained trail that smells like freshly cut wood chips, and has a nice variety of terrain. I didn't see any dog poop (it's a no-dog park) and no litter at all, which the multiple trash cans around the loop definitely help with. While a good portion of the trail has the wood chips, some areas could use a bit more. After rain, a few spots can get muddy and it can get a little marshy in the grassy part where there is no trail. The outer loop is about 1.2 miles, and there are several spots where the trail branches off. There's a more "woody" section and a more "grassland" section, which keeps it interesting. It's also not hard to find parking at the church across the street. There's a lot of birds chirping and tons of squirrels and bunnies, and every once in a while you'll spot deer. Inside the barn fence there are lambs and sometimes horses, which is a nice touch. Also kind of cool is that there are wild chive plants around this trail which is common in the Pittsburgh area, and you'll find some growing in the park if you know what to look for.

This place is incredible. We stopped today for their Community Open House event, and even though I…read morehave been here in the past, it is always nice getting to see it again. The old house, and farm are really special, and I am so glad that the Upper St. Clair Historical Society maintains these buildings and property so we can occasionally get to visit and see how things used to be. Today they had all kinds of activities going on, from hayrides, petting zoo, sheep shearing, cow milking, yarn spinning, beekeeping, and of course tours of the historic house, barn and outbuildings, all of which are like a museum. This place was well worth the price of admission . . . FREE, but the suggested donation was $5 per person.

This tour was a perfect way to get to know a bit about Pittsburgh history and the characters that…read morelived and died here. Danny was a great guide! Knowledgeable and entertaining. Would def recommend checking this out.

Our tour guide, Ken, was very knowledgeable. He kept everyone engaged and interested. He set a…read morereasonable pace and, at the end of the tour, gave great suggestions for restaurants and shops. We've done multiple walking tours over the years, and this one rated among the best,

I have been here twice AND have interacted with Velda and Mr. Arm outside of their tour. I just…read morelove these people and the wacky maximalism they're living in. Velda is a superb tour guide. Be sure to give them a donation (suggested $20 for the hour) or alcohol or some weird oddity if you go! They have events like movie nights that I would love to attend. Many great dead things are waiting to meet you at the Trundle Manor. Parking on the street!

This was the coolest place ever. We had a group of eight people and came hear to see all the…read moreoddities. If you are into Steam Punk, this is a definite must go. All they ask for is a donation of liquor or cash contribution-$20. If you are with a large group, I would suggest doubling the contribution, since it is really such a cool experience and I love supporting local artists. Everyone in our group were in awe of all the taxidermy and the creativity of the house. The tour is private and the couple who owns Trundle Manor limits the tour to eight people maximum. Can't really explain it, except something like the Adams Family meets Steam Punk. Great experience and thank you Velda for allowing us to your your home and giving us the narration.

This is a Pittsburgh treasure. It's a cultural center for the Bulgarian and Macedonian communities,…read morebit they also rent the hall for all kinds of dances. In particular, I've gone to many Cajun dances here, but also English Country Dancing. The people that rent the hall are very welcoming and offer reasonable prices. There's a small bar where you can tap beer, or just serve ice water. The floor is wonderful, and there's a small stage for musical performances. Down in the basement are glass cabinets with cultural artifacts, such as musical instruments, pottery and traditional dress. The bathrooms are modernized and we'll kept. I enjoy attending events here. There's a parking lot on the left side of the building.

Ah, Pittsburgh. My hometown. How I love thee. It's been said…read morewe're the Steel City, the City of Bridges, and more. All true. Pittsburgh has gone from a gritty steel town to a foodie/tech/medical town, rivaling any large city. With those changes, the one thing that stands constant are our bridges and tunnels (made of steel) like the Fort Pitt Tunnels or the Fort Duquesne Bridge. When a city is built around three rivers, you need the bridges and tunnels to get about. The infrastructure was at one time considered state of the art. In fact, some of the first suspension bridges hail from this fine city.

There are so many of these that it deserves its own tour. You can see the city from a million…read moreangles. It's a great set of places to hone on your urban photography because of their different characters and locations.

Extraordinary organization that provides residency for writers living in exile under threat of…read morepersecution in their home countries. There are readings, musical performances, and other events. It's a wonderful place to learn about world culture and the free exchange of ideas. The theater is a terrific place to hear music, and the musicians are always extremely talented.

This is a bookstore with a purpose. The bookstore carries all the good stuff for bookies and casual…read morereaders as well as some great used books too. There are lots of events so the newsletter is a big bonus. My sister mapped this out knowing I LOVE bookstores and that I ONLY support independent booksellers and this beautiful space did not disappoint.