This is a beautiful boat with an amazing educational mission. Yes, they do run charters, but their…read moreprimary mission is to educate school-age children and adults on the history of Pittsburgh's steel making and also environmental issues. The staff is well trained and the boat is spacious and versatile. The boat is moored near the Science Center.

I had my eye on these tours for a long time, and finally we were lucky enough to be in town for the…read more"Voices of Carrie Furnaces" guided tour of the Homestead Iron Works, which I believe only happens one day each month during the warm half of the year. This is absolutely a treat for anyone with roots here or a fascination with industry and manufacturing. The highlights: Most tours are guided by former steelworkers and people with a first-hand involvement in the steel industry. You get a great overview of the plant, which was the center of life for this community and the lifeblood of the region for more than a century. Our tour placed a heavy emphasis on the engineering and technology of steelmaking, so if that's your thing, it's Christmas. And it's a minor miracle that these two blast furnaces have been preserved. I would suggest that they augment the tours with photos or videos that might help bring these hulking structures to life a bit more, and maybe insert some specific stories about immigrants and working families, union battles, and other colorful bits about Homestead. Sure, a windfall of donor support and a visitor center would go a long way to improving things on that score, but a little shift in emphasis could be done on a budget. Either way, Rivers of Steel is hugely important for preserving the region's steel heritage, and their efforts to extend that support to the community are vital.

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!

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.

Sarah, our tour guide, was great. The experience was paced, fun, & interesting. So glad I did this!read more

We had a private bridge tour with Dave, who was a fantastic guide - super knowledgeable, flexible,…read moreand very entertaining! Such a great way to get to know an amazing city! Highly recommend Bike the Burgh Tours to all!

We were looking for a fun experience for my husband's big sis, and boy did we find it at Bayernhof!…read moreI couldn't recommend this museum more highly. Lisa, our tour guide, was just perfect - entertaining, enthusiastic, knowledgeable, and fun. Our 2-hour experience was a joy - it passed so quickly! You call ahead to arrange a tour, and Lisa returned my call maybe a day or 2 later. We arranged it for a Tuesday morning at 10am (the other option was something like 2pm). The 19,000 square foot Bavarian-inspired home is atop a large hill outside Sharpsburg overlooking the Allegheny - and with a lovely view of downtown. You come thru the gate and park near the door. Inside, Lisa talks a bit about the foyer - chock full of collectibles - and takes you to the main room with that fabulous view, a comfy room with a bar just off the kitchen. You settle in to wait for everyone to arrive. The lecture there takes about 30mins, & you learn about the wealthy, quirky eccentric, Charlie "Chuck" Brown, who built this quirky home in 1982. He was a total prankster who had very little sense about how to build a really stable home. After his death, the board would save the home for all to enjoy. The real treat is hearing from some of the 165 music machines spread thruout the house - some Chuck collected, some purchased by the board set up by Chuck's lawyer, Dave, who - with Chuck's faithful secretary - took on the Herculean task after Chuck's death of fulfilling his dream of turning the home into a museum. The mysteries of the home reveal themselves as you go - and Lisa relishes in showing them off - from the hidden doors, wet bars (in almost every room! Chuck loved to entertain though he was socially awkward!), observatory, below ground cellar, cave, and pool room with a waterfall. It's great. Lisa shares tons of stories, knowledge, anecdotes, and more. Our favorite of the fabulous musical machines: the cylinder player on the landing that has a tiny dancing black bird figure inside; the singing birds with real feathers (!!) in the bird cage upstairs; the uber-art deco Decap machine downstairs with the purple velvet pool table; and the fringe lamp victrola in the upstairs guest room. As you're walking thru the house, you can't believe all there is to see and learn. We were fascinated! Just go! You won't regret it.

What an incredibly unique and wild place. Just go! It's cool, quirky, weird, and surprising. This…read moreis not to be missed!

This place is incredible ... recently opened on Pittsburgh's North Side in the Chateau neighborhood…read more(very close to CCAC and Acrisure Stadium), this museum is housed in the Astrobotic Lab (next to Wendy's). Admission is $10 per person, and I thought well worth the price of admission. The highlight of our visit was seeing the Peregrine Lander, which is headed to the moon soon. In addition to seeing moon landers and rovers and robots, there are interactive exhibits that curious people of all ages will enjoy. The volunteer docents we met were extremely passionate and knowledgeable about the subject at hand, and I learned a lot in my short visit. I hope to come back again some time and see what new things they are working on next ... Cheers!! P.S. They also have a small gift shop near the admission desk.

The Moonshot Museum opened toward the end of 2022, and it is located at the headquarters of the…read morespace robotics company Astrobotics. Its mission is to inspire students to study science, technology, engineering, and the arts to prepare for careers in the space industry. Inside this museum, visitors can watch scientists construct lunar spacecraft. Currently, scientists are building the small-class Peregrine Lander, the first American lander since Apollo, and soon they will begin to build the medium-class Griffin Lander. This museum is open only on certain days, so be sure to visit their website for their current hours. My husband and I visited this museum on a Saturday. A free parking lot was located outside. Near the front entrance, a volunteer greeted us and processed our payment for admission. The price of admission is currently $10 for adults, $5 for children who are 3-17 years old, and free for children who are 2 years old and younger. After a couple of minutes, another volunteer guided the visitors to the Moonshot Theater. There, we watched a 10-minute video about scientists' work to explore the moon. Then, we watched a scientist working inside the Clean Room workshop. He was building the Peregrine Lander, which in the coming months will deliver payloads to the lunar orbit and surface. This lander has five engines, four legs, communication and navigation systems, and space for payloads, and it is powered by solar panels and a battery. I felt interested in how businesses and individuals may use this lander to send messages and other items to the moon. Outside this room, visitors may view models of a rocket, lander, and rovers and may interact with educational touchscreens. A small gift shop near the entrance sold merchandise such as shirts, magnets, mugs, and stickers. Please note that this museum is small. In total, my husband and I spent 25 minutes inside the museum. We do appreciate that the Pittsburgh-based Astrobotics company is conducting the first commercial missions to the moon.

We just wrapped up with the Saxonburg tour, and had Cheryl as our tour guide. We had a wonderful…read moretime and highly recommended this tour and the company. We left with full and satisfied stomachs, and also learned a lot of interesting things about Saxonburg. We will definitely do one of the other tours and will also be back to Saxonburg to go back to some of the stops on the tour as well as to visit some places we passed along the way.

A wonderful time was had by all! I brought my friends from South Carolina to Pittsburgh and we…read morejoined my sister in the Strip District for the 'Burg Bits & Bites tour. Richard was such a knowledgeable, charming, and professional guide. I learned so very much about my beloved city that I did not previously know about. It is obvious that he is a well respected guide in the Strip District. The shops were gracious and welcoming to us, due in large part to Richard. We also enjoyed a wide variety of delicious foods! Come hungry! We will certainly be back to Pittsburgh and will also be sure to refer visiting friends. Well done!

I couldn't imagine walking up the street or steps from the main street in Carnegie to the Library…read more Let's hear it for automobiles. Built high on the hill, I am sure it witnessed a lot of Pittsburgh history. The kind staff allowed us to see the theater. It is very similar to Carnegie Library of Homestead. The lower level seats have been adopted and refurbished with nice padding. The Library is still raising funds to refurbish the seats on the 2nd floor. The fireplace on the main floor of the Library is enormous from floor to ceiling (at least 20 ft ceilings). The Civil War Nurses exhibit brought us to the library. Very enjoyable. We will be back to experience other events at the Library and theater. Ample parking during Library hours. Not sure enough parking onsite for theater events. Street parking available.

Fabulous library and a great place to hang out…read more Civil War Museum on the top floor. Computer and printer an the ground floor. Performance space in the lower floor in the back.

Full disclosure, I am a Docent Volunteer with Doors Open Pittsburgh. I became a volunteer after…read moreattending the annual Downtown event in the fall ever since moving to Pittsburgh. Lots of folks attend this big downtown tour, but did you know that DOP also does Guided Walking Tours, Insider Tours, Bus Tours and Virtual Storytelling Events? I have done Walking Tours focused on the historic numbers racket on Fifth Ave and Squirrel Hill. It was fascinating to learn about the old gangsters in Pittsburgh! I did an Insider Tour of Thaddeus G. Mosley's Woodworking Art Studio this year. Mr. Mosley is a real Pittsburgh treasure! During COVID, I did a lot of the Virtual Storytelling Events. You can sign up for these anytime as they are all online at https://doorsopenpgh.org Go ahead and #BeNebby by signing up for a tour! I think you'll love it!

Came to an event last weekend in the Hill District to check out the Pittsburgh Bomb Squad event. We…read morestarted promptly at 10am and were wrapping up about an hour to hour and half later. It was really interesting to hear about how the Bomb Squad came to be and some of the training and best practices they use--especially after the Boston Bombing. The Doors Open volunteer helped facilitate the introduction but after that they kind of took a step back to let the Bomb Squad lead the discussion which was definitely the right call. Thanks Doors Open for setting these up!

Found this is drafts and forgot to post…read more Stopped in for a quick snack before the baseball game. Service was kinda slow, it wasn't the best experience. The cheese tax 9/10 Cheese was great. wasn't a fan of them with the bbq so we got ranch for dipping too.

That was a pretty smooth espresso martini for $14 (Photo 10). Actually the official name of the…read morecocktail is Do You Make Espresso Martinis? because people wouldn't expect a whiskey distillery to offer one. However, Wigle does because they produce a wide array of spirits beyond whiskey like the vodka and coffee liqueur in this mix. I depended on YouTube travel vloggers to point me in the direction of this popular distillery bar and cafe in the Strip District. The place was bustling in the middle of the afternoon, and I was lucky to secure the last stool at the bar. The espresso martini drew my eye, and I thought I should have a snack to go with it. I ordered the $12 Devil's Eggvocate. Four deviled egg halves were topped with smoked paprika, pickled jalapeño slices, and bacon jam made with their own coffee liqueur (Photo 9). It was a bit top heavy for me, but then I never reject a deviled egg. If I wasn't driving, I might've considered trying a whiskey tasting, but it just wasn't in the cards. COCKTAIL / FOOD - 4 stars...smooth martini, over-the-top deviled eggs AMBIANCE - 4 stars...crowded but the bar was fine SERVICE - 3.5 stars...seemed understaffed TOTAL - 4 stars...worth having a taste and not just whiskey RELATED - Exploring Pittsburgh? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: https://yelp.to/el8ZxqDEGE