7 of the Best Places to Visit in Pittsburgh
Many people think that there really isn’t much to do in Pittsburgh considering that it is simply a city of steel and bridges. But, actually, there are plentiful of things to do and places to visit in Pittsburgh and it is, in fact, a haven whether you are a fan of sports, history or culture.
- Carnegie Museums of Art and Natural History
The Carnegie Museums are among the best places to visit in Pittsburgh especially with kids. Visitors can get a same day pass for both museums and enjoy a wide variety of exhibits. Several sections of these world renowned museums include hands-on exhibits to encourage children not just to look but also to touch. Other features include a Native American gallery and an art section, which made Child Magazine rank the place as among the “10 Best Art Museum for Kids”.
- Andy Warhol Museum
Andy Warhol is best known for the Campbell soup labels and pop art and this museum is the ultramodern tribute to this art genius. The place contains over 4,000 of Warhol’s works which include paintings, films and videos, photographs, drawings and many more. The museum also holds exhibits for promising artists who offer unique art pieces just as Warhol.
- Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens
The most prominent feature of this park is its 13-room Victorian glasshouse whose plants change every season. The estate was donated by Henry Phipps back in 1893 and has since become among the best places to visit in Pittsburgh. Themed gardens include Japanese, aquatic, perennial and children’s. For those checking out the place with kids, the Discovery Garden is the best section to visit as it allows visitors to revel in the butterflies, birds, worms, flowers and plants.
- Point State Park
Pittsburgh features a “Golden Triangle” right at the city center, the tip of which is the Point State Park. The park contains among the largest fountains in the city which also symbolizes the birth of Ohio. This 36-acre park used to be a British settlement back in 1754 and then turned into Fort Pitt by the British regained supremacy from the French.
- The Mattress Factory
Nope, this isn’t a museum for beds and mattresses although it used to be a factory of one. It has since become home to one of the best art experiences one will ever find. It currently houses room-sized environments created by in-residence artists. Aside from its gallery exhibits, the Mattress Factory also offers educational programming including artist talks, workshops, youth summer camps and art-based educational partnerships with several local schools.
- The National Aviary
Found right across the Allegheny River is an area where 600 of the world’s most awesome birds, representing around 200 species are being displayed. Many of the birds here are currently under threat or are endangered in the wild and are shown through natural exhibits and walk-through habitats.
- Frick Art and Historical Center
Among the best places to visit in Pittsburgh, this is a cluster of museums and historical buildings, which started out as an 11-room house, found along Reynolds Street. Admission to the site is free and includes access to the Clayton, which is the restored Frick mansion, the Car and Carriage Museum, the Greenhouse, the Frick Art Museum, the Café and the Frick children’s playhouse.