Year: 2017

Revel and Roost Review – Two Restaurants in One

Revel + Roost in downtown Pittsburgh near Market Square is more than just a hotel restaurant.

In fact, we never even knew it was in a hotel until we dined there; we had only heard that it was a great place to hang out. Revel is located on the ground floor and has a more relaxed bar vibe while Roost on the second floor provides a more formal dining experience. We recently stayed at the Hilton Garden Inn Pittsburgh Downtown that houses the restaurants and checked out Revel during our stay.

The highlights for us were the extensive craft cocktail menu and a solid burger. We also visited Roost for breakfast as it was included for free with our Hilton Honors gold status.

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Ski Resorts Near Pittsburgh – Head to the Laurel Highlands

Pittsburgh is in a unique position as a city because you can pick any direction, drive 30 to 60 minutes, and be out in nature.

Head southeast on your route and you'll end up in the Laurel Highlands, a region that is often referred to as Pittsburgh's backyard. And what a backyard it is! With many activities available throughout the year, this is one part of Pennsylvania that has us returning on easy day trips time and time again.

This past winter we had a goal, and that was to get out and check out some of the region's ski resorts. Our first instinct was to look to the Laurel Highlands and check out their three resorts all operated by Seven Springs (perfect for a weekend multi-park lift ticket!).

What did we find? Well, they're each tailored for various skill levels!

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Snow Tubing in PA – A Must Try at Seven Springs

As one of the largest ski resorts near Pittsburgh, I've been to Seven Springs to go skiing several times now. And, not surprising, my visits have followed a fairly typical pattern for me, namely: drive down early in the morning, ski for four or five hours, get incredibly exhausted, and go home.

Each time I often thought about the other activities you can do at Seven Springs in the winter, but by the time we were ready to leave for the day I would forget about it until our next visit. Thankfully, during my most recent trip I was able to stay for the weekend, and was given the opportunity to try something I've been wanting to do for a very long time- go snow tubing!

After taking in this one, I had to ask myself why I waited so long to do it in the first place.

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Hyatt Pittsburgh Airport Review – Connected to the Airport

I'm not one to complain about traveling in normal situations (in fact, I absolutely love traveling), but if I had to pick one of my least favorite aspects of my favorite hobby, it would most certainly be getting up early for a flight.

Lately we've had enough of this and have decided to start booking overnight stays at Pittsburgh airport hotels to help us get just a little bit more sleep to start our trips on the right foot. On a recent visit we decided to pay a visit to the Hyatt Pittsburgh Airport, the only hotel that is actually connected to the airport terminal, to see what it is like.

With only steps between our bed and the gate we had to redefine the term spoiled. Although the room may be lacking some aspects, the location and amenities make up for it by far.

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The Abbey on Butler Street Review – A Unique Dining Space

Pittsburghers seem to like re-purposing old buildings and giving them new concepts and new lives. Maybe that's why The Abbey on Butler Street, a funeral home turned restaurant, seems to fit right in.

Not only is this a restaurant, it's also got an impressive bar as well as a cafe, all under the same roof. We recently ate at the restaurant and had a decent experience, but if we returned, we would consider going back for small plates and drinks instead of a full on meal.

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Soldiers and Sailors Memorial is a Gorgeous Museum

You may know Soldiers and Sailors Hall as that gorgeous memorial on Fifth Avenue in Oakland.  It is almost impossible to miss. But did you know that this hall contains one of the city's largest museums dedicated to those who served this country in times of war?

If you didn't you may want to jump into your car to check this one out right away. It is a must see.

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DoubleTree Pittsburgh Review – Perfect for a Penguins Game

The DoubleTree Downtown Pittsburgh is a decent mid-range hotel in downtown Pittsburgh that is located in a prime spot next to PPG Paints Arena and a short walk from the action of the city.

During our visit, we wanted to find out if this hotel had any hidden surprises beyond these obvious perks, and while we found a few under the surface, we have to be honest in that the location is the true highlight worth staying at this hotel for- and there is nothing wrong with that in the slightest.

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