We love unusual festivals and events in Pittsburgh, and when we heard about Mars Exploration Days, hosted in the borough of Mars, we knew we had to check it out when it came back around in early June.
This one was everything we hoped for, and then some.
The Jennings Environmental Education Center is one part museum, one part park near Slippery Rock, PA.
The park itself is known for its roughly 20-acre prairie, which is one of the only protected and public prairies in the state. Not only does this make the location unique in its own right, but the park is home to a gorgeous museum and many more hiking trails to check out.
The Palace Theatre in Greensburg is a popular performing arts space that is known for its history as much as its world-class performers that take the stage each week.
While I am still looking for the perfect show to take in a performance at the theater, I was able to get in on a behind-the-scenes tour to check out more of the history of this iconic spot!
If you've spent much time in the Laurel Highlands, odds are good you've driven by Out of the Fire Cafe and did not give it a second glance.
This restaurant is located right off the turnpike at the Donegal exit, and is one of those places we've passed many times while traveling from home to Ohiopyle and other nearby attractions.
It took me many, many years, but I finally stopped for this one and now regret not visiting sooner.
The Pittsburgh Jazz Festival is a stellar event that occurs in downtown Pittsburgh each June with three stages, three days of music, and extra performances going on nearby at the August Wilson Center!
If you like live jazz, or even simply live music, this free event is an absolute must.
Moraine State Park is one of our favorite parks in the area as it is quite large, accessible in about 45 minutes from downtown Pittsburgh, and offers a wealth of things to do when visiting both on and off the water.
On a recent visit, I got to try out something that I've been eyeing for quite some time- stand up paddleboarding with SurfSUP Adventures. I've got to say, this one was a ton of fun!
In our endless quest to experience all Pittsburgh has to offer, we are on the look out for the region's best meals.
One food we absolutely love is pizza, and Pittsburgh has no shortage of restaurants offering up these delicious creations. But as with everything not all pizza shops are created equal, and our quest to find the best pizza in Pittsburgh was born!
Note: In the past, our quest style articles organized pizzas in various categories from below average to excellent. Since then, we have decided to remove any category style tier. That said, pizzas in this article loosely ordered by increasing preference in this article. So if you want to see our very favorites, scroll to the end!
When it comes to Frank Lloyd Wright in the Laurel Highlands, you likely know of Fallingwater. You've probably also heard of Kentuck Knob just a few miles away. But did you know that there is a third site containing the acclaimed architect's work?
This location is Polymath Park- home to two Frank Lloyd Wright houses and two more built by his student, Peter Berndtson.
But the Wright houses here are rather unique- the two houses were completely relocated to the park in the last few decades!
Passports are becoming the next big thing in destination marketing, and in southwest Pennsylvania it seems like they're just about everywhere. From breweries to coffee shops, attractions and more, if there is an abundance of something with a common theme in a geographical area, there is likely a passport for it.
Westmoreland County (Allegheny County's neighbor to the east) is getting into the passport fun with a free booklet that contains 34 stops in the region. Some attractions in the guide are paid, while others are free, but those who complete the passport by the end of 2019 will not only have a great experience in the county but will also be entered to win a wonderful prize!
So, are you ready to get out and explore Westmoreland County? The Westmoreland Heritage Passport is calling for you.
This post is sponsored by Westmoreland Heritage.
Southern Tier Pittsburgh is one of a handful of breweries that did not originate in the city but expanded here due to the producer's popularity in the region.
Originally from New York, this brewery expanded into Pittsburgh in early 2017 and has been a popular spot in the North Side ever since. While we are often frequent visitors to this brewery for the beer, we were recently invited out as guests of the brewery to try more and to sample a bit of the food menu as well.
As a result, this guide to the brewery was born!