Explore

Fallingwater by Frank Lloyd Wright is Truly a Sight to See

Fallingwater has become a popular tourist destination in southwestern Pennsylvania as it was designed by the famous architect, Frank Lloyd Wright, is one of his most acclaimed works, and was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2019.

There are several more good reasons for this popularity, as the house features unique designs both in the layout and how it appears in nature over the changing seasons.

But did you know that Fallingwater is connected to Pittsburgh in that the famous Kaufmann family (of Kaufmann department store fame) were the original owners of the property and hired Frank Lloyd Wright to build them a house near one of their favorite waterfalls in Ohiopyle?

Read more

Squirrel Hill Neighborhood Guide – Attractions and Dining

Squirrel Hill is one of those Pittsburgh neighborhoods you can’t help but love. It is primarily residential with tons of gorgeous houses and has two business streets that are among the most vibrant in the entire city.

We lived in Squirrel Hill for many years and enjoyed visiting the shops and eating at the plethora of restaurants that call this neighborhood home. To share some of our favorite places to hit during a visit, this guide was born!

It is worth noting that the following is not a collection of every business in Squirrel Hill. This article only features businesses that we personally visit when we explore the neighborhood.  As such, it should only be taken as a starting point and is certainly not a list of every establishment. 

If you see an interesting business while exploring Squirrel Hill, do yourself a favor and go inside!

Note: Squirrel HIll is a neighborhood whose businesses are often in flux. As such, businesses may change faster than we can keep up with. If you spot a place that has closed please contact us.

Read more

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!

Read more

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.

Read more

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.

Read more

Fall Run Park – A Stunning Waterfall Near Pittsburgh

On the surface, Fall Run Park in Glenshaw, PA (just north of the city off of Route 8) seems no different from any other as it is a peaceful hiking trail that has relatively low foot-traffic.

But for those who make the effort to visit this one, the roughly one-mile out-and-back hike rewards you with something a bit surprising: a waterfall!

Read more

Gateway Clipper Cruises – A Tour Perfect for Visitors

The Gateway Clipper is an iconic Pittsburgh attraction. No matter the time of day, odds are good you can look to the rivers near downtown Pittsburgh and see these iconic blue, gold, and red riverboats ferrying passengers or giving a water-level city tour.

As Pittsburgh residents, we’ve seen these boats for many years but oddly enough had never taken one. Naturally, since founding this site we wanted to change that and finally made the trip down to Station Square to take a sightseeing cruise at the end of peak season.

But in being honest, I have to say that there are two very different experiences you can have on the Gateway Clipper fleet- one as a resident and one as a visitor. Depending on what category you fall into, this may change your approach to this tour significantly.

Read more

Kennywood Holiday Lights – A Christmas Tradition for Families

When it comes to Kennywood, Pittsburgh’s nearest theme park, we often visit in the summer months to ride as many roller coasters and eat as many potato patch fries as we can stomach.

One thing we never experienced was the park’s annual Holiday Lights display. So you know when our friends at Kennywood invited us to check them out that we jumped at the chance.

Fast forward a few days to our visit, and it only took a few minutes in the park to realize something very important- it is the perfect Christmas outing for families.

Read more

10 Must See Attractions During Christmas in Pittsburgh

Christmas is one of the most popular holidays in Pittsburgh, and there is a very good reason for it- there is so much to do!

In fact, over the course of our exploration of the city we’ve found nine incredible holiday activities to enjoy in the region, meaning you can enjoy something holiday-related every weekend from Light Up Night all the way until Christmas day.

For more about each highlight in this list, click the link in the description to read more!

Read more

Western Pennsylvania Model Railroad Museum Features History

The Western Pennsylvania Model Railroad Museum (WPMRM for short) is a truly unique museum in the region as it has been able to stand the test of time in its permanent location in Gibsonia, PA, just north of Pittsburgh.

For model railroads, a substantial effort is required just to plan and build a display in the first place, and that is all before other traditional museum logistics come in to play like opening the space for visitors, generating revenue, hiring employees, and more. You’re likely to see model railroads in other museums as a small portion of a larger theme, but at the WPMRM the only features are model trains, and what a beautiful design it is.

Read more