South Archives - Discover the Burgh

Riding the Great Allegheny Passage from Pittsburgh to the Laurel Highlands

The Great Allegheny Passage is a rail-trail leading out of Pittsburgh that can only be described as a gem. This 150-mile path connects downtown Pittsburgh to Cumberland, Maryland, and links up with the C&O Canal trail which spans all the way to Washington DC.

While we are working our way up to the multi-day bike ride from Pittsburgh to Washington DC, we have been exploring the sections of the GAP closest to Pittsburgh in numerous outings. In this one, we wanted to share some of our favorite highlights and what you can expect when getting out on the trail for a ride!

This guide covers the first 40-miles of the Great Allegheny Passage between Pittsburgh and Belle Vernon, PA. As we explore further sections of the trail we will update this guide accordingly.

Asadero by Mindful Brewery Review – Small Short Order Tacos

When Pittsburgh breweries expand, there is reason to celebrate. When they expand and also open up a short-order taco joint, doubly so.

So when we heard that Mindful Brewery was expanding into Carnegie, PA, with their aptly named Asadero restaurant, we had to visit right away. While we left this one a bit disappointed in the small size of the tacos, we'll gladly return for the burritos and beer.

Insurrection Ale Works Review – Go for the Beer, Stay for the Food

Our local breweries really run the spectrum in their offerings. If you are looking for a specific kind of experience, odds are good there is a brewery out there that matches your desire.

If a brewery with amazing beer and a robust food menu is something you need in your future, a trip to Insurrection Ale Works in Heidelberg is a must.

Topgolf Pittsburgh Offers Games at the Driving Range

As a non-golfer, I generally stay clear of driving ranges (and most courses for that matter) as I'll very clearly make a fool out of myself within minutes of picking up a club. But I made an exception to this rule to make a trip to Topgolf Pittsburgh.

This one goes beyond your conventional driving range and adds on many interactive game elements into the mix. The best part of all? By the end of my first outing, I was doing quite well and enjoying it!

Churchview Farm’s Happy Hour Series Offers a Serene Hilltop Experience

Churchview Farm is an urban hilltop in Baldwin, just south of Pittsburgh, that is popular for their frequent dinner and happy hour pop-ups.

But when we say popular, we really mean it- tickets to these events often sell out within minutes!

We were fortunate enough to snag two tickets to a happy hour at Churchview Farm, and wanted to share what the experience was like in this one!

Solving Carnegie’s Millions at Escape Room Pittsburgh in Homestead

For the longest time, we never really saw the allure of escape rooms. We knew of their popularity and saw how many escape rooms in Pittsburgh were popping up, but it wasn't much of a priority for us.

It wasn't until we found out that friends of ours love escape rooms that we decided to check one out, and we made our way to Escape Room Pittsburgh at their Homestead location to try our hand at a challenging room.

The theme? An appropriate Pittsburgh connection aptly named Carnegie's Millions. Our goal? To save the world, of course!

LeoGreta Review – Neighborhood Italian Fare in Carnegie

LeoGreta, an Italian restaurant with a neighborhood vibe, opened in Carnegie in 2018 and brings a wonderful dining option to the borough. The space is on the smaller size and so is the menu, but the simple, homemade offerings are designed to please.

Visiting the Donora Historical Society and Donora Smog Museum

One of the things we love about the boroughs in southwest Pennsylvania is that many of them have a historical society and museum dedicated to sharing the history of the area.

Some of these, like the Saxonburg Museum, are huge. Others, like the Harmony Museums, are spread out over multiple historical buildings that are all worth exploring.

In Donora, the museum managed by the Donora Historical Society is fairly small. But what it lacks in size it makes up for in sharing the borough's history and the Donora Smog environmental disaster.

Fourth Street BBQ Review – Delicious Meats South of Pittsburgh

For our trip to Charleroi, we had two spots in mind- Fourth Street BBQ and Four Points Brewing (located just next door).

However, when we arrived our hopes of eating barbecue were momentarily dashed as we quickly found out they were only open for dinner on Saturdays. It turns out, we mistakenly thought they would be open for lunch as the barbecue joint had lunch hours on Thursday and Friday, and didn't think twice to double check on Saturday.

Oops.

Dejected, we walked next door to Four Points Brewing for a beer and were delighted to find out that we could still order barbecue from a limited brewery menu. Our goal of eating barbecue was back on!

Apericena Wine Bar Review – High-End Wines in the South Hills

Apericena wine bar opened in late 2018 across from South Hills Village in Upper St. Clair. Serving higher-end wines in full pours or in flights, the bar had our name on it and we made our way to the South Hills to check them out shortly after opening.