It's a 'Burgh Thing
If you really want to get into the Pittsburgh vibe, there are three things you need to do:
- Spend Saturday morning at the Strip. No, it's not what it sounds like. The Strip District is shopping and food as only Pittsburgh can do it. The original Primanti Brothers restaurant is down there, as is Wholey's Fish Market. Go early to get in line at Pamela's for breakfast. And if you like cheese, stop in at Penn Mac and fight your way to the cheese counter. You won't be sorry.
- Ride the Duquesne Incline. It looks like Mister Roger's trolley, but it goes straight up Mount Washington. The incline is public transportation, so you'll need cash. Round trip is $5. Parking is at 1197 West Carson Street. You ride up, look around, check out the awesome view of the city, and ride back down again.
- Visit the fountain at the Point. Point State Park where two of our rivers (the Mon and the Allegheny) come together to form the third (the Ohio). There's a park there and a small museum. It's a cool place to check out the Pittsburgh scenery. If you go after you ride the incline, you can look up and see where you were.
Sports
Baseball
Tech Pros + Web Pros is going all out this year to end the conference with a bang, at least for anyone who decides to go to the Pirates game after the conference.* Friday, June 7, is Zambelli Fireworks Night at PNC Park, when the Pirates take on the Minnesota Twins. The game starts at 6:40 p.m. Get tickets here. For those not in the know, Zambelli's, based in New Castle, is one of the biggest pyrotechnics companies in the world. We do name-brand fireworks in Pittsburgh. (*Disclaimer: The Pirates game isn't a sponsored event and really has nothing to do with Tech Pros. If you want fireworks, you'll have to go on your own.)
Bike
If you enjoy bike riding and want to stay in the area after the conference, bring your bike and check out the Steel Valley Trail, a part of the Great Allegheny Passage that passes behind our hotels. Take the trail toward the city, and you'll join up with the Three Rivers Heritage Trail, which winds around the city. Go away from the city, and you'll ride the GAP into McKeesport, where you can veer off to the Greater Allegheny campus. Stay on the trail and you'll wind through southern Pennsylvania and Maryland before eventually winding up in Washington, D.C. Heck, if you're from Fayette or Mont Alto, you could just ride your bike here and back. (If you do, we want pictures.)
Hike
There are numerous hiking options in and around Pittsburgh. Here are a few.
- Frick Park, an oasis in the city, this park features trails of various difficulty for hiking and biking. Right outside it is the Frick Museum and Gardens.
- The Rachel Carson Trail meanders around the north part of the city before joining up with the North Country Trail.
- Raccoon Creek State Park has some awesome and challenging hiking trails.
Museums and culture
- The Carnegie Museums are always a good choice. They include the Carnegie Science Center, the Carnegie Museum of Natural History (dinosaurs, anyone?), the Carnegie Museum of Art, and the Warhol. Stop by for your 15 minutes of fame.
- Go see the penguins, lions, tigers, and bears at the Pittsburgh Zoo and Aquarium.
- Ketchup on your Pittsburgh knowledge at The Heinz History Center. The museum is the home of the Smithsonian in the 'Burgh and includes the set of "Mister Rogers' Neighborhood" and the world's oldest Jeep among its displays. It's in the Strip, so if you take our advice and go there, you can stop in after you get your cheese.
- The Three Rivers Arts Festival will be going on May 31-June 9 in downtown Pittsburgh. Stop by after the conference for music, art, and fun.
Coasters and waterslides
- Kennywood's Open: It's hard to miss the fact that our local amusement park, Kennywood, is on Route 835 between Penn State Greater Allegheny and the Waterfront. This National Historic Landmark includes three roller coasters from the 1920s as well as four modern thrillers. (By the way, if someone in Pittsburgh tells you "Kennywood's Open," you should check your fly.)
- Sandcastle water park is a few minutes from the Waterfront. You'll see signs to it around the area. The park features 15 waterslides, including a wave pool and a lazy river.
- Idlewild/SoakZone has more waterslides plus amusement rides for kids and adults.
Bonus: Talk like a Yinzer n'at
This is more of a thing to know than a thing to do. Pittsburgers (or we should say "Pixburghers") have their own language called Pittsburghese. A shopping cart is a "buggy." We root for the "Stillers." "Yinz" is used instead of "you" or "you all." A "yinzer" is a Pittsburger. And "n'at" (meaning "and that" or "and so on") is sometimes added to the end of sentences. Here's an article with a rundown of common yinzer terms.
Double bonus
If you order a steak salad anywhere in Pittsburgh or the surrounding areas, it will come covered with fries and cheese. The salad part (iceberg unless you're somewhere fancy) is just there to hold up the fries and make it "healthy." Some places even serve steak salads "without." You can pretty much guess what they come without, and we guarantee it's not cheese or fries.