We're heading to Pittsburgh in a few weeks so my son can check out some colleges. I've never been to the city, so I'd love to hear of experiences with transportation, things to see, neighborhoods, hotels, restaurants, etc.

Amy,

I have never been to Pittsburgh, but several years back our daughter was flown there for a college recruiting trip to the University of Pittsburgh. We knew she would not, in the end, choose to go to school in the east, but we encouraged her to take the trip. She came back and had nothing but really postive things to say about Pittsburgh, felt like it was a college city in the sense of "Felicity", if you remember that show, it was on air at that time. She liked the look of Pittsburgh is what I guess I am trying to say. When the steel mills closed, the city got a lot cleaner.

We also just had a visit last week from an old friend who is spending this school year in Pittsburgh, teaching math in a private high school. Mind you, they have been living in Pullman, WA, a real college "town", but he also had nothing but good things to say about Pittsburgh. He and his family are living in Squirrel Hill, and are finding family life, the art scene, stuff like that, simply great. Except for the weather, but then your son already has that in his life.

I am curious to hear what you think after your trip there.

Just before we moved to Italy we spent several days in Pittsburg with Bryan's parents, who grew up there, revisiting family spots and looking around. We had a great time and thought Pitt was a fun town! We took the incline up the hillside for views and dinner (several places to eat up there), toured the Cathedral of Learning at the University (very interesting!), and had a fabulous meal at Lidia's. We stayed in a cute little place called The Priory where we were treated to vino every evening and breakfast in the morning. It was a fun trip!

Thanks very much, Marcia and Valerie. Dan is firm that he wants an urban university, there are two schools he's excited about in Pittsburgh, (Marcia, if you have more info to share about U of Pitt, PM me!) and it's actually a reasonable flight from Boston. Close enough to come home every now and then, but not close enough to bring laundry. Pittsburgh sounds pretty inviting, and we're looking forward to a visit. Our reaction has gone from "Huh?" to "Sounds Cool!"

FWIW, I know that people around here who grew up in Pittsburgh are really devoted to it. Years ago, there was a group who got together regularly.

My friend's brother (twin to the one who's an archaeologist and lives in Jerusalem) taught there for years before moving to Washington U in St Louis, so I will ask her for any info she has.

Hi Amy,
I am from Pittsburgh and have lived here
most of my life. It's a great City and
most importantly I think you'll find the
people very friendly and helpful. You must
check out areas like The Strip District,
Southside, Shadyside and of course, our 2
new stadiums...Pittsburgh is a huge Sports
Town. Good Luck to your son.
ps: My son and daugher in law live in
Boston....they're moving back to Pittsburgh
in May.
Carol

I spent quite a bit of time studying and working in Pittsburgh.

Several years in Oakland (vicinity of Pitt); a few years in Squirrel Hill; a few more in South Hills.

I also spent a lot of time at some of the universities - I attended Pitt, and was involved with Carnegie Mellon and a few of the smaller ones (something like 12 univ/colleges within 60 mi).

Great city, and Pitt/CMU are great schools.

I would want to know what his major will be before recommending a school.

Glad to have come across this thread. I also have a son who insists on an urban university and is very interested in Pitt.We have never been to Pittsburgh and know nothing about the city. There are several other schools on his list so we will be making several trips this spring/summer. I know that we ,too, will be hitting Pittsburgh. It is nice to see the positive responses so far. We are a bit late in getting started with college visits. Jordan will graduate H.S. in 09. He is the youngest and we are much more laid back the second time around. We really do need to get on the ball and plan some trips!

Sheri

My best friend grew up in Pittsburgh and is a Pitt alumnus. During our work career, which is how we met up, we spent a large amount of our time in and around Pittsburgh and have visited the city often over the years, with my last trip about 4 years ago and the changes have been tremendous!! I have seen that city go from run down old steel town to a bustling modern city.

The people are great. The sports outstanding and there is a TON of stuff to do. It has excellent medical with Carnegie. It also has some EXCELLENT cultural events thanks to Heinz.

Great city and go Panthers!!

Another Pittsburgher (ok, former) reporting in. Most of the colleges are near each other in Oakland; I went to Chatham just up the road in Shadyside. All the neighborhoods really are wonderful, there are tons of students of all nationalities. Or not. You can really get away from the students when you want to by walking just a bit further afield. The restaurant scene is also geared to students with many ethnicities represented. My bestest friend lives very close to Pitt; the whole area is quite safe and well-policed. A few other museums not yet mentioned are the Warhol, Phipps Conservatory, the National History Museum, the Science Center, oh, and the zoo is nice.

One downside is that when there is no show or symphony, etc. 'downtown', other than a few higher end restaurants, the place is pretty quiet.

I think he could like it and you would enjoy to visit. One final caveat: Pgh really has the feel of a small town, almost provincial. It's endearing to some, off-putting to others. For 4 (let's hope!) years, if the education is excellent, who cares, no?

Excuse me now, I am having a homesick moment...

Wow! Not often Pittsburgh gets to be highlighted here. :-)

Both my husband and I grew up in/around Pgh and went to college there. It's such a great town for college students!

Oakland in particular was a frequent hang out for us (I got my first piercing there!). The Strip was fun, and Shadyside was always a hit (right off of CMU campus). We also frequented the Pittsburgh Public Theater quite a bit.

We moved after college for jobs and better weather. Pennsylvania winters - ugh! We are two of the few that have left tho. Pittsburgh folk are VERY loyal to their city, and in that are very friendly and ready to show you why they love it so much. :-)

One word to the wise for a visitor: make sure your rental car has a GPS!! Pgh is one of the hardest cities in the country to drive in. Locals know their way around, and wear it like a badge. It is NOT intuitive, there are a lot of one-way streets, narrow lanes, bridges, tunnels and forced turn lanes (that don't necessarily take you the direction you thought you'd be headed).

One place I'd hit before you leave: PRIMANTI BROS! It's down in the Strip and open 24hrs a day.
Since it sounds like you'll be in Oakland, and don't make it to the Strip, hitting "The O" for fries and hot dogs is pretty awesome, too. Mmmmm!

These yummy memories and being pregnant are dangerous.

Everyone, thank you so much for sharing your advice and experiences. We'll be in the city for two nights, probably staying at the Shadyside Inn.

Hi Amy,
There is (or used to be)a hotel right on Pitt's campus ... almost directly across from the Cathedral of Learning ... this hotel is also just down the street from Carnegie Mellon ... I can not remember the name ... but we stayed there several years ago when doing the college visit thing.

Pittsburgh is a very nice city with lots to do ...

Good Luck...

Karen

Just back from the PA College Road Trip. Forget the kid, I'm ready to move to Pittsburgh. What a great city to live in! My son adored Pitt, it seems a great match for him.

Everyone, thanks for the advice. Hopefully there will be another trip to Pittsburgh in our future!

Amy,

Glad it all worked out for you and your son. Our friends who are there for a 1 year sabbatical of sorts hope to return when their sons finish high school.

quote:

Originally posted by Amy:
Just back from the PA College Road Trip. Forget the kid, I'm ready to move to Pittsburgh. What a great city to live in! My son adored Pitt, it seems a great match for him.

Everyone, thanks for the advice. Hopefully there will be another trip to Pittsburgh in our future!

Amy,

So sorry I did not see your post earlier. I live in Pittsburgh and would have been happy to show you around.



Pittsburgh has a lot to offer in the way of universities. And the area really does have that small town feel as mentioned above.

The city itself has seen better days. It is very sad to see what has happened to this once vibrant city. But we are building again in the city. They are finally adding residences to the downtown area (something I have been screaming about for the past 20 years) so hopefully the city will be returned to it's former luster in short order.

Thanks, Spin! Perhaps I can take you up on it another time.

I, too, just saw this question. I'm not a native Pittsburgher -- grew up in Minnesota and Ohio -- but I've lived here for more than 25 years and I really like it! Glad your trip went well.

Just had to add one other little tidbit about the city that just came out ini the news today: Pittsburgh was rated the city with the nicest drivers/least amount of road rage of any city in the country!

I do have to say that the drivers really are polite (for the most part). People will let you merge onto limited access roads, and go ahead of them if you are turning left at a traffic light and they are going straight. I found that a bit unnerving when I first moved here, but I'm used to it now.

Mary

I forgot to add: Pitt is really a great university, and it does a lot for the community. Of course, I may be a little prejudiced. Both my husband and I are Pitt Law graduates.

Recently, Pittsburgh was the subject of the New York Times Travel Section's "36 hours in . . . ."

Here's the link:
36 Hours in Pittsburgh