1st visit to Pittsburgh PA...suggestions?

[KrazyKow]

Downtown Pittsburgh is pretty dead on evenings and weekends - many shops close really early and there's not much to do. Shadyside/Oakland are much more happening areas in Pittsburgh. The Holiday Inn in Oakland is pretty much the go-to hotel for people visiting CMU, as it's the closest hotel, about 3/4 of a mile from campus (very walkable, unless the weather is really miserable). It's also near a bunch of Oakland restaurants, the Cathedral of Learning, and University of Pittsburgh.

As far as restaurants go, Girasole in Shadyside (already mentioned) is great. I also recommend Spice Island Tea House on Atwood in Oakland. The places everyone tells you to eat to get the Pittsburgh experience are the "O" (order a small french fry, no matter how small the baskets hanging on the wall may look) and Primanti Brother's, both on Forbes in the middle of University of Pittsburgh (and pretty much impossible to miss).

Stuff to do- take the incline from Station Square up to Mount Washington and look around. It's a great view of downtown Pittsburgh, and very peaceful up there. Phipps Conservatory, very convenient to CMU, is quite impressive. Wandering Schenley Park, if the weather is nice, can be enjoyable - it feels like you're not in a city, and there's all sorts of old stonework that's pretty. Just take a map of the Oakland area with you so that when you get out of the park you have some idea of where you are. The Warhol museum downtown is supposed to be good, though I've never made it there.

Getting lost while walking would be hard to do (just look for 5th or Forbes), but getting lost while driving is pretty easy, I hear. Good luck with roads that are never perpendicular to each other, and plenty of bridges.

[2331clk]

If staying downtown, you must try for the Omni William Penn. Recently restored grand old hotel, truly beautiful. Stayed there many times when S was at CMU. Only 10 minute drive, without traffic, from the universities. Decent rates too, and walking distance to everything downtown...stadiums, museums, Point State Park, rivers, even Station Square.

For the universities, you'd hang out in Oakland, Shadyside, Squirrel Hill, which basically adjoin each other and are filled with college students. In Oakland follow Forbes Av and you'll run into both Pitt and CMU nearly next to each other. Shadyside for upscale shopping and restaurants, similar for Squirrel Hill, not quite as upscale. If you stay near the universities, I liked Shadyside Inn, though they sell out fast, and Hampton Inn is new, clean and convenient.

If you do nothing else, drive (or take Incline which would be easier) atop Mt. Washington for a view of the city across the river...it's beautiful and shouldn't be missed.

One more don't-miss-it: Pamela's Restaurant for breakfast, nicest of these is Shadyside. Greatest crepe-like pancakes, never had anything so good. Have fun, it's a great city.

edit: cross post w/ KrazyKow. Driving downtown is confusing because it comes to a point, like driving in lower Manhattan, so you lose parallel and perpendicular. Have a map.

[kittymom]

Having stayed at several places, from the Wyndham to Holiday Inn, we finally found the best deal to be Shadyside Inn (furnished apartment) and, if you have the money, The Inn on Negley. Look them up online. They both are walking distance to Walnut Street, where resides Giresole, Pamelas and several more nice places to eat and shop. They both have free parking and free internet.
As far as driving, my H stated "This town must have been laid out by a drunken indian" (no offense to you native Americans). It's very hilly as well. Downtown is full of one way streets and getting on and off the freeways is insane. I agree with visit to Phipps Conservatory. Point Park and the Science Museum are interesting. It's our last year to visit Pittsburgh, as DD is graduating from CMU in May. We're staying at the Omni Penn, as it was one of the few available for graduation weekend, so I'm glad to see a recommendation.

[LurkNessMonster]

I agree with the poster who said to stay at the Holiday Inn Select PITTSBURGH Hotels | PITTSBURGH @UNIV CTR (OAKLAND) | Welcome. It is actually on the Pitt campus and very convenient to CMU (I'm assuming you want to visit both of these campuses). Also, a fun thing to do is ride on one of the inclines, also known as funiculars, previously mentioned by 2331clk, above.

[Neonzeus]

I'd recommend asking your hotel for directions to different neighborhoods, depending on your available time.

The Waterfront complex is near Oakland, and is a wonderful outdoor shopping complex anchored with a huge Loews theater multiplex. There are lots of stores and restaurants, including a Dave & Busters (with games) and a PF Chang, rated one of the best Chinese restaurants in the US. It's a nice place to walk around and shop.

Station Square has some shopping too. It's located near the incline, so you can visit both at the same time. If you're going to try to do the famous Easter brunch, make reservations asap (see you there! it's one of our family traditions!).

Cranberry is a hot growing area with some wonderful strip malls, but is at least a 40-45 min drive from Oakland. Not really a place to visit as a tourist, although that may be changing as the new Westinghouse headquarters is being built there. The two-year old Marriott in Cranberry was rated the best in the country according to its customers' surveys, according to a recent newspaper article.

The South Side, however, is a neighborhood with some good stores, restaurants and bars that is not far from Oakland. College kids go there to hang out, so you might want to check it out too.

The strip district near downtown is interesting, if you're really doing a tourist run. It has various grocery stores and a Spaghetti Warehouse. In the same general area (the "North shore"), you'll be able to see the Carnegie Science Center, and the stadiums where the Pirates and Steelers play.

Monroeville has a mall (with one of the premier seafood restaurants in Pittsburgh and another Barnes & Noble) and some strip malls. It's a little further "out" from Oakland, but I wouldn't say it's a tourist destination.

Pittsburgh is a very small city, and you'd think that you could see everything pretty quickly. Due to the numerous hills and bridges (and the age of many roads and neighborhoods), getting around can be challenging. I relocated here 30 yrs ago, and laugh when I remember how frustrating it was to learn how to get places. Everyone seemed to know their own neighborhood well, but wouldn't know what was over the next hill or valley -- and there weren't enough signs. It's a wonderful place and there are lots of hidden gems, like finding a French pastry shop run by an actual French baker in the old mill-neighborhood of Millvale or discovering the art museum/gallery known as the Mattress Factory.

[ricegal]

We stayed at the Hampton Inn which had a shuttle to CMU and Pitt. That way you have a place to park your car because parking on campus can be difficult depending on what is going on that week. Then, you can drive to any restaurant you want.

[kjofkw]

There's also a hotel or two at the Waterfront, which is convenient to Oakland, but definitely requires a car.

We wanted to try the downtown Seqway tours this summer, but didn't have the chance. They are seasonal, so I'm not sure they will be available in the spring.

Make sure to have a good map if you're going to explore the city!

[Marilyn]

The Hampton is handy if you're going to leave the hotel and spend the day doing schools. If you want to go back and forth it's a little more complicated since the shuttle only leaves the hotel once on the hour every hour; you can call for a pickup any time.