Just a reminder to folks posting - OP’s child is a HS senior and has already applied to colleges. These aren’t potential schools, these are schools that they are trying to decide between. So no need to add other schools or different schools, they just want to see these specific ones to help them when it comes time to make a final decision.
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I have no helpful advice, but if you haven’t been you should stop in to see a Wegmans. lol
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Not just stop- EAT in a Wegmans!
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We sometimes consider proximity to Wegman’s when booking a hotel. I recommend the chocolate chip cookies.
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Interesting…I avoid Wegmans like the plague here because it’s always so crowded.
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If you’re looking for a nicer meal with the older relative in Pittsburgh, the Grand Concourse is a nice choice. It’s a very cool space. Food is good. It’s downtown though, not in Oakland. But if you want to do the iconic incline ride, you would be in the right place. There is a ton of stuff to do in Pittsburgh, so it really depends on your time, interest, and energy. Your main goal is to visit Pitt, I understand!
Btw, Phipps Conservatory, right by Pitt, is a wonderful way to spend a few hours (if you have time to kill), although my guess is it would be more appealing to you than your son.
There are tons of fun little restaurants near Pitt if the Primanti rec isn’t resonating with you.
We stayed at the Hampton Inn in Schenectady on several Union visits. It’s pretty much what you would expect, but that brand is, ime, consistent and a good value.
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Okay! Tour de Blizzard 2025 is shaping up.
Planes, hotels, and tours are all booked. I leaned heavily on your recommendations with one cheeky exception: we’re going to stay in downtown Rochester near Eastman at the Inn on Broadway (lord willin’ and the lake don’t rise). Food recommendations entered into spreadsheet (@OctoberKate, bonus points to your son if he can remember the famous pizza in Troy!)
I guess if we find out in 10 days that S25 didn’t get into RPI, we’ll have an extra day to explore the Great Appalachian Valley.
Cross your fingers for
a) good weather and either
b) favorable admissions decisions from all of the above OR
c) unfavorable admissions decisions only from the campuses that leave S25 cold. (which, given February, could be most? hehe…Seriously, though, we’ve already been super lucky in this admissions cycle but that has to run out at some point, right?)
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So does the Tour de Blizzard include stops for the best local Dairy Queen blizzards at each location ? 
Probably not a good example of local eats, but perhaps a fun t-shirt option to remember it all by! (These are the silly little thoughts that get me through the day….and why S25 suddenly wound up with a lot of random tshirts in his dresser…thank you for humoring me, I’ll see myself out now….)
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If this trip didnt happen yet…forget a Dairy Queen Blizzard. While in Cleveland, go to East Coast Custard…on Mayfield…about 20 minutes east from CWRU. You will thank me for this recommendation!
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Well goldbug, maybe tour de Blizzard might be right. I was checking my hotel reservations for Union college this weekend and the weather channel is now saying 8-12 inches of snow on Sunday. I hope they don’t cancel stuff. (And my hotel isn’t refundable after yesterday).
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Yikes.
Eeeek. Same here!
If you didn’t order a vehicle with AWD/4WD, you may want to to see if you can get one for your rental. Or at least find out if they include snow/winter tires on them.
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I’m driving in my personal vehicle, so that isn’t an issue for me…but 12" snow the day before and a high of 12 degrees on tour day with 20 mph winds might be interesting. See you there @tjd0829.
Travel safely!
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We just discussed it and decided to cancel our 2/17 Union visit. We’ll try to get there in late March or early April. S25 is bummed.
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I’m still hoping the weather is wrong and my hotel is nonrefundable so we are still going.
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Enjoy and safe travels! Would love to hear your thoughts after.
Union + Schenectady are worth the visit.
If you like it in February, you’ll love it in fall & spring. 
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With the snow coming in on Sunday, it should have no effect on accepted students’ day on Monday. People in that part of the country know how to deal with snow. Things should actually be quite pretty.
So, bring a good book to read and dial up a good movie on your hotel TV, honker down on Sunday and enjoy. It will be a nice break in the schedule. The good news is that you won’t miss anything because there’s nothing happening on Sunday to shut down.
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