<p>I lived in San Francisco for a few years so I can compare and contrast Pittsburgh to the Bay Area some. Where did your girlfriend live, specifically?</p>
<p>If she is into nature, I think living somewhere with quick access to Schenley Park or Frick Park is ideal. These parks are large and much more natural and wooded than the laid out planned parks like Golden Gate Park. They’re more like the wooded parts of the Presidio. Now, to be honest, nothing is going to be as spectacular as the nature around the Bay area with Yosemite and all of those parks that are around there (really I’m not sure if there is another place in the nation like that), but there are plenty of outdoorsy things to do outside the city. If you have a car or rent something like a zip car, you can easily get to the Laurel Highlands and go to places like Ohiopyle, etc. Pittsburgh is a pretty green city though in its own right. It really has one of the nicest park systems in the country, and they are all more wooded and natural than, say, equivalent parks in other large cities like Philly or NYC. For instance, in Schenley and Frick, there are parts of the park where you absolutely can go and pretend you are out in the middle of the woods. There are activities to do on the rivers. Just be proactive about getting out and taking advantage of the things that interest you and I bet you’re going to really enjoy living there.</p>
<p>The comment above about considering dorms may be a good one, at least for a year, just to gain a sense of community with other students. If not, then I’d look around South Oakland, Squirrel Hill, or Shadyside. I think it is important that both you and girlfriend make your own friends too, so if you do live off-campus, remember that you may need to be a little more proactive getting to know your classmates or neighbors. The good news is, Pitt and Pittsburgh are pretty friendly.</p>