48 Hours in Pittsburgh: Making the Most of Every Moment

Located in Western Pennsylvania and situated at the confluence of the Monongahela, Allegheny and Ohio Rivers, the scenic city of Pittsburgh is basks in well-deserved accolades as a must-see destination.

Harper’s Bazaar named it one of the Best Places to Travel for its award-winning restaurants, vibrant arts and culture scene, and world-class accommodations.

Choosing from among the many attractions is the difficult part, but getting there is easy. Most destinations are located within 20 minutes of the downtown area. Less time commuting and more time enjoying is certainly a plus when schedules are tight during a short getaway.

Staying in the Heart of the Action

Omni William Penn

First-time guests of the Omni William Penn Hotel are often mesmerized by the beauty of the opulent lobby, with its crystal chandeliers, oversized archways, and a floor that mingles marble from seven different countries. Built by Pittsburgh industrialist Henry Clay Frick and listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the hotel dates back to 1916 and still exudes much of that old-world charm. The icing on the cake is that it’s conveniently located within a short drive of many destinations.

There are a number of activities to enjoy while staying at the Omni, from kayaking, to biking, to touring and dining at any of the restaurants perched atop the Duquesne Incline. No visit is complete without a trip to Grandview Avenue’s Mount Washingtons' Restaurant Row, where diners are treated to spectacular views of downtown, especially as the sun sets.

The Omni also provides guests with its own dining options, from the elegantly appointed and upscale Terrace Room, with its original molded plaster ceiling and mahogany arches and creative American cuisine, to the more casual Taproom. Once deemed “The Continental,” the Taproom dates back to 1934 and is one of two “Repealatoriums” that opened in the hotel after Prohibition ended.

Tucked away beneath the stairs of the grand lobby is another celebratory toast to the end of Prohibition. The Speakeasy, named among the 12 Most Essential Bars by Thrillist, with its cozy ambiance and plush red-velvet décor is a welcome respite for guests seeking a place to relax with their favorite libation.  

Taking a Tour

Pittsburgh is all about choices and finding a tour tailored to one’s interests is as easy as consulting a concierge, or AI these days.

The one-hour Gateway Clipper tour traverses the three rivers and treats visitors to a beautiful view of the city, while providing them a unique glimpse into Pittsburgh’s past and future via onboard narrators. It’s a 15-minute walk from the hotel and an interesting way to view the architecture of the city and our bridges.

For the foodie, there’s “Burgh Bits and Bites," which takes guests on a walking tour to their choice of several different neighborhoods, including Pittsburgh’s acclaimed Strip District. The excursion convenes in Old St. Patrick’s Church courtyard. Sylvia McCoy, tour founder, offers guests a “behind-the-counter” peek at a variety of eateries in Pittsburgh’s market district. “The Strip District features an array of cuisines, from Asian, to Polish, Greek, Italian, Mediterranean, Middle Eastern, all on one street,” she says.

And no trip to Pittsburgh is complete without a ride on the famous Duquesne Incline, which is a historic funicular railway located at 1197 W. Carson Street.  The Incline was designed by Samuel Diesher, a Hungarian-American civil engineer based in Pittsburgh and was completed in 1877 It offers scenic views of the city and its three rivers, including the Allegheny, Ohio and Monongahela.  

An Insider Tip: Exit the incline, turn to the right and head up the hill to view the spectacular “Point of View” sculpture, which features George Washington and the Seneca leader Guyasuta. It conveys what their face-to-face meeting may have been like in 1770 while Washington was in the area examining land for future settlement along the Ohio River. The two-minute walk from the Incline is worth it for the unobstructed view of the skyline alone.

George Washington and Seneca Leader Guy Asuta.

Nature, History and Art Abound in Oakland

One can spend an entire day in Oakland soaking in the exhibits at Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens, Carnegie Museum of Art and the Carnegie Museum of Natural History. All are conveniently located within walking distance of each other, making it easy to mix and match as time permits.

Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens

Phipps dates back to 1893 and is often described as one of Pittsburgh’s “crown jewels.” Visitors are often in awe of the striking botanical displays, many of which change throughout the year. Phipps Conservatory is also one of those places you can visit multiple times each year for their seasonal flower shows.

Phipps also has the distinction of being LEED™ platinum certified. Designed to be the greenest building in the world, Phipps generates all of its own energy and treats storm and sanitary water on site.

The Children’s Discovery Garden is a big hit with the kids and is designed to attract birds, butterflies, and bees. It also includes a bog garden, a sensory garden, and outdoor spaces to entertain and enlighten the youngsters.

Allocate approximately 90 minutes to tour the indoor and outdoor gardens, which feature stunning displays of plants ranging from palm trees, to orchids, bonsai and cacti, to name just a few.

Insider Tip: To avoid crowds, plan to visit on a Monday or Tuesday.

Carnegie Museum of Art

It’s easy to spend hours roaming the halls of the Carnegie Museum of Art (CMOA), so if this destination is at the top of your list, you may wish to get an early start by visiting when doors open at 10 a.m.

The impressive collection exists courtesy of Andrew Carnegie, a wealthy industrialist/philanthropist and proud Pittsburgher who envisioned opening up the art world to all segments of society.

The 110,570-foot space is comprised of 33 galleries which feature approximately 1,800 works of art at any given time.  Painting and sculpture, prints and drawings, photographs, architectural casts and film and video are all represented under one roof, ensuring that the museum offers something for every taste.

Artists run the gamut from Van Gogh, to Matisse, Picasso, Warhol and more.

A unique exhibit featuring a piece of furniture that is universally pressed into service is the chair collection, which celebrates the diversity of chair design from the 17^th Century to the present.

Also notable is the cast of the West Portal of Saint-Gilles-du-Gard located in the Hall of Architecture. Paid for by Andrew Carnegie at the recommendation of art experts, it is said to be the largest architectural cast ever made.

The Carnegie Museum of Natural History

Adjacent to the CMOA is the Carnegie Museum of Natural History, also founded by Andrew Carnegie. Ranked among the top five natural history museums in the United States, it boasts a collection of 22 million specimens, 10,000 of which are on view at any given time.

The family friendly destination features an array of dinosaurs and mammals, fossils, mummies and more, which are sure to intrigue guests of all ages.

Don’t miss the Hall of Gems for a dizzying array of rocks and minerals.

Insider Tip: The price of admission to both museums is reduced to half off after 3 p.m. on weekdays.

These are just a few of the many options available in a city where choices abound and making the most of every moment is limited only by the imagination of the visitor.

Photo Credits:

Gateway Clipper (with picture of bridge) Courtesy: Gateway Clipper/Visit Pittsburgh

Omni William Penn, Courtesy: Omni Hotels and Resorts

Duquesne Incline: Credit: Richard Nowitz

Exploring Pittsburgh

Located in Western Pennsylvania and situated at the confluence of the Monongahela, Allegheny and Ohio Rivers, the scenic city of Pittsburgh is a must see in the Northeast.

My husband and I visited the area again just last week during the dog days of summer and there was no dearth of things to do. Unfortunately, we were only staying three days, so we had to pick and choose accordingly.

The Phipps

Because I've loved the Phipps Conservatory in the past, this was one of our first stops.

A beautiful Chihuly sculpture hangs from the dome. 

The Phipps dates back to 1893 and was a gift to the city from Philanthropist Henry Phipps. It is described as one of Pittsburgh's "crown jewels." Visitors are often in awe of the striking botanical displays, many of which change throughout the year. 

The theme for the exhibit when we visited was "Under the Sea."

                         I found this blooming Bromeliad particularly striking.

If you allocate 90 minutes for your visit, you'll likely have plenty of time to see everything and perhaps even grab a bite at Cafe Phipps, which was featured by Food & Wine as one of the "Best Museum Restaurants in the United States."

Insider tip: To avoid the crowds, visit on a Monday or Tuesday.

The Carnegie Museum of Natural History

The Carnegie Museum of Natural History, founded by Andrew Carnegie, a wealthy industrialist/philanthropist and proud Pittsburgher, touts an astounding collection of 22 million specimens, 10,000 of which are on view at any given time.

A family favorite, the destination features an array of dinosaurs and mammals, fossils, mummies and more, which are sure to intrigue guests of all ages. The Carnegie Museum of History is noted for housing one of the world's best dinosaur collections and introducing the first ever Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton known as "Dippy" to the public.

The Hall of Gems is particularly fascinating for its dizzying array of rocks and minerals from volcanic rocks to radioactive rocks and those that glow under ultraviolet light. 

I loved this amber collection.

The Carnegie Museum of Art

A piece painted by famous artist Jackson Pollock

The Carnegie Museum of Art, located in the same building as the Museum of Natural History, has 30,000 works of art in its collection, so if this is at the top of your list to see, you may want to get an early start when doors open at 10 a.m.

Pierre-Auguste Renoir: "The Garden in the Rue Cortot, Montmartre

Here you'll find paintings, sculptures, prints and drawings, photographs, film and video. Artists run the gamut from Van Gogh, to Matisse, Picasso, Renoir, Warhol and more.

Claude Monet: The Sea at La Havre, 1868

Approximately 140 plaster casts can be found in the Hall of Architecture and date back to 1907. They represent art all around the world and were in keeping with Carnegie's philosophy of opening up art to the masses who couldn't afford to travel to see the real items.

Detail of a cast of the Pulpit in the Cathedral at Siena, by Niccolo Pisano, 1266 A.D.

Also interesting is the Hall of Sculpture that is modeled after the Parthenon. It features a collection of European and American sculpture from artists like Donatello and Michelangelo. 

Francois Joseph Bosio, Henri IV as a Child, 1822-1845

The Carnegie Museum of Art features approximately 15 exhibitions annually, ensuring that return visitors can usually discover something new.

Insider Tip: The price of admission for the Carnegie Museum of Art and the Carnegie Museum of Natural History is half price on weekdays after 3 p.m.

The Frick 
The Frick Pittsburgh Museums and Gardens is located on 5.5 acres of land in the Point Breeze neighborhood. Here you'll find the house owned by the family. Due to the time factor, we didn't have the opportunity to tour the house known as Clayton, but it sounds like a worthwhile visit if you're interested in original furnishings, collections and artifacts owned by the Carnegie family. 

Also on the grounds is a separate building that houses the antique car collection of the Carnegie family. One of my favorites was the Bantam Roadster made in Butler, Pa. Famous Bantam Roadster owners include Buster Keaton, Al Jolson and Ernest Hemingway. The little car was lauded for being able to travel 60 miles on a gallon of gas.

The Bantam Roadster, circa 1939

The white-and-red number is also very attractive. This 1908 Model 10 dates is named "The Runabout." 

The carriage below, sporting the fringe, was said to be used at resorts in the summer.

I quite liked the bobsled too. It reminds me of the old paintings of families enjoying the winter weather and I am pretty sure it was pressed into service for our frigid Pennsylvania winters.

The Frick Art Collection

Another building on the grounds is The Frick Art Museum, which includes paintings, sculptures and decorative arts from the Renaissance through the 19th century.  The collection includes a number works by artists Peter Paul Rubens and Jean-Francois Millet, among others. Temporary exhibitions cover a wider range of styles.

A bust of Henry Clay Frick, 1922, by Malvina Hoffman

When I visit museums like these, triptychs always catch my eye. Triptychs are carvings on three panels and used as altarpieces.

Bernardo Daddi 1280-1348

This painting, titled "Madonna and Child with Saint Francis and a Saint Bishop; Saints Peter and Paul, the crucifixion, the annunciation." Wow, that's a mouthful! Helen Frick's interest in triptychs like this were influenced by her trips to Europe and The Louvre. This differed from Henry Clay Frick's tastes, which trended more towards landscapes and portraits.

Madonna and Child with Saints, Scenes from the Life of Christ and the Life of the Virgin

Helen, with her mother, Adelaide, purchased this altarpiece in 1922. Helen later reimbursed her mother for the work to acquire it outright. This piece was among some of the first she purchased.

The public can tour the house, the car collection, the art collection and the gardens for free. 

Good Eats

If you want an overall flavor of the 'Burgh, sign up for 'Burgh Bits & Bites, operated by Sylvia McCoy. Sylvia offers tours in Brookline, Lawrenceville, South Side and the Butler County locations of Harmony and Saxonburg. Customized tours are available on request.

Connie Stamoolis hands out samples of the Greek specialties sold in the shop.

One of the small local businesses McCoy highlights on the strip district tour is Stamoolis Brothers Co., which has been in business since 1909 and was started by five brothers who hailed from Greece and made their way to Pittsburgh via New York City. Loyal customers continue to flock to the place with the old-world charm for Greek fare, including imported canned goods, Greek dinners, feta cheese and Kalamata olives. Connie and Catina, who inherited the store from their father Gus, typically greet tour goers with a Greek sampler plate.

The group also makes a stop at Sunseri’s, a bakery and Italian specialty store, where they can indulge in one of the businesses most popular items. “Sunseri’s is known for its monster pepperoni roll, which is cheesy and very delicious,” said McCoy.

Labad’s Mediterranean Café and Grocery is another tour stop and has been with McCoy since the tour’s inception. “It’s a family business that has been making hummus and pita bread for 30 years,” said McCoy.

McCoy advises group members to bring their appetite to indulge in additional fare from salami at Parma Sausage, cinnamon bread at Mancini’s, Biscotti at Enrico Biscotti, donuts at Peace, Love and Little Donuts and chips and salsa at Reyna’s.

If you're in the mood for something a little novel, you also might want to check out Church Brew Works in the Lawrenceville neighborhood. 

The former St. John the Baptist church was built in 1902 and closed in 1993. In 1996, the Church Brew Works opened and has been operating as a brewery and restaurant ever since.

Scenes inside the church-turned eatery.

Menu items include fish, steak, meatloaf, pasta, salads, soups sandwiches and desserts. 

One last suggestion for foodies is a visit to Spork. Everything was excellent from their creative cocktails, to the amuse-bouches, (yes, there was more than one), to the entrees. My elk Bolognese was excellent, as was my husband's lamb saddle. I can't recommend this place enough. 

Elk bolognese

Lamb saddle

When my husband popped the bubble on his cocktail, a rush of smoke came out. I've seen smoked drinks before, but the smoke is usually trapped by a cloche, so the bubble was definitely unique. The drink, which he recommends, was made with burnt honey, lemon, ginger, turmeric, Laphroaig and Johnny Walker scotch and culinary smoke.

Gold Finger cocktail

That's it for now and I haven't even scratched the surface of the many things there are to do in Pittsburgh. Hopefully these few suggestions will pique your interest. Happy travels!