Whether you live in Pittsburgh, are here for a visit, or deciding where to 
take your weekend guests, these are places and things you should see and do

Most of them are free!

One of my favorite perks of being a retiree, is the one where I get up when I want, and can go where I want when I want, and avoid visiting places when they are most crowded. I have the daytimes to myself to explore and photograph. I avoid lunch hour, though. I ditched my car when I retired, and use public transportation or ride share. Retiring in Pittsburgh is a win for me, in more ways than one.

I have found that the best way to tour the best of Pittsburgh, is to go to a neighborhood's main streets and walk it. Parking is an annoying challenge and expensive. We have about 200 neighborhoods, so you will surely get your exercise and keep busy. We have pretty good public transportation, and retirees/seniors over 65 ride the buses and T's free. Or you can book a ride share and travel to and from the easy way with Lyft and Uber. 
You'd probably pay the same amount in parking fees, but avoid the large headache of traffic and parking. 

I prefer to "feel" a neighborhood when i wander, so i do a lot of walking and use up a lot of my newly-acquired free time photographing. I have lived in Pittsburgh for more than a decade, and still haven't thoroughly explored the goodies it has to offer.

PNC Park
If you or your guests are baseball fans, spend a summer evening at PNC park and watch the Pirates in action. 
It's a beautiful park, and every seat is a good seat because of the way they are set up. View the beautiful skyline going into night.
If you're already in downtown Pittsburgh sightseeing, it's a short walk over the bridge to the field. 
PNC Park also presents some pretty awesome Boomer-favorite bands in concert, and a few festivals.

The Strip District

A ten-block walk

The District is a one-half square mile area of land northeast of the central business district. The Strip District runs between 11th and 33rd Streets and includes three main thoroughfares — Smallman St., Penn Ave., and Liberty Ave.

In the early 19th century, the Strip District was home to many mills and factories as its location along the Allegheny River made for easy transportation of goods and shipping of raw materials.

Early tenants of the Strip District included U.S. Steel, Westinghouse, The Pittsburgh Reduction Company (ALCOA), and later The H.J. Heinz Company

By the early 20th century the Strip District became a vibrant network of wholesalers—mostly fresh produce, meat, and poultry dealers. Soon, auction houses rose around the wholesale warehouses and many restaurants and grocery stores were built to feed hungry shift workers at any hour of the day. By the 1920s, the Strip District was the economic center of Pittsburgh.

In the mid-to-late 20th century, fewer of the Strip's products were being shipped by rail and boat, causing many produce sellers and wholesalers to leave the area for other space with easier access to highways or where there was more land available for expansion. Today, in the Strip District there are still several wholesalers and produce dealers, but some estimates say more than 80% of the produce industry left the area as have the manufacturing plants and mills. Today, many of the abandoned warehouses have been renovated into small specialty shops, restaurants, nightclubs, and bars.

The area has developed into a historic market district with many ethnic food purveyors, some art studios, antique dealers, unique boutiques, and other businesses setting up shop where trains once delivered produce by the ton. The Strip District comes alive primarily on weekends during the summer months when street vendors are selling their wares, and the open-air farmer's markets are in full swing.

Wholey's
In Pittsburgh, it's pronounced "woolies".

Wholey’s is a prominent fish market and grocer in Pittsburgh's historic Strip District neighborhood.
The Wholey's brand is a household name in  Pittsburgh. 
^{Lots of types of fresh fish and meats, long lines, many items come packaged in bulk, and the butchers will slice your large fresh fish purchases, if you wish. They also sell small lunches and snacks.}
In addition to the retail store, Wholey's also delivers fresh/frozen seafood and meat items across the United States

Trivia: In 2005, a 23-pound lobster was discovered for sale at Wholey's. He was nicknamed "Bubba." 
Robert Wholey decided to spare the lobster, and sent him to the Pittsburgh Zoo Aquarium, which had planned to transport him to a Ripley's Believe It or Not museum aquarium. Alas, Bubba never achieved fame and glory outside of his teeny tank in Pittsburgh. He died just one day after arriving at the Aquarium.

The Produce Market - Pittsburgh Public Market
Produce Terminal Building
Smallman Street Entrance opposite 17th Street
412-281-4505

I go for the produce and relax with coffee.

About 30 vendors offering books, wine, coffee and organic produce.
Weekends only: Fridays 10 a.m. to 4 p.m
Saturdays 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sundays 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Pittsburgh Unique

Mexican War Streets and Randyland
Randyland is the home of artist, Randy Gilson. Located in the Mexican War Streets district of Pittsburgh's Northside, the Randyland courtyard is open most everyday between 10:00pm and 7:00pm.

Visitors are welcome to explore the public art displays in and around the property. 
Using paints, plants, plastic animals, yard sale finds and discarded construction materials, creator Randy Gilson has transformed his home and surrounding buildings into a colorful Pittsburgh landmark.

The Cathedral of Learning and The Nationality Rooms - Open 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM

The Cathedral of Learning is a 42-story building in the Oakdale neighborhood of Pittsburgh.

Located in the Cathedral of Learning, The Nationality Rooms are on the second level of the Cathedral of Learning, which itself is an awesome place to visit. 
The Nationality Rooms are all unique lecture rooms dedicated to different nationalities. The gothic main hall features large arched ceilings, lights and fireplaces. If you're a fan of architecture and enjoy the diversity of cultures, this is a must-visit.

A spectacular view of the city from Mount Washington's overlooks is a photographer's dream. Complete with those sightseeing binoculars you can use to get up close. It's also a romantic place to stop, enjoy the view and relax. Some of my favorite kisses happened there. 
"Climb" Mount Washington in one of two original 1877 cable cars for a breathtaking view of the Pittsburgh skyline when you reach the top of the 400-foot incline. The incline cable cars were a means for steel workers long ago to commute to work.
Parking is available across the street from the station at 1197 West Carson Street.

The "Dancing Fountains" at Bessemer Court, Station Square

One of my favorite spots to have cocktails, people-watch and enjoy music while the fountains light up and "dance" to the beat. It's one of the first places I visited when I arrived in Pittsburgh. It's an awesome way to spend a summer evening. 
The Fountain "performs" more than ten different shows. You can enjoy and relive songs from the small screen during the Classic TV Theme Songs Show, hear the biggest hits of the 80's at the 80's Hair Band Show, and there's also a Michael Jackson Show and a Beach Boys Show. Bring your dancing shoes because it's hard to stay still.
Shows are every 20 minutes, 9am til midnight, from April through early November.

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