Pittsburgh, PA…as seen by Paul
Being a native Cleveland-er, I am supposed to hate Pittsburgh right? I mean, it is the evil city to the east, right? RIGHT? Well, in all respect for the blog, I thought I would put this aside and let my true feelings…well…not biased feelings come to surface. In all honesty, there are a lot of things that make this city great and a pretty cool place to see. There are also a lot of things that make it, not so much. Writing these blogs, I want to take a more literal approach. There are blogs all over the internet that make every place seem like this magical town, and while that can be true, it doesn’t give the full story. I want to tell you about the nitty gritty details, and the things that you’re GOING to run into when you visit a place, not what you WANT to run into.
The first thing I want to say about Pittsburgh is that if you aren’t a skilled driver, make sure you are going with someone who is, and make sure to bring a GPS. There are constant road closures in PB, causing their already awful road system to be even worse. Essentially, the entire city is built on a triangle that points into the river, while this might seem cool from the air, it makes for a hell-ish experience on land. The best course of making the roads for a city like this would be to continue straight streets, since a triangle is a bunch of straight lines. So naturally the city did this right? Nope. They decided to have the streets point like a triangle themselves and have a ridiculous amount of curves. This causes the road system to, quite literally, look like a bunch of spaghetti on a triangular plate. Not to mention the fact that nearly all of their streets are bridges and/or highways, so if you end up taking a wrong turn, it is likely that you’ll be heading right back out of town. So if you want to go anywhere, make sure to leave about an hour early…seriously. Also, don’t expect to park in a garage very easily, they are few and far between, leaving you best option as finding a metered spot…hope you’re good at parallel parking! Essentially, the parking situation and driving situation is awful, but there are some things that make this city a little cooler.
While in Pittsburgh, I had the lovely oppritunity to check out the more, cultured, side of things. One of my first stops was this place called “The Mattress Factory.” It’s placed right on the sides of a steep hill, and there are only about four parking spots nearby, so you better make sure to go when no one else is, or right before closing. It’s located on the edge of town however, which makes this a little easier to get to.
It’s called the mattress factory for a very obvious reason…it was ACTUALLY once a mattress factory…seriously. Basically it is not a, pretty much, abandoned building that consists of four or five floors (depending on what they have open at the time). It is an art museum that has some of the weirdest exhibits I have ever seen. I remember one was just a bunch of dots on the floor. Anyways, it was pretty cool to see some of the oddities that it held, and since every time you went up a floor it got weirder, it made you keep wondering how it was going to top what you just were confused about. Honestly, it’s pretty expensive for what it is, and if you’re really not into art then I would probably pass. It was cool to see the dark recesses of peoples minds, but still, it’s not worth $20. Especially when you can get through it in about half an hour. However, if you have some extra time or cash and want to see the underbelly of culture in PB, it’s a pretty cool place to go! Just prepare yourself.
Moving on, I went to PB’s art museum. This, was pretty cool. First of all it was massive, so if you’re into that kind of scene it is a must see. I can’t even explain how many floors I was on, areas, sections, everything. It is definitely worth the price of admission (about $22). I was in this place for about five hours and still didn’t finish it all, it is almost a place you can spend the entire day in. There were some good parts to PB, but this was definitely the highlight. It also has a parking lot! Which is a big deal in this city. The museum sits on an intersection that also has a lot of cool little shops and some cheap places to eat. If there was any advice I would give to PB it would be to check this out, and probably just this. Besides this museum there really isn’t much to downtown besides the sports arenas. Granted, there will always be someone who disagrees with me, but for the common traveler on not only a budget of money but time, you will soon find this to be true.
In short, if you’re heading to PB for a visit or just a drive through, make sure you have someone skilled behind the wheel. It can get pretty hairy pretty quickly, especially if you’re going at night or in bad weather. The best part about the city is the culture. There are a TON of cool little places to eat with their own special menu and sometimes even beers. There are also a lot of museums to check out, and some that can appeal to any crowd.
There is no doubt that much more can be discovered here, but for a person just passing through or not spending a whole bunch of time, those are the things that will stick out, and things that need to be seen. Remember, it’s the steel city, a city that was built on industry, so while entertainment is what gets people to come and stay, that’s not the real intention of this city.
Traveler rating: 6/10
Pittsburgh, PA…as seen by Katie
I should hate Pittsburgh. I have every reason to. I’m from Northeast Ohio and was raised a Browns fan by a mother with a burning hatred for the Black and Yellow foes across the Pennsylvania border.
And as Paul mentioned in his post, the roads are unbearably confusing. The running joke in my family is “You can see where you want to go, you just can’t get there.” In fact, it’s so confusing that the GPS has actually told us to turn off bridges. For that reason, Pittsburgh gets points deducted.
The bridges get you every time. (Photo by Katie Hendershot)
Despite my Ohio roots, I have been to Pittsburgh on multiple occasions and actually live less than two hours away, just a little farther than from Cleveland.
And despite everything, I actually really do like the city.
My favorite part of any travel is exploration. I like to do just look around and see what I can find without being pointed in any particular direction.
This past summer, I took a few trips to Pittsburgh, once for a day trip with a few friends and then again with the same friends to a Taylor Swift concert. In November, I made the trip again, but this time with Paul to another concert.
My parents and I also vacationed there once. Not your typical vacation, I know.
There were childhood trips too, but all I really remember is constant bickering and cursing from my parents because the ugly street system had us so turned around.
This summer completely changed my opinion of Pittsburgh.
My favorite location in Pittsburgh is the Mr. Rogers memorial. It’s just along the North Shore in Pittsburgh, across the street from Heinz Field, home of the Steelers, and just a little down the river from the Carnegie Science Center.
We really love Mr. Rogers. (Photo by Katie Hendershot)
My friends and I danced around the memorial after the Taylor Swift concert to music being played from a boat in the river. The illuminated downtown skyline provided a perfect backdrop for our fun, as we ran and jumped around for people waiting in traffic. Maybe every experience at the memorial won’t be like ours, but it was a fun night.
Plus, it’s just a really cool thing to see. Everyone remembers the man in the sweaters from their childhood.
Earlier that summer, we had visited the memorial while walking around after we had found large stone steps down to the river near the Science Center. We ended up walking out into the river with water up to our knees. It was just a fun, carefree day.
While the Science Center can be interesting, it’s best for younger children. At 17, I was way too old to enjoy it.
I would strongly suggest visiting the Duquesne Incline if it’s your first trip to Pittsburgh. While it is a touristy thing to do, you will also see locals riding up and down the steep
hill to get to and from work. Once at the top, it offers spectacular views of the city. I’m undecided on which is better—the nighttime view or the daytime view. Both are stunning, and with the low fare ($5 roundtrip), you might venture to do both.
View of downtown from the incline. (Photo by Katie Hendershot)
While Paul and I will eventually start covering all of the MLB ballparks across the country, I will suggest PNC Park to see a Pirates game. It’s an amazing place to see a game with incredible views (maybe you’re noticing a trend here) and a friendly atmosphere. For being so new, the ballpark has a lot of unique qualities.
Sticking to the unique flavor of the ballpark, the food options pay homage to the traditions of the city. Pierogies are a big part of the local flavor, so much so that you can eat them at the ballpark, or watch people dressed as them race around the ballpark between innings. Check out the local favorite Primanti Brothers station at the ballpark if you want to be immersed in the culture of the city. At PNC Park, it’s more than just the traditional hot dog and popcorn ballpark fare.
Another feature of PNC Park is the closeness to the action. The seats are right up close to the field, which is great for anyone looking for pre-game autographs.
One of the most spectacular sights I have ever been graced with is the sunrise over downtown Pittsburgh. PNC Park looked like it was glowing.
Other than those main sites, there are plenty of great food options. On my various trips to Pittsburgh, I’ve been lucky enough to try a few.
The Church Brew Works is a church transformed into a pub. It’s complete with stained glass windows and everything. I got a southwestern pizza that will ignite your mouth, but still, it’s delicious. It’s a unique venue for food and while it is good, it’s worth trying out just for the experience.
Another favorite of mine is Joe Mamas, an Italian restaurant. I ate there so long ago that I don’t remember what I got, but I know it was good because I’ve begged my parents to take me back for years. Pretty much any type of Italian food you could want and I remember a chocolate lava cake for dessert that still makes my mouth water.
If neither of those things strike your fancy, you can’t miss The Milk Shake Factory. Basically, this is like a childhood dream come true. You must get a milkshake there if you can. Trust me, you have to. I’m a strong proponent of the cookie dough one. But besides that, there are tons of bright candy options that I wanted to try. It’s like you stepped into the world of Willy Wonka. Well maybe not quite, but close. There were all sorts of candy and sweets options all over the walls. I would’ve loved that place as a kid.
So basically, in Pittsburgh, you’re going to get lost, but once you find your destination, it’s likely to reward you. This is just a snippet of Pittsburgh though. There’s plenty more to explore.
Traveler rating: 7/10
Parkersburg, West Virginia
All I can really say is, what a quaint, little quiet town! In all honesty, for the first couple of hours we were in this city, there we didn’t see anyone below the age of a medicare recipient…granted we were at little restaurant, but still. It was a little strange.
Paul Laux Photography
Getting into it, the first thing I really noticed about the city is that it kind of looked like one big strip mall. When we first arrived we tried to find somewhere to eat, apparently that was a little harder than we had thought it was going to be. There where plenty of cool restaurants that looked awesome, and I suggest that you try them all out, the only problem was that there was nowhere to park! It is a “bigger” city…but still, you shouldn’t have the big city parking problems yet.
Parkersburg sits right on the Ohio river, about 10 minutes from the Ohio boarder. You could pretty much throw a rock and hit Athens, Ohio. It has the feel of a bigger city, but you can tell it was made to be one of those towns that you’re just supposed to pass through and forget about pretty quickly. We tried to find something to do, and really could only find a mall…I mean that wasn’t hard…but yea. Honestly that is pretty much the only thing to do in the city so when you arrive, make sure you have your wallet! I know, I know this is a just a little shopping city, and it was pretty cool for that, it just isn’t really a place you could spend a full day.
All in all, the town is a nice little half-day getaway. There really wasn’t a bad part of town we saw and it was a quiet place to relax for a few hours. If you live near, there are some really cool places to shop and you can get a little bit of a city feel, but if you’re looking for more, you’re going to have to look a little deeper, and in a bigger town.
Paul Laux Photography
Though when you’re trying to leave, especially back into Ohio…make sure you don’t get stopped by a train. It took us about 5 tries to get around a stopped train and a toll bridge…it just didn’t want us to leave!
Keep selling, Parkersburg.
~PL
Akron, Ohio
What a place. Not really a big city, but definitely not a small one either. The Rubber City, the Rubber Bowl, and of course, THE ZIPS. It got its start being the city where rubber was invented! It also is the home of the Goodyear blimp that will humm around the sky every morning. It is also the place where zippers were invented! So next time you put on pants, thank Akron! Also there is a bakery in the middle of the city making it constantly smell like fresh bagels…mmmmmm. There is a lot to know about this little-big town, so let me tell you all that I have uncovered so far.
I thought this would be a great first “real” post, because it really is the first place I truly ventured off to when I could really understand what was going on around me. It took me by storm and it is a place some people avoid, but let’s be honest…every place is like that.
Akron, Ohio. I went to school here, if you’ve never heard of the place, it’s home of The University of Akron…clever name right? Big school, about a third the size of OSU who ran around in the MAC, unfortunately it was never blessed with a football with even a third of the talent…but they did have a Division I national championship in men’s soccer!
Getting to the point, Akron honestly isn’t a place I would have ever have thought to explore. It looks a a little rough around the edges, has a reputation of being mean, cold, and wet. (Seriously it’s always wet here…why?) Thankfully, when I was deciding what school I was going to go to, Akron stole my heart. Seriously though, if I had to choose not only the school, but the city again…I would.
Akron is a very unique place. The minute you step into its boarders it has this feeling of camaraderie. If you’re from Akron or have ever lived there you will know what I mean. A lot of people will complain about the city while they are there, but they will NEVER turn their back on it. I have been to literally hundreds of cites, towns and townships in Ohio, and NONE of them feel the same way Akron does. It’s like the city has this brotherhood that once you enter, you will never leave. I am so glad to be a part of it, and to this day will defend Akron to the end.
Physically, it looks kind of strange. Driving down Route 8 it literally just kind of “pops up” out of nowhere and suddenly you have these big city feelings. Some of the streets have huge hills giving it a San Francisco feel, but when you realize that they all funnel onto Main Street, you get to really feel what the city is about.
Pretty much the entire city revolves around Main Street, because let’s be honest…we are still in the Midwest. Main Street pretty much has everything you want, but with a little bit of an Akron twist. The first thing you will notice is the massive statue they have in front of Canal Park where the Akron A̶e̶r̶o̶s̶ RubberDucks play, the AA affiliate to the Cleveland Indians. Inside the field looks like any other…except there is a MASSIVE wall in center field that can give Boston’s Green Monster a run for its money. If you ever find yourself here, make sure you stop by and watch a game, you won’t be disappointed. Also, be nice to “Orbit.”
I digress, heading further down Main Street into the heart of downtown Akron, you will next reach my favorite restaurant in the city, Lockview. It’s literally about 10 tables, but they set up mirrors so it looks huge and only have about two lights in there, but it seriously has the best downtown food I have ever had in my life. To this day, whenever I got to Akron, this is my first stop…at least after noon when it opens.
Next are the “bars” which are really just clubs. If there was any place in the city I would suggest to avoid, this would be it. They aren’t too friendly and often attract quite a bit of trouble. So if you want to have a good night, you can skip these. Or if you want to live dangerously, step right up.
Walking a little further you will notice two MASSIVE building, one is the Wing Warehouse, the other is the Spaghetti factory. Apparently Akron has a fascination of skipping the middle-man even when eating..but go to these places! They are really cool and good, and in fact at the factory, you can eat in a phone booth! A big one of course.
After that and a few hookah bars the city pretty much just stops. That’s all folks! Well, at least to the people who haven’t explored the city.
If you have every lived here or spent time here you will soon learn about the massive sub culture that only exists in Akron. There is Lock 3, Luigis, Musica, Thurdays, Sumner Street, and probably a million more things, all of which need to be seen. So take your time here, there is something for everyone and a place that shouldn’t be skipped.
As I said before, Akron has this amazing culture. The people feel like your family, the music scene is amazing, the food is delicious, and the city actually makes you never want to leave. Honestly, I am starting to miss it right now and will probably have to make a trip there soon.
It’s the most unique city in all of Ohio, not too big, not too small. A city that once was roaring with the rubber industry is now doing the same thing, but on a much more different scale. You will never be unhappy with the place as hard as you try. So check it out, stay a while, and eat!
~PL
First Post!
Hello everyone,
The very first post is up about my (Paul) hometown! I didn’t add it to the main page because I wanted it to be separate from the rest so it got its own page. The rest of the posts about where we visit will be on the main page. Thanks! See you soon after we write up a ditty about our first adventure!
~Paul
Day one.
Soon I hope to have everything up and running on this blog so we can get started! See you soon!
Paul
The Terrific Travlelers 
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