Weekend in Pittsburgh... Questions

[gate_pourri]

I am going on a business trip to Pittsburgh later this month. I've never been to PA and will have some free time. What is there to do? I should have about 3-4 hours on Friday afternoon. Should finish work by about 5PM on Saturday evening and am not flying out until mid-afternoon on Sunday.

I am staying at a hotel right next to the airport. I am thinking of going up to Washington Mt. on either Friday afternoon for lunch or Saturday evening for dinner. Is it safe for a single woman to take the funicular up and down alone at night? I will not have a car, so how difficult is it to find a taxi? What is not-to-miss?

Thanks!

 

[princesspiglet]

If you are staying at a hotel next to the airport and want to go to downtown or Mt. Washington,-it is a good 30 mins drive into the city. With traffic it can take up to 45 mins. If you want to take a taxi, you can find them everywhere at the airport, it should cost between $15-$20 to get to downtown, and they are are also everywhere downtown. Once you are downtown, you can take the subway over to Station Square and hop on the incline up to Mt. Washington.

Station Square and the South Side are perfectly safe for single ladies. I grew up there and went to college downtown and never felt unsafe. I spent many nights at the Beehive by myself until 3am and walked back to downtown without any problems. Depending on what you are into, there are tons of resturants, shops and nightclubs in both Station Square and the South Side. The SoSi is a quick drive down the road from Station Square. You could take the bus or a taxi.

Just stay far, far away from East Liberty and The Hill District and you will be fine!

oh, Oakland is also a great hang out spot. Carnegie Mellon U and U of Pitt is located there and a lot of action for young people on that side of town.

 

[Rora]

Not sure of too many activities but there is a fantastic candy/chocolate store called Sarris' Candies near the airport!! If you have the chance and desire, pick up some chocolate covered pretzel sticks-- they're heavenly!!

http://www.sarriscandies.com/index.asp

Wish I could help more but when I fly into Pittsburgh, I hop in my rental car and start the drive to West Virginia to visit family.

Enjoy your trip!

 

[dejr_8]

First Off - don't call it the funicular. It is an incline! (I know they mean the same thing but if you call it a funicular no one will know what you are talking about).

 

[Tink888]

I am going on a business trip to Pittsburgh later this month. I've never been to PA and will have some free time. What is there to do? I should have about 3-4 hours on Friday afternoon. Should finish work by about 5PM on Saturday evening and am not flying out until mid-afternoon on Sunday.

I am staying at a hotel right next to the airport. I am thinking of going up to Washington Mt. on either Friday afternoon for lunch or Saturday evening for dinner. Is it safe for a single woman to take the funicular up and down alone at night? I will not have a car, so how difficult is it to find a taxi? What is not-to-miss?

Thanks!

There is lots to do......museums, baseball games, shopping, restaurants, etc.. From the airport, you'd have no problem getting a taxi, the city is less than a thirty minute ride. Not sure of the cost. There are taxis throughout the city, just keep in mind that they are far fewer than what you'd find in a place like NYC, it's not like you can just stand on a street corner and immediately flag one down so I'd get the number of the taxi service to have on hand in case you need to call for one.

Also, if you are planning on going back and forth to the city more than once, you may want to check prices for a rental car for 24 hours. It might be cheaper than the taxi fares going back & forth.

You would be safe on the incline at night. Pittsburgh is generally pretty safe but also keep in mind that Friday & Saturday nights are big party nights, particularly on the Southside (which is full of great restaurants and eclectic shops) and you need to be smart and alert no matter where you are when alone.

What you could do is take a taxi to Station Square. The incline to Mt. Washington is a short walk from there. You could take the incline up to Mt. Washington (also some nice restaurants up there) and then back down and visit Station Square. It's a shopping and restaurant complex. There are also boat tours of the city (GatewayClipperFleet.com) which dock from Station Square and finding a taxi there would not be difficult. The downtown area is just a short walk across the Smithfield Street bridge.

I hope you enjoy your time here. It's a great little city with lots to do and some of the friendliest people you'll ever meet.

 

[roliepolieoliefan]

Not sure of too many activities but there is a fantastic candy/chocolate store called Sarris' Candies near the airport!! If you have the chance and desire, pick up some chocolate covered pretzel sticks-- they're heavenly!!

http://www.sarriscandies.com/index.asp

Wish I could help more but when I fly into Pittsburgh, I hop in my rental car and start the drive to West Virginia to visit family.

Enjoy your trip!

Ummm Sarris candy is no where near the airport. A store in the airport may sell Sarris candy but the factory itself is in the south part of Pittsburgh where the airport is west. But I do agree the chocolae is "heavenly".

I wouldn't do lunch on a Friday afternnon unless you planned on staying in the city until well after rush hour (7pm) or leave the city before rush hour (3pm). It can get pretty backed up and nasty on the way back to the airport , especially on a Friday afternoon.