Anyone here from Pittsburgh?

[Jane2]

Posted: 8/10/14 at 3:54pm

I'm trying to plan a day trip from NY to Pittsburgh on Amtrak. I'd like to visit the Andy Warhol Museum and the Pittsburgh Zoo.

Are those three locations somewhat near each other, or would my plan require lots of traveling around Pittsburgh?

[hairspraydude1962]

Posted: 8/10/14 at 5:39pm

I'm from the Pittsburgh area. The Andy Warhol Museum is just across the river from the Amtrak station. The zoo is about a fifteen minute drive from the station (give or take).

[Jane2]

Posted: 8/10/14 at 5:51pm

thank you! Do you know of any other places I may want to see that are nearer to the Museum and train station?

[Jane2]

Posted: 8/10/14 at 6:04pm

Never mind, Hairspray. I did a little research and I think I'll go to the National Aviary right nearby. Thanks again!

[BobbyBubbi]

Posted: 8/10/14 at 6:24pm

I went to college in SH*Tts (excuse me) Pittsburgh.

There's nothing to do downtown.

The Phipps Conservatory is worth seeing, and is near the Warhol Museum, across the bridge.

Also make sure to do a trip up the incline around dusk, it's a beautiful view.

See whats on at the Pittsburgh CLO, The Pittsburgh Public Theatre, or Carnegie Mellon (depending on the time of year).

Are you sure you want to take the train? I know it's fun riding the train but getting to Pittsburgh from New York is kind of a pain in the rear. Any train you take you have to connect go through Philadelphia, making it about a 9 hour trip.

[hairspraydude1962]

Posted: 8/10/14 at 6:25pm

Glad you found something!

Updated On: 8/10/14 at 06:25 PM

[GavestonPS]

Posted: 8/10/14 at 6:33pm

I'm not from Pittsburgh, but my sister lived there for years and I used to spend a month there every year.

Despite the legends from the 60s, Pittsburgh has been cleaned up and is one of the most beautiful cities in the country.

The Andy Warhol museum is a revelation. When I was there they had his work displayed in chronological order (as does the Van Gogh museum in the Netherlands) which offered a view of the artist much deeper than anything one can gain from the hype.

And why no love for the Carnegie Museums of Art and Natural History? I don't think you'll find better museums outside of NY, Chicago or Boston.

The Pittsburgh Zoo is a lovely zoo, but, in the end, a zoo is a zoo. If live animals are your passion, by all means go. Otherwise, you can find equivalents in the Bronx, San Diego and elsewhere. (The zoo is quite large and may take up your entire day.)

[AllisonBWW]

Posted: 8/10/14 at 6:39pm

Is the Pittsburgh zoo any good? I generally despise zoos because I hate seeing caged, depressed animals.

The only zoo I've been to in my life I didn't hate was the one in Sydney. And I didn't enjoy it all that much either.

I second the suggestion for the museum. Its a great place.

[Addison D.]

Posted: 8/10/14 at 6:39pm

It seems like you are trying to do a quick in/out visit, but I want to point out that--as the hard-core New Yorker that I know you are--a trip to Pittsburgh is likely to be the closest you'll find yourself to Frank Lloyd Wright's Fallingwater.

I can't recommend a trip to Fallingwater highly enough. As iconic as the images of the house are, being there is really extraordinary. It's about an hour southeast of Pburgh; I would think you could sign up for a r/t bus excursion.

[GavestonPS]

Posted: 8/10/14 at 6:43pm

Oh, yes, yes, yes, Addison. I have been to Fallingwater many times and it never gets old.

It is truly one of the most beautiful homes in the U.S. Of course the big attraction is the cantilever over the water fall, but the house itself is full of exquisite 1930s details.

If you are going in Fall, you get an extra bonus: the beautiful changing leaves.

[Addison D.]

Posted: 8/10/14 at 6:49pm

And in the spring the perfume of the wild Rhododendrons is almost overwhelming. It's really a magical place.

That Edgar Kaufmann--oy, what a catch!!

[BobbyBubbi]

Posted: 8/10/14 at 7:00pm

GavestonPS wrote: "Despite the legends from the 60s, Pittsburgh has been cleaned up and is one of the most beautiful cities in the country."

I joke, but this is very true. Very beautiful, lots to see and do in the city, as well as surrounding areas.

[Jane2]

Posted: 8/10/14 at 7:11pm

"Are you sure you want to take the train? I know it's fun riding the train but getting to Pittsburgh from New York is kind of a pain in the rear. Any train you take you have to connect go through Philadelphia, making it about a 9 hour trip."

Hmm, guess I'm not going on that trip.

[mar6411]

Posted: 8/10/14 at 7:38pm

Phipps - while a nice visit is not near the Warhol.

Agree that Fallingwater is pretty spectacular.

I like the zoo a lot (not near Warhol or Amtrak). Not so many cages - more open areas. But if you are not a zoo person, it probably doesn't matter.

Agree Gaveston about the Carnegie museums. Carnegie museums and Phipps are in an area of Pgh called Oakland where Univ of Pgh and Carnegie Mellon are. If you would end up there, would recommend the Nationality rooms in the Cathedral of learning, which is one of the Pitt buildings ( I know - pretty pretentious sounding, but it's been there since the 20s and called that.)

The aviary is a good visit too.

I've never taken amtrak from Pgh, so I can't speak to that. I drive which takes 6 to 7 hours depending on traffic - including traffic in midtown.

[Jane2]

Posted: 8/10/14 at 8:51pm

oh, thanks so much everyone who posted here. It seems I didn't realize how far away Pittsburgh is. I thought it was right after Philly, oy. I didn't pay attention in geography.

Anyway, I'm not going there. Trying to figure out a different day trip that would only be an hour by train.

[Addison D.]

Posted: 8/10/14 at 10:36pm

The New York Botanical Garden is glorious.

They have a show running now about the way women found their way into landscape design--a man's field--via garden photography. The exhibit documents the lives and work of the pioneering women in American landscape design and photography.

And then there are the magnificent gardens through which you can wander for days.

I'm thinking it will take you about an hour to get there from the West Village.



Groundbreakers

Updated On: 8/10/14 at 10:36 PM

[Jane2]

Posted: 8/10/14 at 10:54pm

Addison, thank you, that's a great idea, except - I go to the Brooklyn Botanic Garden a couple of times a month. For about 10 years now! I do a lot of my photographic shooting there.

I need to get out of town. I'll think of something!

[Addison D.]

Posted: 8/10/14 at 11:00pm

I shoulda' known. A classy dame like yourself...

[Jane2]

Posted: 8/10/14 at 11:19pm

Flattery will get you everywhere!

[BroomstickBoy]

Posted: 8/11/14 at 2:01am

I lived in Pittsburgh for a short time, and am moving back this Fall for hopefully a long-term stay...and I would recommend the Mattress Factory Museum, as well as the Aviary. It's about a 5-10 minute walk from the Aviary in the Mexican War Streets neighborhood. There's a couple of nice little restaurants and a coffee shop (Crazy Mocha) in the area, too. All within walking distance.

[Jane2]

Posted: 8/11/14 at 8:48am

Thanks, Broomstick. Maybe I'll get there some day.

[IAMWHATIAM]

Posted: 8/11/14 at 9:53am

Jane,

Have you visited the Dia Museum in Beacon or Boscobel House and Gardens in Garrison? Both are easy, close train trips from NYC (on Metro North, I believe), and I think there are even train/venue packages for each.

[Jane2]

Posted: 8/11/14 at 10:09am

I have visited the Dia when it was in Chelsea but not the other one. And more gardens to visit? Sounds interesting. Thanks, I AM!

[IAMWHATIAM]

Posted: 8/11/14 at 10:55am

You're welcome, Jane. Those 2 places in particular seemed as if they might be a good fit for you. I'll try to think of a few more (it's way more fun than my real job....)

[Addison D.]

Posted: 8/11/14 at 11:16am

If you're wandering the Hudson Valley, don't miss Storm King sculpture park.

There's also:

Sunnyside--a beautiful Greek Revival house and home to Washington Irving

Kyukkit (Mis-spelled) the Rockefeller estate

Lyndhurst--Jay Gould's Gothic revival mansion (pictured above)

Hyde Park--the Roosevelt house

Storm King is really great, though.






Storm King website

Updated On: 8/11/14 at 11:16 AM