Anyone here from Pittsburgh?

[Jane2]

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]

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]

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

[Jane2]

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

[BobbyBubbi]

I went to college in Shitts (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]

Glad you found something!

[GavestonPS]

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.)

[bwayto]

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.]

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]

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.]

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]

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]

"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]

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]

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.]

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

[Jane2]

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.]

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

[Jane2]

Flattery will get you everywhere!

[BroomstickBoy]

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]

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

[IAMWHATIAM]

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]

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]

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.]

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

[BobbyBubbi]

Mar6411 wrote - "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."

A good friend and I decided to do the drive once from Pittsburgh to Manhattan to see a show. Because of various circumstances, we had to leave in the middle of the night to be in New York for the matinee the next day. Keep in mind you must go the speed limit, there are angry cops EVERYWHERE en route, just looking for half a reason to pull you over, and you'll be driving through Amish country, so there is NOTHING for about 100 miles, give or take. There's a sign warning you about it, so make sure you have enough gas to get you back to civilization.

Without going into too many details, and it's funny now looking back on it (my friend and I still laugh about it) this harmless 72 hr (again, give or take) road trip quickly turned into the trip from hell. A zillion different exits, tolls, sleeping in a rest stop, a car flipped over right in front of us on THE LAST exit we had before getting into Manhattan, on the way back to Pittsburgh, we got pulled over by New Jersey cops for "swerving" and they questioned us separately (my friend had out of state plates and it was kind of a junker, so they were profiling us) then they let us go with an "I guess we won't give you a citation," then, cherry on top of the cake, when we finally rolled back into Pittsburgh, my friend hit a deep pothole and the tire exploded.

Ohhh memories.

Moral of the story, just plan ahead. I could do the drive better now that I know what to expect, but it's a drive I'd NEVER want to do again.