I've Got a Million Dollar View

There really aren't too many feelings like the one when you see a truly breathtaking view.

Picture from: incline.pghfree.net

Back in the day, Mt. Washington was known as "coal hill," but by 1876 had been changed to Mt. Washington. A year later, the first photo of the skyline was taken there, and almost every photo you see of the skyline, was probably taken from one of the "lookouts," places that are specifically designed for people to take pictures at.  There really isn't much history to the place. It's literally just a mountain, with a really good view of the city. Today, there are neighborhoods existing on Mt. Washington, but most visitors don't go past the very edge to see the view.  Also, guys, if you want to impress your girlfriend, take them to eat on Mt. Washington. I hear girls are into those types of things.

Prom with the city lights

I remember my first visit to Mt. Washington during the summer after sophomore year. At least that's the first time I remember being there.  I won't lie, the incline (the OLDEST in the world) is possibly the scariest thing I've ever been on.  The incline is one of the few ways to make it up Mt. Washington. It's a rickety, old, trolley-like means of transportation--one of the few things that is still cheap too. Some of those memories that will never leave me happened up there. Going up the incline with my German exchange student and seeing a look of absolute amazement on her face when we got to the top, or driving up at 10 pm on prom night, in a beautiful dress, and taking pictures, feeling like I was on top of the world.

It's one of the few places when people can stop all their thinking, their stress, their worries and can really focus on and lose themselves in what is in front of them: an amazing, gorgeous city.

Don't believe me? Well, Mt. Washington was named the second most beautiful vista in the world by USA weekend. And they definitely speak the truth.

The City of Champions

The first thing a lot of people ask about when you say you're from Pittsburgh is the sports. I'm the first one to say "So how many rings does your team have?" or "Yeah Sidney Crosby? I have a signed jersey," and of course I try to defend the not-so-talented Pirates.

If you're one of those Philly, Denver, Cleveland, or really any other city fan, you might just want to stop reading now, cause your teams, they do not have ANYTHING on Pittsburgh Sports.

View from press box in Heinz Field

There is nothing like a Sunday in Pittsburgh.  Unless it's a Superbowl Sunday.. then that's just something else. A sold out crowd at Heinz Field, the beautiful Pittsburgh skyline, the cheering crowd... or so that's what I'm told it's like. I've never been lucky enough to score tickets to a game, there's a crazy waiting list and I don't have hundreds of dollars to buy any. But I have been to Heinz Field for other events, and I can only imagine what it's like to enter those gates on a Sunday. I do know what it's like to watch (and win) a Superbowl though. And unlike many of you haters, I've witnessed a few of them.

Inside of Heinz Field

In fact, I got to experience a year where not only the Steelers won the Superbowl, but the Penguins took home the Stanley Cup.  Let me tell you, that was crazy. I won't lie, I pretty much worship Sidney Crosby.  I literally almost died when I got my signed jersey.

Mellon on top; Consol on bottom. Picture from pittsburghhockey.net

That's yet another sport I've never had tickets for (seriously hint hint mom and Vince if you're reading this).  Mellon Arena was a landmark, a place I've visited more times than I can count, but Consol, now that's an arena. It's beautiful on the inside (yes, I've only been there for a Pitt game, but whatever).  It's a great team, playing in a great place, and there's just about nothing better than a hockey night in Pittsburgh.

Picture from about.com

Last but not least are the Pittsburgh Pirates. I've had enough lectures from you full of yourself Philly's fans this year about "how awful Pittsburgh is." Yeah, I get it, they suck. But you've obviously never gone to a game. You pay less than 20 bucks, get some Primanti's, and sit next to the river. It's beautiful and so much fun.

So I don't care if my teams aren't the best, in my mind--and a lot of other peoples-- they are. It's not about if they're good, because in Pittsburgh, no one is a bandwagon fan. We're there, through the good and the bad. But we rarely see the bad, we are the City of Champions after all.

No, Really, it's NOT a Red Light District

So maybe the Strip District isn't the best name for a neighborhood, especially when it has absolutely nothing to do with strippers..or anything even similar to that.

The early Strip District

Back in the day, the Strip District, located along the Allegheny River, was the economic center of Pittsburgh. Early tenants included U.S. Steel, Westinghouse, and The H.J. Heinz Company (if you aren't familiar with the first two, you definitely know the last one. Hello, Heinz Ketchup!) By the early 20th century, the Strip District became a network of wholesalers, selling mostly fresh produce, meat and poultry. With business booming in the area, many restaurants and grocery stores were built to feed hungry workers.

Wholey's, a fresh fish market

Although some of these wholesales (some estimates say 80% of the produce industry is left there) still exist in the Strip District, the area has developed into a historic market district with many ethnic food purveyors, art studios, antique dealers, boutiques and specialty stores.  Nothing beats a summer morning wandering the streets of the Strip District. A delicious breakfast at Pamela's or DeLuca's, street vendors that sell basically nothing but Pittsburgh related things, and tons of specialty shops makes for a perfect day.

The inside of Pittsburgh Popcorn

Luckily for me, I got to spend one of my (very boring) spring break days at the Strip enjoying one of my favorite places: Pittsburgh Popcorn. Now I'm probably one of a few people that doesn't actually like popcorn, but Pittsburgh Popcorn changed that for me. They have all kinds of amazing flavors, my favorite being Reese's. Everyone loves Reese's peanut-butter cups, but peanut butter and chocolate on popcorn are even better. Yes, it's incredibly expensive ($5.49 for a small bag), it's totally worth it.  The rest of the afternoon was spent walking Smallman Street, Penn Avenue, Liberty Avenue, and many other back streets.

If popcorn isn't your thing, try hitting up the chocolate store that's about a 30 second walk away. Mon Aimee sells only specialty chocolates, and is pretty pricey, but the have chocolate from all over the world! I have a slight addiction to German chocolate so I love knowing that there is somewhere I can buy it all from. If you need something to accompany your morning cup of joe, Enrico Biscotti has delicious flavors of biscotti-- and it's actually cheap. Another morning favorite is doughnuts, and the Strip just happens to have somewhere that sells these too, Peace, Love & Little Doughnuts.

Walking the Strip with my exchange student

I never visited the Strip much, except for the visit over spring break and once before when my exchange student was visiting. It's not somewhere I have a lot of memories from, but I already have plans to make them there this summer.