12 FREE things to enjoy on a trip to Pittsburgh
With the new direct British Airways flights, discovering Pittsburgh has never been easier!
1. Pittsburgh History and Landmarks Foundation offer free guided walking tours of more than 25 historical landmarks.
2. You can download self guided tours, including tours of Pittsburgh Art in Public Places.
3. At the Pittsburgh Glass Center you can take a class, watch a demonstration or experience a local artist’s cutting-edge exhibition.
4. Visit Riverview Park , a hidden gem with its walking trails, picnic pavilions and the Allegheny Observatory , which offers free tours by reservation.
5. Free movies begin at dusk in the city’s parks all summer long with the family friendly Dollar Bank Cinema in the Park series.
6. The 30 intricately decorated Nationality Rooms in the Cathedral of Learning at the University of Pittsburgh showcase ethnic groups that settled here. They are free to explore when not being used as classrooms and are open on Saturdays and Sundays.
7. The Frick Pittsburgh has a collection of Italian and French art, a greenhouse and Car and Carriage Museum on its grounds.
8. Nearby is Frick Park , the city’s largest park (644 acres) with miles of wooded hiking trails.
9. No other city has anything like Randyland, the vividly-coloured art display at the home of folk artist Randy Gibson in the North Side’s Mexican War Streets.
10. For an unusual self-guided walking tour, try the historic Allegheny Cemetery with several grave sites of famous folks, or visit the restores Old Allegheny Country Jail Museum.
11. On Wednesday evenings, the Pittsburgh Banjo Club holds free public practices at Elks Lodge No. 339 on the city’s North Side – get there early because it is a favourite of the locals.
12. St. Anthony’s Chapel, tucked away in the Troy Hill neighbourhood houses the largest collection of Catholic relics outside of the Vatican, with more than 5000 items the church as certified authentic.
