Winter Fun in Pittsburgh: 10 Things to Do & See
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Most tourists visit Pittsburgh during the warm spring and summer months to take advantage of the many parks, scenic overlooks, sporting events, and annual events in the region. To me, this city is underrated with plenty to do all year round. However, a winter visit offers the benefits of cooler temperatures, fewer crowds, and cheaper hotel rates.
I had so much fun here during this time of year thanks to an abundance of easily accessible world-class museums and indoor attractions. Plus, you have seasonal ice rinks, special holiday events, and easily accessible winter recreation. Let’s just say, I was never bored!
This is my favorite time of the year as I hate crowds, I love ice skating and snow, and I enjoy attending seasonal events. During my year living in the ‘Burgh, it was quite easy to keep myself occupied during the brisk winter months. My guide includes a diverse assortment of activities to enjoy on a brisk day in the ‘Burgh.
1. Go ice skating at PPG Place or South Park
I love ice skating as a way to change up my exercise routine over the holidays and winter months. I was really impressed with the quantity and quality of rinks here. The UPMC rink at PPG Place, in the center of Market Square downtown, is the most festive destination for the holiday season with a dazzling centerpiece Christmas tree. The choreographed tree show and festive holiday music add to the ambiance. On the downside, skating is expensive ($12 plus rentals) and online booking is often required in advance due to crowd levels.
Two cheaper alternatives include the rink at Schenley Park in Oakland and South Park Ice Rink in Bethel Park. Both these rinks are much larger, less crowded, and admission is only 5 bucks. If you have your own skates, this is a great budget friendly winter activity. South Park is particularly attractive with a NHL size rink, a special ribbon skating area, and a cozy fireplace to warm up.
The North Park Ice Rink is a bit less crowded for those who prefer a less hectic skating experience. Either way, the North and South Park rinks are my go-to, while I save the downtown rink for special occasions. Either way, you can’t go wrong. I’ve traveled all over and I really love the skating options here!
2. Browse the pop art collection at The Warhol Museum
Lots of famous celebs are ‘Burgh natives. Did you know that pop art icon Andy Warhol is from the ‘Burgh? In fact, there is an entire 7 floor museum dedicated to the artist, the largest single artist museum in the US. You will be able to explore 17 galleries housing over 900 paintings, 4000 photographs, 1000 prints and more.
The museum is conveniently laid out in a chronological manner (starting at floor 7 and working down) where you will be taken on a journey through Warhol’s life, from his early days in Pittsburgh to his expanding career and unexpected death in NYC. The museum is clean, nicely organized, spacious and not overcrowded, and there is a nice little cafe in the lobby. I really love his eye catching, colorful pop art pieces. There is a little gift shop where you can take home a print of his art and all sorts of other knick knacks.
Note: Bank of America members get in free the first full weekend of each month! Check out the Museums on US promotion for more details. I can say that I fully took advantage of this deal every month (it can also be applied to the wonderful Carnegie museums!).
3. Explore world-class dinosaur exhibits at The Carnegie Museum of Natural History
One of my favorite things to do during the wintry season is browsing around the wonderful Carnegie Museum of Natural History. I was a monthly visitor thanks to the BofA promotion. This spacious museum is home to a number of interesting exhibits including an impressive collection of dinosaur fossils, an amazing hall of gem and minerals, and a detailed collection of more than 2 dozen dioramas where you can explore wildlife of North America and Africa.
Most impressive to me is the dinosaur fossil collection, of which 75% is real, not replicas. Most skeletons are real and the Apatosaurus louisae, Diplodocus carnegii, and Tyrannosaurus rex skeletons are holotypes.
Best of all, this museum is connected to the wonderful Carnegie Museum of Art, so you can easily spend hours exploring and escaping the cold. Plus, admission covers both museums, making it one of the better values in the city. Like the Warhol, you will receive free admission the first full month if you are a Bank of America cardholder.
4. View amazing works at The Carnegie Museum of Art
This amazing gem houses over 34,000 incredible works in a wide variety of mediums. A large portion of the museum is dedicated to modern and contemporary art. In fact, it is known to be the first museum of modern art in the country.
What I find most impressive is the Hall of Architecture featuring 140 plaster casts of architectural wonders. The impressionist and post-impressionist painting collection is also incredible. The beautiful Hall of Sculpture is another must see: this enchanting space was modeled after the Parthenon in Athens, Greece. It’s so gorgeous.
And although it’s quite small, I am so impressed by the Hall of Miniatures. Imagine the amount of patience required to create these mini masterpieces! I love everything about this museum and I never get bored strolling around. You can browse through my full art guide for more details.
Tickets are a steep $25 per person, although you also get to enjoy the museum of Natural History, conveniently located in the same building. Again, admission is free for Bank of America cardholders the first full weekend!
5. Take a blast to the past at Bicycle Heaven
Fans of vintage and antiques will definitely want to plan a quick visit to the world’s largest bicycle museum and shop. Bicycle Heaven – an appropriate name for a museum loaded with retro bicycles from the ceiling to the floor, is one of my favorite places in the city. I love checking out eclectic attractions no matter where I go, so this was a really cool addition to my ever growing list.
The space is dense and there is lots to see and explore in a small space including rare vintage Bowen Spacelanders (today worth up to $50,000 in good condition!) and even a few famous movie bikes (including Pee Wee’s Herman’s famous ride). The museum is funky and eclectic (the neon sprocket room is really out there!) and overall a fun escape on a cold or rainy winter day.
