Taste Buds on Tour: Pittsburgh & Its Countryside

Fuel up for a busy day ahead at Deluca’s Restaurant, one of the Strip District’s finest breakfast joints. Dine amongst weekly regulars in this 1970s themed eatery, proud owner of the “Best Breakfast in Town” title.  If you’re feeling ambitious, order the Famous Breakfast Burrito.  It’s loaded with seasoned eggs, melted cheese, crispy homefries, your choice of meat and slathered in their specialty sweet-spicy sauce.  There are also plenty of sweeter options like pancakes, Belgian waffles, and savory breakfast crepes.

No visit to Pittsburgh would be complete without a stop at Primanti Bros., a local sandwich legend and true staple of Pittsburgh’s cultural landscape.  Featured frequently on the Travel Channel’s Man vs. Food, Primanti Bros. is known for their gargantuan sandwiches and piping-hot, hand-cut French fries.  Their signature sandwich loads a generous portion of sizzling lunch meats, blended cheese and tomato between two slices of fresh Italian bread, but not before adding their zesty coleslaw and famous fries to the mix.  For less aggressive options, try the pastrami and cheese on rye or their famous hot chili bowl.

For a nice change of pace, head on over to Station Square for a Just Ducky Tour,Pittsburgh’s only land and water expedition.  Established 13 years ago, Just Ducky Tours uses retired World War II amphibious vehicles to travel directly from Pittsburgh’s city blocks into its three rivers.  The tour provides an hour-long exploration of historic Pittsburgh, and guests can expect to spend about 35 minutes on land and 25 minutes on the water. It's great for kids, too.

Head to East Liberty for an early bite at the charming Vanilla Pastry Studio. This boutique bakery specializes in Pittsburgh’s best cupcakes, lollipops, and custom cakes, but also has plenty of other options like fresh breads and muffins for a quick breakfast fix.  Enjoy your snack with a steaming cup of Coffeetree Roasters coffee, and be sure to stock up on some cupcakes and brownies for a sweet afternoon snack!

Whip out the camera and begin your day on the town with a visit to the Pittsburgh Zoo!  Here you’ll discover thousands of amazing animals representing over 400 species from all over the world, including 22 on threatened and endangered watch.  Explore the African Savanna and learn about the life cycles and conservation of the Saba Elephant Reserve, and then globetrot over to the Asian Forest to scope the Amur leopard, one of the rarest felines in the world.  Bring the kids over to Kids Kingdom for the ultimate petting zoo experience, or sign up for an afternoon workshop to interact with plants and wildlife while learning about environmental conservation efforts.

Come lunchtime, you’ll be ready for some good old, home-style grub cooked just the way mom used to make it.  S&D Polish Deli is your one-stop shop for everything Polish in Pittsburgh’s Strip District.  The deli offers as much in tasty fare as it does Polish history, and arguably serves the best pierogis in town.  It’s a mere $4 for a plate of four, so mix and match potato and cheddar, kraut and mushroom, and farmer’s cheese to sample all of their delicious flavors. After lunch, check out S&D’s selection of Polish reggae music, beauty products and other cultural artifacts.  

Visit the Andy Warhol Museum for a fascinating glimpse into the psyche of Andy Warhol, a pioneer of the visual arts movement.  Exhibits showcase Warhol’s captivating paintings and films, as well as other productions that contextualize Warhol’s artwork. And did you know? Andy Warhol is a native Burgher! Go find out.