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Us? Accents?

My new adventure began the moment I left the plane. This was my first trip to Pittsburgh.

I never knew this part of Pennsylvania was so breathtakingly beautiful! Philadelphia is well known for its architecture and the beauty of its historically old facades. But here, the scenic mountain views began the moment we exited the airport.

After checking into The Renaissance Pittsburgh hotel, we decided to walk through town, meet the locals and enjoy the sights that could be seen on foot. We stumbled upon Primanti's and had a belly-filling lunch. “Mmm, mmm, good” are the words that come to mind as my sister-in-law and I enjoyed a famous Primanti Brothers sandwich. We both went with the Rajun Cajun Chicken Breast and Cheese and french fries made with huge slices of potatoes. Like I said: Mmm.

Along the way, we had a few conversations with local folks. We met a really nice sales associate in Chocolate Heaven, a shop in Arcade Shops in Fifth Avenue Place. She knew we were from out of town because she said we had accents. (Imagine that. Us, accents.) She wrote down several venues we should check out: A jazz spot, some malls, and definitely told us to check out "The Strip."

We walked through Station Square, and smiled at kids jumping through the water tower displays piping out of the ground. It was refreshing – definitely a good way to escape the heat.

We really discovered how much fun it was to be a tourist. Just walking through Downtown Pittsburgh, marveling at the people, the buildings, the unknown, it was great. (And it was only Day 1!)

With an excitement similar to a little kid the night before Christmas, I don’t think we slept much the night before. And so for the first time in a long time, we came back to our home away from home and took naps. Wow, are we old, or just filled with glee? I think I’ll go with glee.

The adventure continues...

Drifting Downtown and All Around

Today, there were moments when, at the exact same time, our minds drifted to the same thought of what an awesome experience we were sharing.  We were enjoying and exploring places we never would have considered visiting!

We began our day at your typical greasy-spoon diner recommended by our bellman, Anthony. From our hotel, it was just two blocks down and four blocks up to our little breakfast delight. The Steel City Diner provided a quick, belly-filling (and inexpensive) meal.

I never knew this part of Pennsylvania was so inexpensive! We parked at a lot that was only $5 ALL day, which allowed us to really enjoy our Downtown exploration; breakfast at the diner was only $5 per person. We’ve heard from locals that the cost of living here is affordable – but what a pleasant surprise for a tourist!

Speaking of surprises, we drove down to Station Square to experience the relaxing Gateway Clipper Fleet Tour, not expecting the thunder and lightening to greet us when we arrived. (A not-so pleasant surprise, of course.)

Despite the rain, we enjoyed the scenery and sincerity of Pittsburgh. Amina (my sister-in-law) and I both noted how friendly everyone here seems to be. The salespeople at the shops were courteous and offered suggestions. Anthony (our bellman) had such a friendly conversation with us as we were waiting for the other bellman to retrieve our car – he even provided us with bottles of water before we drove off!

We chatted with just about everyone we came in contact with. While waiting to board the tour cruise, we chatted with the employees. The most adorable little boy kept blowing kisses to us during dinner – how silly! We even chuckled at the lady who asked us for directions as we were walking toward the Station Square shops (I guess we look like locals).

We did some shopping at Southside Works. We found great sales at Nine West, White House Black Market and even the local bookstore, Joseph-Beth.

We highly recommend Station Square. Staying at The Renaissance Pittsburgh, we found it within walking distance of all that Station Square has to offer. It’s a good environment for the family, or a romantic night out for two. There are lots of shops, eateries and definitely plenty of entertainment. We even found a comedy club called The Funny Bone. And you can top off the evening with a ride up Mount Washington on the Duquesne Incline.

Downtown Pittsburgh’s cultural district is steeped in rich history with a very modern twist. The hustle and bustle of everyday city life can numb you to the simple beauty of things like the small art house, and the adorable statues. But other things like the buildings and city atmosphere have a modern quality that really remind us of back home. Definitely a nice mix.

A Sisterly Companion...

On Day 3, we decided to take on Pittsburgh's famous museums. We started at The Andy Warhol Museum, and then ventured on to The Carnegie Art and Natural History Museum. Both were amazing.

The Carnegie Natural History Museum had a display on gems from around the world. Most interesting, though, was a section dedicated to the precious stones found in the Pennsylvania region. I would never have imagined that such rare, unusual beauty could be found in our state.

Another thing I wouldn’t have imagined in Pennsylvania are these hills. We managed to miss a few key turns while exploring, and always found ourselves on another hill! Going up and traveling back down. I drove straight down Mount Washington, and the view doesn’t get much better than that. As they say out here: You can’t really take a wrong turn in Pennsylvania.

Later on, we drove down to The Strip District. We found that if you’re going to hit “The Strip,” it’s best to go late in the evening for the clubs, bars and nightlife. Our evening experience really came alive with energetic people, entertainment and just plain FUN.

I know I’ve said it before, but I’ll have to say it again: The people in this city are so friendly. We met the sweetest older gentleman at The Carnegie Museum, who upon learning we were from Philly, kept us mesmerized with his tales of our city. He has two daughters in college there and was a huge Wilt Chamberlain fan.

Philadelphia may be known as the City of Brotherly Love, but Pittsburgh is certainly our sisterly companion.

Off the Road and In the Clouds

Where do I begin? I guess the beginning.

Our goal today was to climb to the highest point in Pennsylvania, but our traveling escapade to get there was an adventure in itself. Of course, on our way to Mount Davis, we got lost. But we stopped at a local gas station, and the nicest gentleman provided directions. He was so cute when he told us to go through Salisbury and “make a right at the light.” He said we wouldn’t miss the light since it was “the only one.”

Back on track, going up the mountains was literally like traveling through the clouds. There was a heavy fog that just seemed to engulf our car the higher we climbed. What an amazing, tranquil experience it was. And what a mountain it was!

Standing at the top of Highpoint Tower, I can’t even begin to imagine how God must’ve felt as he completed his creations. If you stand there long enough, you’ll see the birds leaving the treetops. What a sight.

At the mountaintop, we struck up a conversation with a gentleman named Fred, who gave us the scoop on everything from places to go for scenic views and photo op’s, to cool bird-watching sites, and the best whitewater adventures in the area. Fred also mentioned that he just opened a bed and breakfast in a restored Victorian mansion in Meyersdale, PA. Since we had to pass through Meyersdale to get back home, we stopped by. Heck, Fred gave us such good directions, including where to go after making the right at the big Army tank (yes, there’s a huge Army tank in the middle of the town), we just couldn’t resist.

The owners, Fred and Kim, gave us a tour of their place, The Levi Dean Mansion Bed and Breakfast. Each room bears the name of one of their children, in stained glass above each pillar. The rates are very affordable, even with a jacuzzi in each room. They explained that they have a women’s retreat getaway weekend. You know Amina and I are already making our reservations.

As we headed back towards Pittsburgh, we stopped by the Umoja African Arts Festival in Mellon Park where we sampled a scrumptious fish platter from Tanya’s Catering, a local eatery. Let me tell you: After traveling through the mountains of Pennsylvania, it was food for the soul as well as the belly.

While perusing the festival, we stumbled upon a Pennsylvania-based vendor that specialized in fairly traded and handcrafted items by artisans from around the world called Ten Thousand Villages. The artisans in developing countries are paid fair wages for their labor and materials. I purchased a crafted a drum from Kenya for my son, Willie (he plays for our church choir), while Amina purchased earrings from Kenya and a wood chime from Indonesia.

Reflecting on the long day, our journey over the edges of cliffs, up long, windy roads, through small little towns (where there is a house every other mile) and across small rivers with covered bridges was simply perfect. Even getting lost was enjoyable. When the scenery provides such natural beauty, you don’t even mind not knowing where you’re going.

A New State of Mind

On our last day in The Steel City, we kicked back, relaxed and reflected on our adventures.

We had breakfast delivered to our room, since we were leaving so early in the morning. I will admit that, late on our last night, my sister drove all the way down to East Carson for some Cheesecake Factory cheesecake. I had the Pecan Turtle Swirl, and she sampled the Carrot Cake Cheesecake. It was well worth the drive.

I never knew this part of Pennsylvania would bring the type of enjoyment I thought I could only find on an island or at a beach resort. We really had a great time. And it was the locals that were the icing on the cake. Their friendly nature, and kindness, made the difference between just going places and having a memorable experience.

One experience I wish I could stay for is football season. Now, we have our Eagles, but Pittsburgh’s got their Steelers. As we were returning to the hotel last evening, we ran smack dab in the middle of Steelers’ frenzy. As our hotel sits right on the bridge to the stadium, a number of fans park in and around the hotel and walk over to attend the game. Folks were all over the streets. I am a diehard Eagles fan but, for just a moment, I think I bled a little black and gold.

I feel confident in saying that this trip was the highlight of my year. It had truly been an adventure in so many ways.

I feel rejuvenated and inspired to do more within the state. I think it will be an opportunity to share the beauty of our home with my children. I always wanted to take roadtrips but didn’t necessarily have the confidence that I could complete them, or that I would find things to do that would pique my interest. But this experience has shown me how wrong I was.

Thank you for broadening my horizons, for helping me to conquer fears, and for exposing me to the beauty that exists right in my own backyard.