Hello!!! Did you guys have a great week last week? I decided to take a little break from the world of the internet and it was exactly what I needed. This pregnancy is forcing me to slow down and savor life as we know it. Iām usually racing from one thing to the next, and Iām quickly learning that sometimes youāve got to just chill it and unplug. Last week Court and I went to Pittsburgh to watch the Cubs Wildcard game. You guys. Have you ever been to Pittsburgh?! When we found out the game was there (instead of Chicago) I was really disappointed. I love Chicago and hellloooo, Wrigley Field. But to quote my husband āIf the Cubs make it to the postseason you go to the game.ā So Pittsburgh it was.
I have never been so pleasantly surprised in all my days. Pittsburgh was AMAZING!
I don’t really know what I was expecting (dirty metal? crime?) as we started driving into the city I knew we were in for a treat.
On Thursday night we went to a restaurant in the strip called Gauchos (it had great reviews and was pretty close). While we were waiting in line to order we started chatting with one of the guys that worked there. We told him why we were in town and he said āYouāre not going to believe this, but Jake Arietta is sitting upstairs right nowā (for those that don’t know, Jake Arietta is the starting pitcher for the Cubs). Court was SO excited. Like little kid grinning on his favorite Christmas morning ever excited.
We waited until they were leaving and Court went over and wished him luck. (Yes heās in an Orioles hat, we weren’t sure if Pittsburgh was a hostile cityā¦its not.)
On Wed. we decided to spend the afternoon downtown. We walked and walked and walked. This may be a completely obvious observation to those that live in big sports cities, but EVERYONE was wearing Pirates gear. Iāve never experienced anything like it!
My favorite little trek was to the Incline (its a super old trolley that takes you up the side of a mountain). Court wasn’t so sure about a preggo lady walking that far but I was not going to miss seeing the view. Um. SO worth it!!
The Cubbies won the game (!!) my only regret is that I wish we would have had 1 more day to adventure before we had to come home, there was still so much to do! But all in all, Pittsburgh we love you! What a fantastic last trip before the little man comes and turns our lives upside down!!
So tell me, (all preconceived notions checked at the door) where is your favorite city? When I was a little girl my family didn’t travel, so every place we go is new and it just makes me want to go to 15 other cities!
I’m so glad you got to Pittsburgh and liked what you saw! I have been wanting to move to Pittsburgh for a while now because it is such a cool, small city. There is a big arts and culture movement to help the city reimagine itself in the post-steel era and the result is a really cool, welcoming city. And so affordable! I need to find the right job before moving there but hopefully I’ll be there one day!
i LOVE pittsburgh, we were just there three weeks ago and had so much fun. i didn’t travel much as a kid either so as an adult i’ve had the pleasure of visiting lots of great cities for the first time. along with pittsburg my favorites are milwaukee and portland, maine.
I am laughing at how surprised you were with the sports gear. I’m from Boston and game day around here is like wearing a uniform. Everyone is wearing Boston/New England colors. And come to holidays like St Patties day; you just throw on your green jersey (every team has one) and you’re good to go!
Carson City, NV (Reno is less than 2hours away, and Lake Tahoe is 1hour drive! Full of history & down-town is so relaxed.)
San Diego, CA. (Charming! Beaches, open-air multi-story shopping mall. Historic district is called The Gas Light District ?! Zoo, Sea World, Balboa Park & museums, and sweet-salty air.
Phoenix, AZ-( and its surrounding cities!) just not in June/July/August. (Hiking, amazing tourist sites within a couple hour drive in every direction from the city/metropolis. Forrests, creeks, hiking, rock-crawling, horse-riding tours, botanical gardens, aquarium, zoo, u-pick farms, snow in the winter in our White Mountains (think “cozy cabins.” ) And if you want to drive a bit further, 4hr, Annie’s Apple Orchrd, Sedona!, pink jeep tours, Jerome (sliding city on the hillside), and many more “hidden gems” <3 ( can you tell I love AZ?!)
I love AZ, too :o)
I’m from Pittsburgh, but I live in Denver now… it makes me so happy to hear such amazing things written about my hometown. Thank you!
Yay Cubbies! Love the post and the Arrieta picture.
My hometown is an hour outside of Chicago but I’ve been in the Kansas City area for the past 12 years. I’m hoping for a Royals/Cubs Series.
Glad to hear you had so much fun in Pittsburgh!! I’m a West Coast gal, so I have to recommend you visit Portland, San Francisco and of course, Seattle!! Come in the summertime, it doesn’t rain much then š
I grew up just outside of Nashville and didn’t fully appreciate how awesome the city was until we moved away for a few years while my husband was in the Army. If you’ve never visited it, I highly recommend it! (Although I might be a bit biased since I’m a local.) Charleston, SC is probably my favorite place ever, though.
I live here in the Pittsburgh burbs…….so glad you liked it here. Our little gem by the 3rivers. We have sooo much to experience here as well as great restaurants. Please come back when you have more time. We are a wonderful and friendly sports city.
Thanks for your sweet review.
Deb
My family is from Pittsburgh (and live there now after moving around a lot as a kid), so I have a lot of Pittsburgh love. I always say that it’s such a beautiful downtown, with a great arts scene and yummy food! Also, GO PENS!
Pittsburgh is my hometown and I’m so happy you enjoyed your visit! I think your observations of our city are completely accurate. Everyone is super friendly and we definitely love our sports teams! I moved south a couple years ago, but there’s definitely no place like the Burgh! Let me know if you ever go back and need suggestions :).
Xo,
Courtney
http://www.courtneyfashionista.com
AHHH! So wish I would have known you were coming to Pgh! So glad you loved our city!
I know it is a cliche but I love Paris…I took my 10yr old daughter this year and it was magical experiencing it again through her eyes…well worth the 30hr flight from Wellington, New Zealand (another great city if I do say so myself) x
So cool that you visited us!!! Next time you have to go to the strip district on a Saturday morning. Tons of vendors and food, and then go to Construction Junction. They specialize in architectural salvage!!! You would just DIE!! Enjoy your blog!
We live about 2 hours from Pittsburgh and I have lots of memories centered around it! Going to the old 3 Rivers Stadium as a kid, getting engaged looking over the city (after riding the incline to the top of the mountain) and we’ve gone there a couple times to celebrate our anniversary too! It has a special place in my heart and I’m glad you enjoyed it!
Mandi, this makes me SO happy! I love when people (especially people I admire) visit this amazing city and love it as much as I do! I hope you come back to visit sometime again – there’s SO much to do and we would love to have you back! <3
Sarah
http://www.thesurznickcommonroom.com
I was born and raised in the burbs of Pittsburgh. My dad introduced me to the Pirates at a very young age. Pittsburgh is a really big sports city. I now live in Surprise, AZ and get to follow baseball teams that have spring training in Az. I am now a Rangers fan since they train here is Surprise, but I will always be a Pirates and Steelers fan thanks to my dad! Glad you enjoyed Pittsburgh.
Savannah, Georgia. I love all the squares throughout the city, and the historic part of the city is a lot of fun to explore!
Have you looked into fish oil for the not sleeping thing? I always had nightmares when I was pregnant (seven kids). Good luck and cut back on the sugar (sorry) :))
I’ll look into the fish oil, cutting out sugar…mmmmm we’ll see. š
xo
m
yay so glad you love pittsburgh! i was born and raised here and love our city š
I went to undergrad in Pittsburgh and, I really enjoyed my time there! I live in Albuquerque now and sometimes I really miss Pittsburgh. Just not in the winter…. The Strip District and Shadyside were two of my faves there.
I just moved out here to NM and have been enjoying exploring some new areas. So far Santa Fe and a little town called Madrid, NM are new favorites!
I live like 35 minutes from Pittsburgh!! Glad you enjoyed yourself!!. I tend to avoid the city due to the fast pace commotion (& mostly bc I get lost everytime I enter Pittsburgh! LOL) but that’s so cool you were here to visit!
Jordann-