Pittsburgh Places

Like No Place ElsePittsburgh is a sports town. And a cultural town. And a zoo town. And more than just stadiums, museums and animals. Carnegie Mellon students can often be found attending a Pirates game, visiting the Andy Warhol Museum, hiking through Frick Park and riding the incline up Mount Washington to enjoy one of the best city views in the nation.Professional SportsIn Pittsburgh, the "black and gold" could mean any of our professional sports teams. The five-time Super Bowl champion Steelers make their home at Heinz Field, while our baseball team, the Pittsburgh Pirates, play at PNC Park. Our hockey team, the Penguins, skate at Mellon Arena, located in the uptown district of Pittsburgh.Zoo, Aquarium and AviaryThe Pittsburgh Zoo and PPG Aquarium is one of America's few zoo and aquarium combinations. With animals from the endangered snow leopard to the giant elephant to the western lowland gorilla, Pittsburgh Zoo boasts habitats like the Asian Forest, the African Savanna and Cheetah Valley. And the aquarium features a crawl-through stingray tunnel, a two-story shark tank and revolving tanks that house everything from Beluga to jellyfish to potbellied sea horses.The National Aviary, on Pittsburgh's North Side, is the nation's only independent, indoor, non-profit zoo dedicated exclusively to birds. At the aviary, you'll find winged wonders from the smallest hummingbirds to the lofty red-crowned cranes.MuseumsPop Art comes alive at Pittsburgh's Andy Warhol Museum. (Did you know: Warhol graduated from Carnegie Institute of Technology — now named Carnegie Mellon University). Even more contemporary art — installation art — will surround you at The Mattress Factory. What once was an industrial plant for bed-making is now one of the few museums of its kind. Anywhere.But, if you're looking for a wide range of styles and periods, The Carnegie Museum of Art is a must-see. Within the same structure as the Carnegie Museum of Natural history, the art museum contains the largest collection of plaster casts of architectural masterpieces in America and one of the three largest in the world. Carnegie Mellon also participates in many community partnerships like the Arts Pass Program that provides free admission for students to some of Pittsburgh's most interesting attractions.Outdoor Parks and SlopesJust a jaunt away from Carnegie Mellon's campus, Frick Park is the city's largest park, covering 600 acres. Schenley Park is even closer to campus and offers an outdoor pool, skating rink and plenty of open space to play sports.When the temperature falls, so does the snow. Skiers and snowboarders can strap on their gear and visit two winter destinations within 90 minutes of campus. Hidden Valley and Seven Springs Mountain Resorts feature both down-hill and cross-country trails.Pittsburgh InclineA view of the city's skyline is rarely better than from atop Mount Washington, just 10 minutes from Carnegie Mellon's campus. To get the panoramic view, Pittsburghers and tourists alike often ride the Duquesne Incline. Featuring two original 1877 cable cars, the incline travels from a low-lying area in the South Side to the top of one of Pittsburgh's most famous hills — Mount Washington — home to eclectic eateries and historic neighborhoods.