29 Free Things You Gotta Do This April In Pittsburgh
New month, new adventures.
The city of Pittsburgh may not be as popular a tourist destination as places like California and New York, that doesn't mean that it's not worth visiting. Anyone who's lived in Pittsburgh long enough knows that there's plenty to do here, and not all of it will cost you an arm and a leg!
The thing about visiting big cities is that it can often be quite expensive, and therefore you're unable to do all the things that you wanted to! Luckily, apart from being just a cool city in general, Pittsburgh has a ton of free activities that are actually a lot of fun! Everything from salsa dancing lessons to beautiful botanic gardens are at your disposal here!
We're almost three months into 2018 now, and that means it's a good time to check in and see how your year has been going! Have you done everything you set out to do, or have you been spending most of your time indoors, re-watching your favourite series on Netflix and eating all the pizza you can handle?
If the later description sounds like you, don't let the rest of your year go to waste! Get outside, make new friends in the park or market, visit the gallery you've always wanted to check out, do some reading at the library; your options are endless! Over the next month, see how many of these free, fun things you can conquer! If you can't do them all, that's okay, but aim to try something new every week! Happy April!
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29. Visit the Allegheny Observatory
If you love stargazing as much as I do, a trip to the Allegheny Observatory should be in your plans ASAP. Free tours are happening every Friday night in April at 8pm!
@cokevegas
28. Visit the Fort Pitt Block House
This building, standing since 1764 is the only remaining structure left from Fort Pitt. It's the oldest standing building in Pittsburgh, and tells the story of Pennsylvania's roll in the American Revolution.
@chieftanman
27. Spend a day at the Frick Art & Historical Centre
The Frick Art Museum is one of many free galleries in Pittsburgh, but not only does it have amazing art and exhibits, the building itself is also seriously beautiful. You can have a guided tour for a fee, or explore the centre on your own!
@mirrronthewall
26. Take a tour of Old Allegheny County Jail
Ever wondered what prisoners live like? Every Monday the Old Allegheny County Jail can tell you just that! Tours are free, and are super informative so you'll leave the jail with a wealth of knowledge.
@sewyoursoul
25. Check out the Big Mac Museum
Let's be real, who doesn't love a Big Mac from time to time?! The Big Mac Museum has the world's largest Big Mac statue, as well as hundreds of artifacts that celebrate the legendary sandwich.
@n8mercuri
24. Enjoy the view from Mount Washington
Mount Washington is known to have one of the best views of Pittsburgh. If you're looking for somewhere to watch the sunset with a date, or snap some pictures of the skyline, this is it!
@hangenelm
23. Explore Randyland
Randyland is easily the most colourful spot in the city, full of amazing public art of all shapes, colours, and sizes! If you're feeling blue, a walk through this part of town will cheer you up ASAP.
@itsmizzmitz
22. Drive up Canton Avenue
Pittsburgh's very own Canton Avenue is the steepest street in the U.S., so if you're given the chance, you should definitely make the drive up it! Vehicles are only allowed up, but even then the experience can be seriously nerve wracking.
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21. Browse the Farmers Market
A day at the Farmers Market is a great way to mingle, do some window shopping, destress, and make new friends! If you don't have money to spend you'll definitely still have fun, but we can't guarantee you won't be tempted.
@steelcitynewspgh
20. Take a walking tour of Pittsburgh
The best way to experience the city is to get out and do it! At the link above, you can download an audio that will take you on a very thorough walking tour of the city!
@megankosinski
19. Visit Bicycle Heaven
Bicycle Heaven is the world's largest bicycle store, as well as a bicycle museum, featuring hundreds of vintage bikes, some of which are rare antiques, and even more which have been used in Hollywood films!
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18. Spend a day scouting out the West End Overlook
Another picture perfect view of Downtown comes from the West End Overlook. You can see both the North Shore and South Shore from here, as well as the Point, and many other different Pittsburgh highlights!
@meredithfineman
17. Relax in the Biblical Botanical Gardens
If you've ever wondered what the garden of Eden may have looked like, this is a pretty good starting point. These gardens are beyond picturesque, and show off over 100 different plants!
@shwight_drute
16. Visit the remains of Forbes Field
Baseball fanatics should definitely take the time to check out this one. Forbes Field was the home of the Pittsburgh Pirates, and although it is no longer in tact, the outfield wall and the home plate are still around for spectators to check out.
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15. Check out the Centre for PostNatural History
Pittsburgh may be home to some seriously weird museums, but this one has got to be one of the most obscure. This museum is dedicated to plants and animals that have been modified in some way by mankind, so you're bound to see some interesting sights.
@judy316
14. Cool off by the North Shore Water Steps
After a long day of venturing around the city, where better to cool off than at the North Shore Water Steps? There's shallow pools to soak your feet, and plenty of room to sit back and relax.
@lilystryker
13. Take a walk down Roslyn Place
Another one of those obscure spots in the city is Roslyn Place. This is one of the last U.S. streets made entirely of wooden blocks! While you're walking down the street, you'll be stepping on a little piece of Pittsburgh history.
@wpxi
12. Admire the beauty of Heinz Memorial Chapel
When you think of beautiful chapels you usually think of travelling to Europe, but it turns out the Pittsburgh has an amazing and beautiful spot of its own! The Heinz Memorial Chapel is absolutely stunning, and worth a visit whether you're religious or not.
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11. Take some photos in Mellon Park
Mellon Park is a beautiful and historic garden, beautiful and worth visiting at any time of day. A recent art installation, though, has made it particularly beautiful at night!
@rain.matters
10. Go for a bike ride through Point State Park
Point State Park is one of the only state parks within Pittsburgh city limits, so it's pretty popular. The beautiful fountain is a great resting point during your bike ride through the park!
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9. Browse through the Strip District
The Strip District is an area of town that's packed full of shops and restaurants, just waiting for you to come browse around them! Along the way you'll also run into public art that tells the history of Pittsburgh, and lots of friendly face!
@courtneyveatch
8. Watch the Pittsburgh Banjo Club perform
If you find yourself bored on a Wednesday night, the Pittsburgh Banjo Club performs every week at 8 p.m. Come out and watch over 40 banjo players, along with tubas and horns play some great music!
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7. Get out of this world at SPACE Gallery
SPACE is one of the many galleries you'll find in Downtown Pittsburgh. The exhibits shown here are constantly shifting, so you can always come back every few months to experience something new and exciting.
@dancewithjoss
6. Take salsa lessons at Seviche
Have you always wanted to learn to salsa? At Pittsburgh's very own Seviche, you can! Free salsa lessons for beginners start at 9:30, don't forget to bring your dancing shoes!
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5. Spend a day reading at the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh
A day at the library can help you be productive, clear your mind, and learn plenty about a new subject! If you've been meaning to get some reading done, make time to hit up the library this month; you have no reason not to.
@heyy_mickeee4. Go exploring in the Cultural District
Pittsburgh's Cultural District is another great area to visit. This is where most of the cities' galleries are, so you can hit multiple in one day! There's also plenty of shops and outdoor art installations for you to check out.
@austaaa3. Tour the Centre for Sustainable Landscapes
This spot is known as one of the greenest buildings in the world, and its mission is to create the most sustainable landscapes for people everywhere. Free tours can be scheduled if you plan ahead, but if you just drop by, you can hangout and explore the gorgeous courtyard.
@findingmutanu2. Visit the Nationality Rooms
The Nationality Rooms at the University of Pittsburgh are a local treasure. Weave your way in and out of 29 rooms that depict the different ethnic groups who have made a home in Pittsburgh!
@madyspethmannn_1. Take a tour of the University of Pittsburgh
Touring uni campus can always be fun; there's usually always some sort of free event going on, or some unique and cool place for you to explore during your visit. Who knows, you may even feel inspired to apply.