The weather decided to be kind to us on Saturday so we decided it would be a great day to head into downtown Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It may have also had something to do with the fact that since it was a weekend we figured the traffic to and fro downtown wouldn’t be too challenging. So much so that when we left the RV park some 40 south of Pittsburgh we set the GPS on no toll roads and no highways so we could traverse some of the unseen countryside between here and there. This is a great way to get to see places off the beaten track.
The drive took about an hour and all along the way we enjoyed seeing some of the two storied architecture prevalent in this area. With it being a weekend we saw many families and people sitting outside on their porches unlike the south where everyone has a porch and rarely is anyone ever seen sitting on it.
We made our way to a parking garage near the Pittsburgh Steelers football stadium and it was only $4.00 bucks for the 
day even though everything I read online suggested it would cost $10.00 per day… wow already saved six bucks! I chose this park since it was about a 7/10’s mile over a bridge to the park where the rebirth of the Point State Park Fountain had just started flowing for the first time in four years. And… at the park was the Three Rivers Arts Festival held once a year and both these events were free… Score!
There were a lot of bands playing on various stages at the Arts Festival and after listening to some Blue Grass Music 
we walked all around the park looking at the fountain from every direction. We strolled over and visited Point State Park located at the confluence of the three rivers and learned it was a significant place during the French and Indian War (1754 - 1763). Then we decided to take a walk into town and lo and behold we found another FREE festival called the Pittsburgh Live International Jazz Festival where we 
listened to some of the sounds of Rudresh Mahanthappa, a Guggenheim fellow and 2012 Downbeat International Critics Poll Alto Saxophonist of the Year. We also stayed and watched Sarah Elizabeth Charles on another stage, a vocalist and composer based out of New York City, who had a refreshing sound.
Wow what a nice Saturday we had and we seemed to run into the perfect trifecta of free events… the perfect dream of a fulltime RV’er on a budget… So nice was the day we think we will go back into the city Sunday as well since the festivals will still be happening…
You really did hit the jackpot!
ReplyDeleteWow looks like you had and awesome day!
ReplyDeleteCheck out the Cathedral of Learning. It is a beautiful building with rooms inside decorated by different countries, they are called the International Rooms. This is part of the university.
ReplyDeleteRuth
www.travelwithkevinandruth.com
thanks got that done today...
DeleteWhat a fun day! Love fun days on a budget!
ReplyDeleteIf you head back downtown, the Duquene (sp?) incline is fun. A little pricey if I recall, but you get a great view of the city.
I also really like the Carnegie Institute (I think it's "Institute", it might be "Museum"), although the dinosaurs were a lot smaller as an adult than I remember them as a kid! They had great exhibits of furnishings if you are into that sort of thing...
the lift is only $5.00 p/p roundtrip but we drove up on top of Mt Washington instead...
DeleteAs you like brewpubs, here is one we have always wanted to get to in Pittsburgh: http://www.churchbrew.com/
ReplyDeleteit is on the list of things to get to...
DeleteI did not know you could have that much fun in Pittsburgh:)
ReplyDeleteGreat timing Pittsburg is really a nice city.
ReplyDeleteI haven't been to Pittsburg for years. Looks like you two had a festive day.
ReplyDeleteIt's fun to learn about big city goings on as well as the small town ones from fellow bloggers. LOTS to do, that's for sure!
ReplyDeletePittsburgh has never been in our travel plans but I am impressed with how many things there are to do there. Great job finding free live music!
ReplyDelete