IT’S SPRING IN PITTSBURGH!
Greetings Friends! Well, we seemed to have dodged the bullet of ferocious winter weather in Western Pennsylvania. We know, we know… never say never when it comes to Pittsburgh weather, but it is the beginning of April, so we should be good to start looking at all the wonderful things to do in Western Pennsylvania in Spring!
It’s time to get outside and enjoy our beautiful landscape. The trees are beginning to get their leaves, spring flowers are in bloom, balls will begin to fly at PNC Park and the Gateway Clipper Fleet will sail the Three Rivers! So, let’s take a look at some of the great things to do in Southwestern Pennsylvania this Spring!
Take a Hike! It’s time we all got off that couch and started to raise our Vitamin D in the Spring sun. There are a lot of great parks and trails in Allegheny, Westmoreland, Butler, Beaver, and Washington counties to get you out and about. Our county parks feature trails, lakes, and family-fun kids’ parks that make the way outdoors so much fun! Plus, the beautiful spring flowers are in bloom along with all the birds that are heading back to the region! Maybe if you are lucky enough you will see a Bald Eagle soaring above!
Concerts and Sporting Events! 2023 is a big year for concerts on the North Shore and they are kicking off this Spring! The Stage AE schedule is packed with acts for everyone. 2023 also features the return of some big stadium tours at both Acrisure Stadium and PNC Park. Luke Combs kickoffs the spring concert schedule on April 29 at Acrisure Stadium followed by the return of Taylor Swift on June 16 & 17. PNC Park features Morgan Wallen for two shows on June 14 & 15. The Pittsburgh Pirates’ 2023 campaign to win the pennant begins at PNC Park for opening day on April 7. So, let’s get to the ballpark and cheer our Buccos on to victory. The Gateway Clipper Fleet offers shuttle service to all sporting and concert events at both Acrisure Stadium and PNC Park. Our fast and easy service to the North Shore is only $15 round trip. It’s a great way to “pregame” before your event and you don’t have the hassle of trying to find parking on the North Shore. Parking at Station Square is easy and plentiful! So, make the South Shore a stop before your big event!
Pittsburgh Attractions & More!
Our favorite attractions are ready to welcome spring, including the Gateway Clipper Fleet! Join us this Spring as we celebrate our 65th Anniversary of sailing the Three Rivers of Pittsburgh. Our classic One-Hour Three Rivers Sightseeing Tour is the perfect thing to do in Pittsburgh! The Three Rivers Sightseeing Cruise sails weekends in April and May and then sails Wednesday – Sunday beginning in June. Our signature dining cruise & tour, the Captain’s Dinner Cruise sails every Saturday through the end of the year. Featuring an ALL-NEW Dinner Buffet and Drink menu, the Captain’s Dinner is a fabulous night out in Pittsburgh. Check out the 2023 schedule of cruises and take a look at our fabulous all-new menus at www.gatewayclipper.com.
If you want to make it a day in Pittsburgh, look no further than the other great attractions in Station Square. Take a ride on one of the fabulous Pittsburgh Inclines! You’ll enjoy a trip up Mount Washington and the view from the ride and the top are worth it! The Duquesne Incline is open 365 a year with convenient parking in Station Square. The Monongahela Incline is also accessible from Station Square and transports over half a million commuter passengers a year! And sporting events are featured on the South Shore too at Highmark Stadium! If you are a sports fan and want to see a soccer game, check out the Pittsburgh Riverhounds at Highmark Stadium. It’s a fun game for the entire family to enjoy and affordable too!
Also, while in ‘Burgh this Spring check out all the great exhibits at the Carnegie Science Center on Pittsburgh’s North Shore. So much to do for the entire family! When you are there, you have to check out the Buhl Planetarium & Observatory and enjoy the many shows they feature while exploring galaxies from far away! And a Spring outing in Pittsburgh just wouldn’t be complete without a trip to our great amusement park – Kennywood! It’s an exhilarating day with all the fun rides and games. Get ready for some fun with the opening day set for April 22! It just wouldn’t be spring without SPRING FLOWERS! And what better place to see the glorious flora than at Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens? Located in the Oakland section of the city, visitors have enjoyed this world-class garden since 1893! Do yourself a favor and check it out!
Ice Cream!
Let’s celebrate the arrival of another springtime favorite – the ice cream stand! Not that we don’t love ice cream all year long, but our favorite ice places are back in business! We can’t talk about ice cream without a shout-out to Page’s on East Carson Street. It’s a Pittsburgh tradition to grab a soft serve cone in a traditional or one of their many specialty flavors! A Beaver County tradition since 1947 is Hanks Frozen Custard; if you haven’t tried it, you better get there soon! It’s delicious! A little gem ice cream gem in Crafton with an expansive menu is Crafton Ice Cream Delite. Soft serve and hard ice cream are on the menu along with milkshakes, sandwiches, fries, and more! If you are in the area, it’s worth the stop! And don’t forget about the wonderful, old-fashioned Ice Cream Parlour at Sarris Candies in Canonsburg! Try Big Tyme Sundaes – 3 scoops of ice cream and all your favorite toppings! Try the Hard Cap toppings – they are out of this world! And let’s not forget about Rita’s Italian Ice which quickly became a neighborhood staple all over Western PA! Cool and refreshing classic Italian Ice and more!
Well, this is just a smattering of all the fun things that you can do in Pittsburgh and Southwestern PA this Spring. For more information on things to do in Pittsburgh, a great resource throughout the year is visitpittsburgh.com.
Happy Spring!
