Pittsburgh: Perfect Place for Fall Visit

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Planning a leaf-peeping trip this fall? Experience fall in Pittsburgh, with autumn colors, great food, and culture. Read on for what to see, do, and eat this fall in Pittsburgh.
Before visiting Pittsburgh, everything I knew about the city came from watching football. The Steelers played at Three Rivers Stadium, so three rivers must converge there, and steel mills along the rivers. While attending a conference at the Convention Center, however, I discovered a wonderful city with beautiful bridges, river walks, impressive cultural sites, and unique shopping. In the fall, Pittsburgh offers a wonderful place to enjoy the changing leaves and a lively urban setting.
Autumn Colors in Pittsburgh
Autumn colors turn Pittsburgh into a gorgeous landscape. The hills sloping up from the river provide a picturesque backdrop to the many bridges. The yellow, orange, and red trees fill the parks and river walk with the perfect feeling of fall in the Midwest.
Point State Park in full autumn colors. Photo by Judy Karnia
City of Bridges
Pittsburgh sits at the convergence of three rivers—the Allegheny, the Ohio, and the Monongahela. So, of course, there are bridges, but I had no idea the city has more bridges than any other in the world. Many of these 446 bridges are sites to behold, including the identical Three Sisters Bridges cross the Allegheny River with soaring banana-yellow structures. I enjoyed my morning walks past and across the Roberto Clemente (6th Street) Bridge, Andy Warhol (7th Street) Bridge, and Rachel Carson (9th Street) Bridge.
The Three Sisters Bridges span the Allegheny River in downtown Pittsburgh. Photo by Judy Karnia
The Philip Murray Bridge, also known as the 10th Street Bridge, was built in 1933 and is Pittsburgh’s only cable suspension bridge. My first view of the city, as is many people’s, was across the Fort Pitt Bridge from which travelers from the airport glimpse the skyline.
Three Rivers Heritage Trail
The Three Rivers Heritage Trail provides 33 miles of recreation along the Pittsburgh rivers. Under the Convention Center, waterfalls and pools draw water from the aquifer below them. The path extends along the river with expansive views of the bridges and river. I walked along the Allegheny River Walk on the south bank up to Point State Park , where thick trees spread their broad branches filled with yellow and orange leaves. At the tip, where the three rivers meet, a 150-foot fountain has been flowing since 1974.
Allegheny River Walk. Photo by Judy Karnia
Under the Fort Duquesne Bridge, a non-profit organization, Riverlife, and the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust combined to enliven the space with public art and events. When I strolled by, murals by Camerin “Camo” Nesbit, entitled Black Flowers , featured bright, colorful portraits of prominent local Black leaders.
Mural entitled Black Flowers under Fort Duquesne Bridge. Photo by Judy Karnia
Strip District
The Strip District fits its name as a narrow area between the Allegheny River and the hills that rise above it. The area contains converted warehouses and old buildings housing gourmet food shops, t-shirt vendors, and eateries. A friend of mine who has recently returned to live in Pittsburgh brought me to some of her favorite places.
Breakfast at Colangelo’s included a flaky apple turnover, hot tea, and good conversation with my friend. Even though it was a bit nippy, we couldn’t resist sitting out on the sidewalk to watch the neighborhood awaken.
The Pennsylvania Macaroni Company carries over 5000 specialty Italian food items. The cheese counter is the longest I have ever seen, with many types of cheese I had never seen before. The Sunseri brothers, Augustino, Salvatore, and Michael, formed the company in 1902 to make pasta. They gradually expanded their offerings to olive oil, spices, cheese, and more. Augustino’s sons, Salvatore and Roberto, took over in 1940 and grew the business into the roaring success it maintains today.
Extensive cheese counter at Pennsylvania Macaroni Company. Photo by Judy Karnia
Entering Mon Aimee Chocolat was an overwhelming paradise for this chocolate fanatic. Shelves along the wall and a display case of fancy treats surrounded a maze of tables loaded with specialty chocolates. The shop features local handcrafted chocolate and premium items from over 60 countries. I learned how the local soil affects the beans, making chocolate from different areas of the world unique.
Premium chocolates at Mon Aimee Chocolat. Photo by Judy Karnia
Carnegie Museum of Art
Andrew Carnegie founded the Carnegie Institute in 1895 in the Oakland neighborhood. This turned into the four Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh , which included the Carnegie Museum of Art . Many impressive collections fill the art museum, including the Hall of Sculpture, Extraordinary Ordinary Things, Impressionist paintings, contemporary art, and a Pittsburgh Anthology.
The Hall of Architecture houses over 140 plaster casts of architectural masterpieces, such as parts of temples and famous sculptures. I enjoyed counting how many copies I had seen in the original form.
Hall of Architecture at Carnegie Museum of Art. Photo by Judy Karnia
A diorama from the 1867 Paris International Exposition rests in the main hallway with a placard warning about the sensitive subject. The descriptions explain the racial stereotypes and depictions of man against nature that were more common over a century ago.
I wandered through the special, temporary collections interspersed with ongoing exhibits for several hours. The high quality of the pieces kept me intrigued, and the breadth of the art amazed me.
Contemporary art exhibit at Carnegie Museum of Art. Photo by Judy Karnia
Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens
The late 19th century saw another gem established in a Pittsburgh neighborhood. In 1893, Henry W. Phipps created the glass houses of the Phipps Conservatory for his fellow citizens as a sanctuary from the polluted air due to the city’s smokestacks. It continued the mission of well-being by recently adding the Center for Sustainable Landscapes and Nature Lab.
The iconic glass structures contain 14 rooms over 15 acres, filled with various foliage and art. I love seeing the gorgeous pieces made by Chihuly, especially in a natural setting.  Several of his glass works and those of Frabel and Gamrath looked perfectly at home among the beauty of the plants in the conservatory. Throughout the rooms, vibrant flowers, wispy ferns, and otherworldly cacti reflected the sun streaming through the walls and ceilings.
Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens is set within the lush Schenley Park. You can stroll along the trails or enjoy other activities throughout the park’s more than 450 acres. This is a must-see for garden lovers .
Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Garden. Photo by Judy Karnia
Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium
When I visited the Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium in the Highland Park neighborhood, it was Halloween weekend and packed with families dressed in costumes. Although the zoo grounds are not huge, the 77 acres provided plenty of room to see the animals well.
African Savanna at Pittsburgh Zoo and Aquarium. Photo by Judy Karnia
The exhibits create a feeling of the natural habitats of the animals. The zoo was created in 1898 in the menagerie style of the day but gradually improved to a more naturalistic mode starting in the 1980s.
The nine park areas feature different parts of the world, such as Forest Passage, African Savanna, and The Islands. I found some of my favorite animals, including red pandas, clouded leopards, and otters. The zoo also offers many holiday events and animal encounters. The Asian Lantern Festival will be featured in the late summer through the fall.
Fall in Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh offers an authentic urban spot for travelers searching for autumnal colors, river views, local shopping, and enjoyable cultural sights. I enjoyed viewing great art, walking along the river, and exploring the city’s various neighborhoods. And the fall colors left an imprint that I will always imagine when thinking about Pittsburgh in the future.
Pittsburgh skyline. Photo by Judy Karnia
Let  Wander With Wonder be your guide when planning your next trip to Pittsburgh or elsewhere in Pennsylvania . We also have more great fall getaways .
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Pittsburgh: Perfect Place for Fall Visit
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