Mattress Factory - it made me feel all funny inside.

Over the Thanksgiving break I finally got to the Mattress Factory along with Your Active Art-Loving Husband, and it definitely made me feel all funny inside. I would say it also made my soul giggle and kind of made my head hurt, too.

The Mattress Factory is a contemporary art museum located in the North Side and has all sorts of in your face, interactive, mind-blowing installation pieces. The Mattress Factory is appropriate for all ages and during my visit there was a great mix of visitors from couples to families to grandparents and grandkids. Here’s a video posted recently demonstrating the power of one of the permanent installations on toddlers.

The museum is actually located in two refurbished historic buildings along Jacksonia Street; a parking lot is located at 505 Jacksonia and provides entrance to the main building. And as you enter the building, the helpful staff at the front desk directs you on where to start and what to expect. I highly recommend you pick up one the paper guides to the current exhibit at the front desk; it tells you about the artists and the show. For a contemporary art novice like me, the guide was invaluable!

We started on the top floor (4th floor), which is devoted to the newest exhibit. It is a group exhibition called LIKENESS, all about an artistic exploration of how we perceive ourselves and how others perceive us. The installations include a funny piece of storytelling that was one of my favorites. LIKENESS exhibits are also found on the 3rd floor and basement level. **Don’t miss the piece in the basement, it’s both creepy and funny and was also one of my favorites. LIKENESS runs until March 2010.

On the lower floors are several permanent installations including exhibits by Greer Lankton, James Turrell, and Yayoi Kusama that were all pretty trippy. The Turrell and Kusama exhibits in particular are not to be missed. They are very guest interactive and lots of fun and kind of blew my mind. A staff member said that when they hold receptions there they have to watch the guests before they get a little too interactive; I can only imagine!

The second building owned by the Mattress Factory is located about a block and a half from the main museum. This building houses some of the artist-in-residence pieces and is also well worth a look.

For those who are not particular fans of contemporary art and could basically take it or leave it, I do understand you. I mostly missed out on the art appreciate gene, myself, and my interest tends to run to pretty colors and straight lines. I would still encourage everyone to visit MF at least once because I believe this kind museum challenges your perceptions of art and the world, and because I believe supporting the arts has always been a huge part of what makes Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh.

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Riverview Park

I was recently out enjoying a fine November weekend and decided to explore Riverview Park. Riverview Park is located just north of Pittsburgh along Perrysville Ave (Route 19). Probably the most well-known and visible feature of the park is the Allegheny Observatory, located on a hilltop in the center of the park. The park itself winds around the hilltop and includes wooded paths, a road/path, several pavilions and a pool. The park opened in 1894 within the City of Allegheny and today is undergoing some improvements thanks to the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy.

At this time of year, there was ample space to park up by the Observatory. Because the leaves are all down, you can get a good sense of the overall layout of the paths and roads without much difficulty (I can imagine in the summer months that the paths would feel much more secluded). I really loved how the domes of the Observatory peaked out through the trees almost everywhere I walked; it was an easy way to navigate and quite scenic as well.

The hillside around the observatory is well maintained with a long sloping lawn. A fenced-in, off-leash dog area is located here next to the Observatory. Around the lower portions of the hillside and on the slopes, the park has a number of wooded paths. The paths can be as short or as long as you like since they mostly double back on themselves. They were fairly well kept and several joggers were out when I was there.

One section of paths that is beyond the hill is the Snyder Point natural area. The conservancy is working to restore the setting and right now with the trees bare, you can enjoy the view across to the Ohio River.

A narrow road winds throughout the park with wide shoulders well marked on either side. This is a great option for bicyclists and joggers, and even a number of dog walkers that I saw. The speed is of cars is kept down and there is little traffic. A few pavilions, a playground, and a pool are also located within the park.

Being lucky enough to live near Frick Park, I get to enjoy the Pittsburgh city parks almost every day. Riverview Park is another nice option within the parks system and we’re lucky to have it. I’m glad I took the chance to explore a new part of my city.

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The family's all here! Now what do we do?

The holiday season is fast approaching, a time to be surrounded by family and friends, to feel the joy of the season, ... to generally stress out!

Let Your Active City do our part to relieve your stress and encourage you to have a fun and connected holiday season. Below is our list of ideas for things to do with the family around Thanksgiving.

#1. Take a tour - Ok, I may be biased, but tours are a great way to spend a big chunk of time with friends and family and maybe even learn something new.

Oakland on the World Stage is a walking tour of Schenley Plaza, which sounds pretty tame but it actually a surprisingly interesting and information-packed tour. For example, on the tour you learn about the 1st artificial ice rink in North America, a bridge that was buried in the ground, and a hotel that housed the rich and famous of the early 20th century - all in Oakland! It’s an easy walk and fully accessible.

Another great tour option are the 27 Nationality Rooms at the Cathedral of Learning. The rooms are visited by over 15,000 people each year (no kidding) and are world-renowned. Take a tour with us and you’ll learn all the secrets of these rooms. Groups of 10 or more can also tour with University of Pittsburgh student guides, or simply wander through the rooms on their own (although there is a lot to see and a guide is highly recommended).

Both tours can be modified to run either 1 hour or 1½ hours in length. They can also be combined for a 2-hour tour experience. Call (412) 303-0566 or email info@youractivecity.comto ask questions or to set up a tour for your family and friends. More details can also be found at http://www.youractivecity.com/.

Hint 1: Combine a tour with a visit to the Carnegie Museums or Phipps Conservatory. You’ll have a full day of activities with your loved ones and no stress added!

Other great tours in the Pittsburgh area include‘Burgh Bits & Bites food tours and Sole City tours.

#2. Go to a park - I know, I know. It’s too cold, there’s no leaves, what will we do there, etc, etc. I am a huge fan of fall and winter hiking and if you’re looking for a free and fun way to spend some time out of the house – I say “Send your family to a park!”

Now that the leaves are down, you’ll see things you never noticed, before I guarantee it. Plus, this is the time when we really need to get outside and enjoy the sun (what there is of it) and crisp fall air. You’ll be amazed at how refreshed and invigorated you feel after even an hour outside. There are no crowds, parking spaces are there for the taking, and the kids can run around. It’s not really that cold anyway. Come on, give it a try. Admission is FREE.

#3. Museums - Museums abound around Pittsburgh, so you can take your pick. Both sections of the Carnegie Museum in Oakland have new exhibitions running which will please patrons of all ages. The Carnegie Museum of Natural History has just opened Whales/Tohora, on loan from New Zealand’s National Museum. It is all about whales and the connection between whales and the peoples of New Zealand.

The Carnegie Museum of Art has just opened a new section – the Ailsa Mellon Bruce Galleries, which showcase some amazing pieces from the museum's decorative arts collection. These galleries include furniture from the 18th century to mid-20th century modern. Admission is good for both museums and is $15 for adults, $12 for seniors, and $11 for kids 3-18. *Remember that the museums are closed Mondays and major holidays.

Phipps Conservatory is another great staple for all ages and interests right there in Oakland. With the winter season, it’s nice to be back among flowers and warmth. The glass art pieces scattered throughout the conservatory add a great dimension to the visit, and kids will adore the Tropical Forest. You can read my review of Phipps here. Admission is $10 for adults, $9 for seniors and students with ID, and $7 for kids 2-18. Phipps is closed on Thanksgiving day both otherwise open daily from 9:30 am to 5 pm, plus open late on Fridays until 10 pm.

Other museum possibilities are the Warhol, hosting the Shepard Fairey exhibition Supply and Demand until the end of the year, the Westmoreland Museum of American Art, celebrating 50 years, or the Frick Art and Historical Center where admission to the Art Museum and Car and Carriage Museum is free.

Please search our Your Active Blog archives for further ideas and feel free to provide some suggestions of your own by commenting below. I hope every one has a happy Thanksgiving celebration!

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Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hall and Museum

Since this week includes Veteran’s Day and I’ve just launched my historic tour of Oakland, the signs all seem to be indicating that it’s time to blog about the Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hall and Museum in Oakland.

Many do not realize there is a museum inside the large temple-like building along 5th Avenue in Oakland, just across from the William Pitt Union. Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hall and Museum opened in 1910 as a project of the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) to honor the veterans of the Civil War. Today the Hall honors American veterans from all eras and houses a great hidden treasure - the military museum.

The building was designed by Henry Hornbostel, the architect also responsible for the CMU campus and an early version of the University of Pittsburgh campus in Oakland. For those that appreciate neo-classical architecture, this is an impressive example of Beaux-Arts in the original Oakland Civic Center.

Journey up the long lawn and you’ll come to the main entrance of the Hall. Step inside and sign in, no admission is required in 2009 although a donation is encouraged. Once you’ve signed in, you’ll be able to walk around the “museum”. The majority of the hall is taken up by a central auditorium, but the halls around the auditorium have been made into a museum housing over a hundred years’ worth of militaria.

Starting to the left, you’ll move through military history from pre-Civil War to the recent conflicts in the Middle East. In addition to the hallway exhibits, there are a few thematic rooms displaying aspects of military life.

Along the main halls of the museum, the amount and variety of military memorabilia is impressive and certainly a must-see for anyone interested in militaria. In addition to numerous uniforms and a scattering of guns and cannons, there are a variety of personal artifacts and even a Korean War-era Jeep. As to the thematic exhibits, I particularly liked the “Thinking of You” section, which includes touching mementoes and letters from service men and women to their families.

Wandering these halls, you can also learn about the some of the unsung and unremembered groups in the military. There were a number of pieces about the place of women, including a WWII female pilot from our area whose service was only recognized decades later. Near the start of the museum there is a small room describing the place of children in wartime, which included becoming soldiers themselves during the Civil War.

If you are looking for a hidden museum and/or enjoy militaria, this is the place for you. It is also a great time to honor the service and sacrifice of thousands of local military service men and women. The museum is open Tuesday-Sunday 10 am – 4 pm and parking can be found in the garage under the hall as well as around Oakland.

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I’m on a roll. And now…Frick Park

Since I’ve covered the Frick house and the Frick Art Gallery, I might as well complete the trifecta and review my favorite park – Frick Park! Sadly, I never really appreciated the beauty of Frick Park until I moved to Squirrel Hill and can now visit it nearly every day. If you have only ever driven past and never entered the park (as I did countless times) give yourself a little present and take some time to explore it during these last days of fall. I’ve included some photos here to give you a sense of the park.

Frick is the largest of the Pittsburgh parks at 561 acres (!) and the most natural-feeling, in my opinion. While I enjoy the other city parks, Frick is absolutely my favorite for its variety and sense of wilderness in the city. Unlike the other city parks, Frick Park was not as obviously “created” or landscaped by the Victorian sensibility of the early 1900s, and so you retain the slopes and valleys and woodland feeling. I’ll try to cover the park in sections since there is so much to see.

Upper Park (Beechwood and Nicholson/English Lane, Squirrel Hill)
At one time there was a golf course in the park and you can see evidence of this in the grassy plateau mounds in the upper part of Frick. This section of the park is kept more like a large lawn and offers a great view of the Monongahela River valley. There is also the Blue Slide Playground, a baseball diamond, and in the winter some really great sledding riding here! If you're up for it, you can also take advantage of the exercise stops around the path here (or just practice your parcour moves).

Dog lovers take note – there is an off-leash dog area in the park which is most easily found by parking along Beechwood and entering here. Simply take the paved path back through the lawn area and keep walking until you see the sign for the OLEA (Off-Leash Exercise Area). Or, more simply, just follow all the other dogs and you’ll find it.

This is also a good entrance to the mountain biking singletrack which runs throughout the park. Just enter along the pathway and angle up above the baseball diamond, there’s a dirt path up the embankment that leads into the singletrack. Other paths run off the wider multi-purpose trails, just keep a look out on the sides. Here is a link to a nice map of the singletrack trais. Please remember that these trails are multi-use and consider joggers/kids/dogs.

Frick Environmental Center entrance (Beechwood just off Forbes Ave., Squirrel Hill)
This is a great entrance for hikers and joggers. Once you enter the park here, you are right on the wooded jogging paths and have a variety of options. Check out the wooden deck “overlook”, it’s a relaxing spot to hang out. If you don’t want to hike very far, there is a short loop around the deck that is perfect for young kids. Also take a stroll up past the summer camp area into the path through the brush. This used to be kept mowed, but is now allowed to grow as a natural meadow. The FEC still holds classes and a summer camp for kids, although the main building was burned out decades ago and has never been refurbished. There is a parking lot at this entrance.

Lower Parking lot – Commercial St (Squirrel Hill/Swisshelm Park)
There are three gravel parking areas just off Commercial St, at the bottom of the valley, which lead to the lower Frick trails. These parking areas are a great starting point for mountain bikers and those who want to hike both sides of Nine Mile Run. Nine Mile Run is in the process of being restored by the great work of the Nine Mile Run Watershed Association and deserves a look. Where it passes through the main part of Frick Park, the run is now kept cleared and protected (where necessary) to encourage the return of more native species. Please note that the water in the creek, however, is still not suitable for drinking or play and does contain runoff matter.

Cross the street from the main park, and you can hike/bike a relatively new portion of Frick Park. This trail runs along the valley at the bottom of the Summerset residential plan, which was built on a slag dump. This trail gives you a sense of the earlier character of the area before restoration and leads ultimately to the Monongahela River at Duck Hollow.

Tennis Courts and Lower Parking (Lot off W. Hutchinson, Regent Square)
For those entering Frick Park from the Regent Square side, both parking lots offer direct access to the lower portion of Frick Park, Nine Mile Run, and the hiking/jogging paths. You do start at the bottom of the valley on this side, so at least you get a downhill going back to your car. There are playing fields next to the lower parking lot and what used to be the rugby pitch. There is also a small picnic shelter.

There are several other entrances to the park, some with parking and some without. A full map of the park and entrances can be found here or on the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy website.

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It’s the Frick…House (Part 2, Art Museum, Car & Carriage Museum)

If Clayton alone isn’t enough for you, or if you prefer a more economical day out, then may I suggest the Frick Art Museum and Car & Carriage Museum? Everyone I know would enjoy at least one, if not both, of these options and better yet, both are FREE admission (there is a box for donations at the entrances).

My focus for this trip was to see the Art Museum and the new exhibition Icons of American Photography. This is a collection of images from the Cleveland Museum of Art representing photography and technology from 1850-1960. The first pieces I saw walking in the door were a collection of daguerreotypes. I’ve seen daguerreotypes before, mostly faded and weathered, but these were crisp, sharp, and almost eerie. It was a very striking set with typically odd Victorian subjects.

As I moved around the room, I was struck by some of the turn-of-the-century western landscapes from Yosemite and other western parks. Since I just watched the National Parks series on PBS, I recognized several of the locations and it was fun to see in person images I had just watched on TV.

Portraits were scattered among these landscapes, including one of Georgia O’Keefe by Alfred Stieglitz and a striking photo of Wallis Simpson, the Duchess of Windsor. Turning the corner, I came face-to-face with an incredible photograph by Ansel Adams, whose work I’ve only ever seen in books. Seeing the real thing, in person, was a great experience.

In my opinion, this exhibit is well worth visiting and small enough that it can be enjoyed in a reasonable period of time.

I also walked through the permanent collection and I was struck by the same feeling I had at Clayton. It was almost like Helen Clay Frick was welcoming me into her home, albeit the public and ritzy part of her home. The pieces displayed here are from her personal collection and include 14th century religious panel paintings, 18th century French paintings, furniture, and more. I particularly enjoyed the fact that I could get up close and really see these paintings. There are only a few rooms, so I felt that I could spend the time seeing each one and not worry about what was around the next corner. It was an intimate, relaxing experience to tour the Art Museum and for this price, you’d be crazy not to stop by.

If art is not your thing and you've been dragged to the Frick, perhaps you'll enjoy the Car & Carriage Museum which I thought was nice and which Your Active Husband could have stayed in for hours on end. This museum contains an array of fine cars and carriages, including several used by the Fricks, which Helen Frick brought back to Pittsburgh. Also in the museum are automobiles donated by G. Whitney Snyder. The cars range in age from an 1881 Brougham to a 1940 American Bantam Convertible Coupe. There is even a car built in Pittsburgh; I didn’t know we had a company.

I must confess that, as with all things cars, I probably could not fully appreciate the fine collection of vehicles in front of me. Nevertheless, they were very pretty and had nice upholstery. (I’m learning to appreciate these cars more after seeing the Vintage Grand Prix this year at Schenley Park. I highly recommend you see the race next summer, particularly early on when they’re racing the really old cars. It’s very unpredictable and fun.) Disregarding my untrained eye, Your Active Husband assures me that the cars was very cool and several were famous models that he had only ever seen in books or on TV. Even if cars are not your thing, I suggest at least taking a look in the museum.

The Frick Art and History Center is open Tue-Sat 10 am to 5 pm and includes free parking in the lot on their grounds. For directions and more information visit their website.

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It's the Frick....House (Part 1, Clayton)

If an ornate Gilded Age mansion can be called “cozy”, Clayton is that. I might also call it “cute” and “comfortable”. Clayton is a sparkling example of a fully decked-out, designer’s dream mansion that at the same time feels like a real home.

If you like material culture, design, or just seeing lots of cool old stuff, then Clayton should be on your must-see list (and shame on you for not getting there yet!). Tours of Clayton are only $12 and… get this …the Frick Art Gallery, Car and Carriage Museum, and grounds are all FREE!

More about this in Part 2, but really, if you live in the Squirrel Hill/Point Breeze/Regent Square area get yourself over there for an hour or two. It’s a great resource right on the edge of Frick Park and a perfect part of a day out on the East End. You can include lunch at the Café at Frick, or follow it up with a nice hike through Homewood Cemetery and a meal at Pointe Brugge (belgian beer and mussels, yum!).

But back to Clayton, this was the home of Henry Clay Frick, his wife Adelaide and four children, of whom only two survived. The Frick family lived at Clayton from 1882-1905 before moving to a much larger mansion in New York City. The home stayed in the family through Helen Clay Frick who obviously loved the house and thoughtfully preserved it and planned to have it opened to the public upon her death in 1984. After renovations, Clayton was opened for tours in 1990.

The great thing about touring Clayton is that with just a single owner over the last 100 years, and an owner who was dedicated to preserving it, 90% of the house is still as it was when the Frick’s bought and remodeled it in the 1890s. The wallpapers, the fixtures, the ceilings, the furniture – it’s like stepping back into that time and that family.

They do recommend you call in advance to sign up for a daily tour of Clayton. When you visit, the tours meet in the Visitor Center/Playhouse where you’ll check in and have an introduction by your docent prior to walking over to Clayton.

The downstairs, public rooms in Clayton are magnificently furnished and beautiful to walk through. My favorite rooms, however, were definitely the private rooms on the second floor. Mrs. Frick’s red boudoir is something to behold, as is Mr. Frick’s elaborate bathroom, but my favorite room was the “family room”. This was really their sitting room and study located just off from the family bedrooms. I could absolutely spend an entire afternoon in that space. You are just cocooned in wall paneling and can lounge on comfortably upholstered chaises, reading books or playing games while mom or dad works at their desk nearby.

I completely understand why Helen loved this house just as it was and wanted to continue to return there and preserve it. It is a like a memory of your house growing up, before you’ve moved out and they’ve turned your room into a “exercise den” and thrown away half your stuff (“oh, I didn’t think you still wanted that, dear…”).

As compared to visiting similar Gilded-Age mansions in Newport, RI, you get a much smaller house here and a different setting; but at Clayton you really see how the house lived. At other mansions the materials have mostly not been kept with the house, and what is displayed is really the public house, not the private/family house. Clayton is a treasure and a must-see.

Tours are $12 for adults, but Tuesdays are 2-for-1 days. The rest of the grounds, the greenhouse, the Car and Carriage Museum, and the Frick Art Gallery are all FREE. Parking at the Frick is fairly ample and also free.

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Allegrippis - "...and lo, they said there would be mountain biking for all, and it was good."

So Your Active Husband (YAH) and I (Me) heard this rumor about 8 months ago that IMBA (International Mountain Biking Association) was building, and we mean building, some mountain bike trails in central PA. This made us very happy since we would be returning to the motherland soon and could finally ride trails that weren’t made up of sand, large angular rocks, and more sand.

The Allegrippis Trails at Raystown Lake opened in May 2009 and comprise 32 miles of looped trail. You can find a trail map here. Last week, we finally made it to Raystown and the trails are like nothing I’ve ever been on, truly.

These are the first trails machine-built by IMBA and partners in Pennsylvania, and some of the first on the entire East Coast. In my mind the Allegrippis project represents a huge step forward in biking tourism in the state and I’m excited about what can happen in the future. (To learn more about how these trails came to be check out the article in Dirt Rag #143).

Just to ground you for this review, I’ll let you know that it will be written from two perspectives:

• Me - intermediate mountain biker, likes no stress rides, on a front-suspension hardtail Cannondale F1000 from 1998. I’ve named it the “Nimble Goat” or “Goat” for its fabulous climbing ability (YAH doesn’t believe in naming bikes, just taking lots and lots of pictures of them);
  
• Your Active Husband – advanced mountain biker, likes a challenge but will also slow down and ride with his low stress wife, biking on a no suspension, new-to-him, Kona Unit 29er (which just means oversize wheels, can someone say compensating? He assures me that the big wheels help him go over stuff, I believe him) single-speed (which means no gears and thus makes no sense) that does not have a name because that is not what men do.

Being machine-made, the Allegrippis trails are rated the way skiing trails are - green trails are easiest, blue trails are intermediate, and black trails are advanced. They are well signed and easy to follow.

So how are the trails? We’ve heard them described, as “fast”, “smooth”, “rollercoaster”, and these are all accurate but don’t quite describe the experience of riding the Allegrippis fully. Neither of us had ever been on machine-made trails before nor had a lot of the people we passed, so we all had this look on our faces kind of like disbelief – they actually built trails? Just for us? Here’s a rundown of pros and cons:

Pros:

• Accessible to all. This to me is key, because of the rankings and signage and the way the trails loop, anyone can ride here. I can ride with Your Active Husband and actually take some trails on my own, because I know I won’t get lost. For others who are directionally deficient out there, this is BIG!
  
• Less stressful day out. With the rankings you know exactly what you’re getting into, so no getting angry because you’ve been led to yet another steep climb, and forced to walk the bike through yet another rock garden, and… you get the picture.
  
• Fast trails. There were entire sections that looked flat but I didn’t need to touch a pedal, I just kept going.

Cons:

• Spontaneity. Since the trails are mapped out you do lose some of the sense of discovery and surprise. But for me, the surprise wears off about 30 minutes into yet another lost trail.
  
• Challenge. For advanced riders or those wanting a challenge, none of the trails are “technical” per se, but they offer a place and features to refine your skills that most trails don’t offer.

TRAIL REVIEW:
North Trails (suspension nice to have but not required)Fawn/Doe/Buck Trails (green).
(Me) If you can ride a bike you can basically ride these trails. True beginners still might find a few places they have to walk, but these trails are basically rock- and root-free and can be ridden at a slower pace. Good to build confidence and no surprises.

(Your Active Husband) If you’re advanced and riding these I found it a good place to warm up and work on dialing in my tire pressure and my pump technique.

Sleek Dog, Eagle, Osprey (blue).
(Me) The blue trails are not technical, but do require some more speed than the green, so you have to be comfortable riding with speed and taking some slightly bigger rollers and ups and downs. I LOVED these sections and thought they flowed beautifully. Osprey is entirely uphill going toward the parking lot, so keep that in mind.

(Your Active Husband) I’m gonna use a two words to describe Sleek Dog and Eagle – “flow country” - I didn’t ride much of Osprey so take the lady’s word on it.

Berry Patch, Loco – Motive, Red Legs (blue); Hydro Loop, Sidewinder, Ray’s Revenge (black).
(Me) Didn’t ride this time. But from his description, I believe I would be fine with Hydro Loop and Sidewinder is just painful, but doable.

(Your Active Husband) Hydro was super nice and not necessarily more technical than the blue trails, it just seemed that the interval between the rollers was closer together. I would not recommend riding Sidewinder or Ray’s Revenge from Osprey. They were steep with a few switchbacks that were loose, much better going down than up, plus there’s a small “dip” - think table top jump - on Ray’s Revenge. Berry Patch, Loco - Motive, Red Legs and Allie were great trails with a good mix of climbing and downhill to keep it interesting

South Trails (suspension highly recommended, unless you really like to be uncomfortable)
Dark Hollow, Shade, Dirt Sufer Barrel Bay (blue).
(Me) These trails are definitely bumpier and rockier (but not in a technical way) than the north trails; suspension was a great asset here. I really like these trails and they felt much more like “typical” PA mountain biking trails, a great view of the lake, and lots of up and down. I don’t know if it was because it was the end of the day or the way these trails are, but there was a lot of standing up on the bike for these and my body really started feeling it over here. I was actually hoping for stretches to pedal rather than coast because my legs and back hurt.

(Your Active Husband) For me these trails paled in comparison to the others. They felt choppy and just didn’t flow, but maybe that’s the point. I definitely wanted my full suspension bike for these as the single speed was starting to wear me down.

So that’s our review.

Whether you like these particular trails or not, I say - “Ride them!”, and get others to ride them, tell everyone you know about them. If Allegrippis is a success, and by that I mean brings in riders and money, then more will be created and more of Pennsylvania can work on developing more pockets of sustainable, outdoor-focused, tourism-based economies.

(Your Active Husband) These types of trails are very popular in England, pick up a copy of Singletrack magazine and see their perspective on the positives and negatives of the machine made trails (Me – I read it for the pretty pictures). All I can say is that we need to ride and support the groups that made them possible and I would urge everyone to buy an Allegrippis pint glass or t-shirt from Raystown Visitors Center (proceeds go back to the friends organization that made these trails possible). I wouldn’t want all of the trails to be like this in the future, but I think we need to establish more trails around the state like this just so new people can be introduced to mountain biking in a somewhat controlled environment.

Trail Etiquette (mountain biking edition). Here’s a helpful little reminder for those planning to visit Allegrippis (which I hope is a lot of people):

1. Uphill rider has the right of way. If you meet someone on the trail, the person traveling downhill should step off the path and let the poor guy/gal struggling upwards get by.
   
2. Don’t ride up on people. If you know you’re slow and hear someone behind you, get off the trail and let them pass. If you’re a fast rider but have only 300 feet left and a little bit of patience (!) don’t ride up on the slow guy on the green trail in front of you. Have some manners and slow down, you’ll be at the end soon enough.
   
3. Yielding. Hikers should yield to bikers, bikers should yield to horses (although if you see a horse on the Allegrippis, let me know).
   
4. Leave no trace. Be sensitive to the trails you’re riding, try not to ride on/chew up the trail if it’s muddy, stay on the existing trail and don’t create new ones.

How to get there from here:
To find the trails, follow all mapping/signs for the Seven Points Recreation Area at Raystown Lake which is run by the US Army Corps. There is mostly RV camping here, with one area for tents only, and is mostly overrun by motorboats and RVing families in the summer. There are one or two other campgrounds just off the Seven Points area where you may find a spot too. The Corps campground closes at the end of October.

The trails are 2 hours from Monroeville if you take Route 22 (130 miles), and 45 miles from State College, 100 miles from Harrisburg, 130 miles from Baltimore, and 145 miles from D.C. So it is actually really well placed for much of the Mid-Atlantic.

Once you arrive there are two parking options, parking lot #1 is along Bakers Hollow Road and to get there you’ll want to turn left just before entering the Army Corps area. This parking lot holds approx 20 cars and leads to green, blue, and black trails and is my recommended starting point. Parking lot #2 is located just after the registration office at the Seven Point Rec Area and holds 6 cars. This lot leads to a few blue and black trails, no green. (NOTE – the registration office has two bathrooms at the back of the building, this is probably the only bathroom you’re gonna find in the area so take note.) A blue trail does link the two parking lots and allows those camping at Seven Points to bike up to the other section of the Allegrippis.

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Up Close and Personal with the Penguins….at the National Aviary

I’ve found the absolute best way to get up close and personal with a penguin, go to the National Aviary. I know the Pittsburgh Zoo also has a great penguin exhibit, but the Aviary’s use of pop-up plastic portholes brings you just inches from the little creatures, and they’re pretty darn cute.

The National Aviary is just minutes from the Children’s Museum on the North Side and has it’s own parking area. There are over 600 different species of birds at the Aviary and multiple exhibits. They do a great job of providing activities at regular times throughout the day that really allow you learn and interact with the birds, and enhances the overall experience. I would definitely recommend the Aviary for animal and bird lovers of all ages, and kids as well.

Penguin Point I found to be lots of fun for all ages, and it was unusual to see the birds so close up. There are two daily talks at the exhibit where you learn about the penguins and how the Aviary takes care of them. Any time of the day, however, you can stop in and see them up close, walking around or swimming.

The Tropical Forest is one of two “free-flight” areas at the Aviary, this means you can enjoy seeing the birds fly around the large conservatory and occasionally dive bombing visitors, in an entirely safe wayJ. There are two daily feeding times in the forest where you have a chance to watch the trainers feed the birds and maybe even interact with them yourself. I was lucky enough to be able to feed one of the birds from my hand. To have that little guy fly down and land on me just made my day. The Rainforest is home to a huge variety of tropical birds and you’ll be looking at every nook and cranny trying to see them all.

The Aviary also presents FliteZone shows throughout the summer and early fall, weather permitting. This is a free-flight show including kites and eagles. NOTE: For Halloween there will be some special owl performers as part of theme shows October 24, 25, and 31.

When you wander through the Aviary, you have the chance to walk past some of the largest birds I’ve ever seen in my life, the Steller’s sea-eagles, and next to them a pair of bald eagles. Outside the Aviary don’t miss the enclosures of the, also enormous, Andean condors.

The Penguin Point exhibit is clearly the newest and most well funded portion of the zoo; there are uneven aspects to the remainder of the exhibits. In April of 2009, the Aviary broke ground on a $23 million expansion and renovation project and I look forward to what it has in store for the future, if Penguin Point is any indication. The National Aviary is open Mon-Sat 10am-5pm and Sun 12pm-5pm; admission is $10 for adults and $8.50 for children.

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Mural Hunt…your G20-week, non-protesting, free activity

Some of you may recall that Shepard Fairey was in Pittsburgh back in August during the Netroots Nation shindig and put up 10 murals around town. The murals are both a statement to the G20 leaders to support efforts addressing climate change, and a precursor to his exhibit “Supply and Demand” which will be opening at the Andy Warhol Museum on October 18.

Well, I finally had a day-off and some time to ride around and try to find them all. I was, happily, successful and thought that others might like to play a similar game of hide and seek the Shepard Fairey murals. These murals are all located outside the G20 security zone and very bikable. I would say it takes about 1.5 hours by bike to see them all.

Here is a description of the murals and locations that I am also offering on an RSS Feed. If you have a phone that connects to the web, use this feed to guide you on your journey.

You can also follow this link to Pop City’s article on the murals and fabulous Google map showing locations.

Murals #1 and 2 at Warhol Museum, Rosa Villa, 106 E. General Robinson Street, North Side.
The largest murals are located across from the Warhol on the North Side. This mural includes his poster for MoveOn.org’s Power Up America campaign and an image of human rights leader and Nobel Prize recipient Aung San Suu Ki of Myanmar.(GPS 40.448662/-80.002594)

Mural #3 8th St (Tito Way) between Penn Ave and Liberty Ave, Downtown
This set of murals is located in a large alleyway across from culinary institute downtown.(GPS 40.442928/-79.999184)

Mural #4 272 1st Avenue, Downtown
Behind the Art Institute, on building facing the parking lot.(GPS 40.438061/-80.002792)

Mural #5 at Fast>>fwd Gallery, 3700 Penn Avenue at 37th St, Lawrenceville
Mural has been pulled down, see this link for the original picture.(GPS 40.464401/-79.962578)

Mural #6 4035 Butler Street, Lawrenceville
At Crazy Mocha, look up at the side of the building.(GPS 40.469402/-79.961441)

Mural #7 4140 Penn Avenue, Lawrenceville
At Brillobox look up and see the giant.(GPS 40.465706/-79.954788)

Mural #8 5423 Penn Avenue, Garfield/Friendship
On the side of the Sprout Fund Building.(GPS 40.464831/-79.935440)

Mural #9 5515 Penn Avenue, Garfield/Friendship
On the east side of Penn Ave, there is a small parking lot next to building, near the Pgh Glass Center.(GPS 40.463963/-79.931831)

Mural #10 Bigelow Blvd and N. Craig Street, North Oakland
If driving, park on Bigelow, murals are on building at busy intersection just past North Oakland.(GPS 40.456875/-79.954720)

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Carnegie Science Center

I haven’t been inside the Carnegie Science Center since it first opened, so I figured it was about time I got back there. Biking down to the CSC on one of these gorgeous September days was great fun all in itself. On your trip to the CSC, I highly recommended adding some time to walk or bike along the riverfront and enjoy the beautiful setting.

I’m actually going to start my review with my favorite part of the CSC – the submarine, the USS Requin. I have not been down to visit the CSC since the submarine was brought in and I have definitely been missing out!

As a history-lover it was an amazing experience to actually be able to put myself back in that period of time. The Requin is kept in pristine condition and stepping down the ladder into the sub is like stepping back in time. The incredibly small living quarters, the capsule-like doorways, and the displays present you a real picture of what it was like to work on a sub with 100 or so men back around the end of WWII. The guides on the sub are particularly great assets. All are gentlemen who served in the Navy in that period and they can all tell some great stories and really bring to life the ship you’re standing in. In addition, computer displays provide audio segments from other ex-submariners who either served on the Requin or similar boats, and their stories are equally engaging. If you want to learn a little more about this pivotal time in history, walk onto the Requin and step back in time.

Beyond the sub, most of the CSC seems to be geared toward kids and, depending on your child’s interests, there is a lot to see and do. The most traditional, hands-on areas are SciQuest and Exploration Station where you can really get in and get your hands dirty. Also fun are the demonstrations at the Kitchen Theater and Works Theater which occur throughout the day and are announced on those floors prior to show start times.

The first floor of the Carnegie Science Center includes the tickets area, the Omnimax theater, and an exhibit called “SciQuest”. The theater shows movies throughout the day, all are approximately 45-60 min long and you can enter and purchase tickets just for the show. My favorite here was SciQuest which has been open since the beginning. The purpose of the exhibit is to learn about physical forces like wind, light, sound, and earthquakes. The displays were very interactive and I think it holds up very well to the more digital parts of the Center. It is interesting for all ages with a lot to touch and experience.

The second floor includes the new/old Buhl Digital Dome (I’m just going to call it the Buhl Planetarium for old time’s sake), the Miniature Railroad & Village (that used to be in the Buhl Planetarium), and the new exhibit roboworld. The Buhl Dome has showings throughout the day included in your ticket price, movies are approx. 20 min long, and they’re well-worth seeing. It’s a nice way to take a short break and sit.

If you’re familiar with the Miniature Railroad & Village from it’s early days, there are still some of the classic figures included. A few new elements have also been added to provide scope. I’ve always enjoyed watching the little figures working in the quarry or the clothes snapping on the line in an imaginary wind. I wish they had more of the moveable figures included.

The bulk of the second floor is devoted to roboworld. This exhibit includes multiple stations that allow kids to interact with different types of robots - robots throwing basketballs, robots picking things up, robots with facial recognition. For the robot-lovers and techno lovers out there, I’m sure this is a hit. For me, I felt like I was at a carnival game trying to pick up the stuffed giraffe with a crane; clearly this is not my thing.

But onwards and upwards, the top floor contains Exploration Station and the Works Theater. Exploration Station is actually divided into two areas, the main area for all ages and a closed-off section just for 3-6 year olds. Both areas are full of great hands-on activities working with water, or electrical circuits (not together, thankfully), or animals, or even a weather area. As with SciQuest, I was more drawn to these hands-on activities that really let you get in there and play. Also on this floor, the Works Theater has demonstrations throughout the day that teach kids about forces such as electricity and voltage.

The café and group meet up areas are located below the first floor. The café offers the typical fare – sandwiches, burgers, hot dogs, fries. You also have the opportunity to bring your own food. There are also lockers on this floor.

According to the CSC website, the Highmark SportsWorks exhibition which is being rebuilt is set to open in late 2009. I look forward to that and plan on stopping by as soon as it’s open.

The Carnegie Science Center has a variety of ticket options, general admission is $10 for kids 3-12 and $14 for adults; add $5 for an Omnimax movie. To see the Omnimax only is $6 for kids and $8 for adults, similar prices for laser shows. is open Sunday-Friday 10 am to 5 pm, and Saturday 10 am to 7 pm.

NOTE: The CSC does CLOSE on days of Steelers home games.

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Fort Necessity

If you’re traveling around Uniontown some day or simply enjoy visiting historical sites, take a shot at visiting Fort Necessity. It’s only $5 for adult and FREE for kids 15 and under, and a fun way to spend an hour or two. The fort is located 15 min east of Uniontown along Rt. 40, the National Road.

If you were around last year for the 250th anniversary of Pittsburgh, then you know that Fort Necessity was built (out of necessity, hence the name) by a young George Washington who had managed to really tick off a group of nearby French soldiers, thus inciting the French and Indian War. (Okay, technically, the fort was built by George Washington’s troops to protect them from a French raid in the summer of 1754. Earlier that summer, his troops had killed a French officer nearby and the French were out to attack the British troops in retaliation. Who can blame them?)

Today, Fort Necessity has one of the BEST National Park Service Visitor Centers I’ve seen in a long time. It includes some nice replica artifacts and interesting interpretive exhibits. Opened in 2005, the center interprets both the French and Indian War, and the history of the National Road which was actually based on the trail Washington’s troops cleared on their way through the area. See more pictures here.

The first stop in the center should be the excellent “here’s what happened and why it’s a national park now” movie. This 20-minute movie is well produced and looks great on their HD screen. It is actually interesting to watch, which is saying something because I’ve seen a lot of these introductory movies, and most are boring at best. Maybe they worked with the PBS team who did the, also excellent, French and Indian War documentary. Regardless, it’s short and fun to watch (and also educational).

After the movie, wander through the French and Indian War and National Road exhibits. The War exhibits do a fabulous job of presenting multiple perspectives on the events at the Fort, from the British and French side as well as the Native American sides. Also on hand are some very cool artifact replicas of period weapons, clothes, and even replica wampum belts (read through the display to understand what they mean).

A secondary story for this park is the history of the National Road. The exhibits dedicated to that story are also quite engaging. I could picture myself at some dusty tavern circa 1825 talking about tolls and bed bugs.

Walk outside and you’ll find a playground for younger children; all the kids I saw there absolutely loved it. There is an oversized replica Conestoga wagon and a mini Fort Necessity.

Beyond the Visitor Center, you can visit a replica Fort Necessity. The “fort” is really just a small building inside a small surrounding palisade. The highlight here is to participate in one of the park’s interpretive programs. Each day offers at least one program, usually a Soldier’s Life or Fur Trading. Some days offer special programs. The weekend I visited there was a Native American camp interpretation which was lots of fun. At the time of Washington’s visit the area was contested not just by the British and French, but also by a variety of Native groups from the Seneca to the Delaware to the Shawnee to the Cherokee and others. This weekend included reenactors from these multiple groups with multiple perspectives.

NOTE: Keep in mind the wonderful hiking trails in the area when you visit. Take some time to hike the nearby trails on the grounds and get an idea of what it was like for Washington to travel through these early forests.

Fort Necessity is $5 for adults and FREE for children 15 and under. The Visitor Center is open 9 am-5 pm April through October and the grounds, including hiking trails, are open year-round from sunrise to sunset. They also offer FREE FEE weekends, look at their website for program schedules and other information.

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Ghost Town Trail (bwah hah hah), the other rail-trail

I recently ventured onto the Ghost Town Trail outside of Indiana, PA mostly just because of the name. It sounds so very adventurous. I was pleasantly surprised to find that it was easily a rival for the Great Allegheny Passage in terms of interest and beauty and bikability. If you’re looking for a fall foliage ride in the coming months, you would not do wrong to visit this trail. For some more pictures of the trail, head over to our Facebook photos page.

Here’s the basics you need to know. The Ghost Town Trail in full is 40 miles one way, from Blacklick to Ebensburg. If you’re unfamiliar with these towns, know that Blacklick is just over an hour east of Pittsburgh; take Rt. 22 to Rt. 119 North and you’ll drive into Blacklick just south of Indiana. The trailhead for the Ghost Town Trail is located in Saylor Park, and there is a sign for both the park and the rail trail on Rt. 119 North directing you where to turn.

This area is coal country and you’ll ride past the remnants of over a hundred years of mining and industry along this trail, those are the “ghost towns”. The Ghost Town Trail is well-maintained crushed limestone dust and easy to ride. You peddle alongside Blacklick Creek for most of the time and you’ll notice that the water is suspiciously rust-colored. This is a result of the mining history of the area. However, the trees and scenery in general are truly gorgeous and will only get better throughout the fall.

East of Dilltown, the trail passes most of the “ghost towns” as well as the Eliza Furnace. We did pass the remains of the Buena Vista Furnace on the Blacklick-Dilltown section. Take your pick of which section to ride if you prefer not to do the entire 40 miles. The Blacklick-Dilltown section is beautiful and the closest trailhead to Pittsburgh. The Dilltown to Ebensburg section includes more of the historic “sites”.

At the time of my ride, the last bridge connecting the trail system was just being finished. So biking from Saylor Park in Blacklick, you could ride about 12 miles east and end just before Dilltown where the bridge needs to be completed. According to the schedule, it is to be opened Sept. 11 and it appeared to be on track for that date. By the end of the month, I’ve no doubt the entire 40 mile trail will be connected.

Less crowds, beautiful scenery, and a well-maintained trail – the Ghost Town Trail is another remarkable rail-trail in the Pennsylvania system and a quality alternative to the GAP for those who like rail-trails and/or want to try something a bit new. Kudos to the Indiana, Cambrian, and Westmoreland County parks and regional trail system for putting the money into building and maintaining this trail.

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Meadowcroft Rockshelter and Museum of Rural Life

Like the majority of archaeological sites I’ve worked on, Meadowcroft Rockshelter and Museum of Rural Life is located at the end of a long, winding road which appears to be washing out and leading to nowhere. (In case you’ve never heard of Meadowcroft, it is the oldest continuously occupied archaeological site in North America as well as the first identified pre-Clovis site, and it’s a National Historic Landmark.) The Meadowcroft Rockshelter and Museum joined with the Heinz History Center in 1993 and is located just outside of Avella, PA. I've included some pictures of my visit here.

All I can say is that it is an adventure, drive slowly, and know that there is something worthwhile at the end. Once you reach Meadowcroft (which really is just an hour outside of Pittsburgh and ½ hour outside of Washington, PA), you’ll be glad you found it.

Meadowcroft is more than just the Rockshelter, it also includes a 1600’s-era Indian Village and a mid-19th century Museum of Rural Life. I’ll get back to the rockshelter, but for the non-archaeologists out there the biggest draw is the village and rural life areas. Both are staffed by well-trained and personable guides and I appreciated their approachability; they were by far the most fun and engaging guides I’ve come across and I’ve visited my fair share of historic sites.

The “Indian Village” is fairly new to Meadowcroft and is a nice replica of a typical 1600’s-era village for this area. A small portion of a log palisade encloses the entrance. Inside you are presented information on local clothes, farming, and hunting, among other things. There are two replica wigwam-style homes which are currently covered with grass matting. I understand from the guide that they hope to get a more authentic covering completed in the future when funding is available, so please overlook the mats for now. With that exception, the materials demonstrated are wonderfully authentic and really give you a sense of handling artifacts that would have been used in the 1600’s. Children particularly enjoyed the presentations and chances to hold stone tools, fur clothes, and try a bit of “hunting”. NOTE: Concerning the fur clothes presentation, I thought this was handled very well and for a purpose – to teach visitors about what would really have been used and worn. However, the furs shown and passed around are real animal furs and if you object to this, you would do best to avoid this section of the village.

The Museum of Rural Life is on another part of the grounds and consists of a grouping of four structures including a log cabin, smithy, schoolhouse, and church. You are invited into each structure and then given a demonstration or asked to play a game. In the schoolhouse you are asked to participate in the school lesson which was a complete blast and particularly interesting to see what the kids in the mid-1800s were learning. I’ve visited Plimoth Plantation and Williamsburg and others, and while this museum doesn’t have the same scope, it’s just as engaging if not more. Kids have a small area to roam, so you won’t lose them, the blacksmith does an excellent presentation, and the house and schoolroom are just plain fun.

As a former-archaeologist the real draw for me was, of course, the Rockshelter which is located just down the hill from the main grounds. If you have any interest in archaeological sites, this is a great one to visit. The new structure covering the site is beautifully done and better yet, actually gives you a great better view of the site. The high roof opens up the area to viewing in a way that was never possible before and a well-thought out lighting system really lets the guide highlight areas that illustrate her presentation. I savored the chance to visit this world-famous site and still can’t quite believe it’s in our own backyard.

I do have one note of caution. Visiting the rockshelter itself is done in groups. When you first sign in, the staff lets you know when the next few groups are meeting (typically once every hour) and you come back to the visitor’s center at the appointed time. The group is then asked to watch a 15 min video before seeing the site. I applaud Meadowcroft for wanting to present some context before visiting the rockshelter, so that the average visitor has a better understanding of what they’re looking at (after all, it does look pretty much like a hole in the ground.) However, the video borders on abysmal and does little credit to the great efforts seen around the site and museum. The guide does an excellent job of presenting Meadowcroft in context. All I can say, is sit through the video and know that it gets better from here.

Overall, Meadowcroft Rockshelter and Museum of Rural Life does a wonderful job of drawing you into the experience and letting you play. It’s a small enough area that you can visit it all and not be overwhelmed, at the same time, my husband and I spent 3 hours there and could have spent more. Kids from ages 2-12 that I saw loved the way the guides let you play at being in a 1900’s school or a 1600’s Indian village. (With the kids over age 12 it was difficult to tell, but the sullen expressions on their faces seemed to lighten just a bit).

Is this trip right for you? Well, if you’re the type to enjoy visiting historic sites, archaeological sites, or reenactments, then you will also definitely enjoy Meadowcroft. It’s a hidden gem for our area and well worth the visit. It is there, I promise, just keep driving.

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What I Didn't Know About Our Parks...is surprising

At the start of the twentieth century, Pennsylvania was almost bare of trees. More than a century of building and logging and charcoaling had stripped the hills and created an industrial boom. Yet, as early as the late 1800’s people were speaking up about the need to protect some of the historic and natural areas of PA.

Today, Pittsburghers can enjoy a variety of parks within our own city (Frick, Schenley, Highland, Riverview) and in the suburbs (North and South Parks). To the east is Boyce and Keystone; to the west is Raccoon Creek and Settlers Cabin. Even farther out we have amazing parks within an hour of driving – Ohiopyle, the Laurel Highlands, McConnell’s Mill and Moraine, and more.

This is a fabulous buffet of outdoor goodies whether you want a small park or a large forest, whether you want to climb or bike or paddle easy or paddle whitewater or fish or whatever.

What I didn’t know until recently is that it is no accident that there are so many state parks and forests located within easy distance of Pittsburgh and other cities in the state. Much of our current park land was built through the work of the CCC and the WPA in the 1930’s(thanks in large part to the leadership of Gov. Gifford Pinchot). PA actually had the second highest number of CCC camps in the country, just after California. What I didn’t realize was that the parks they built through were deliberately located near large cities for the purpose of providing recreation for city residents. How very thoughtful of them!

Then in 1955, Maurice Goddard was appointed director of the Department of Parks and Forests. He proposed building a state park within 25 miles of every PA resident. Can you image this? He actually managed to sell the state on this program and raise the money needed over his 24-year term. By the end of his tenure in 1979, 45 new parks had been created and 130,000 acres of land.

Imagine yourself standing in these places a hundred years ago and seeing only fields and buildings and mud. Could you have believed what you see there today? Could you have imagined it would come back? (By the way, if you want to get an idea of what the forests would have looked like prior to logging, there are a few stands of virgin or almost virgin forest left. One example is Tionesta Scenic and Research Areas in NW PA which is a hemlock-beech forest.)

In honor of the upcoming Labor Day holiday and the labor done by state employees, by the thousands of CCC and WPA employees, and by countless volunteers since. I say go visit your local park! After all those years of labor and legislation, we have the easy part. We just have to enjoy it! Just look around, there should be a park nearby.

Pictures: 1st picture shows logging in PA ca. 1918; courtesy PA State Archives

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Heinz History Center and Western PA Sports Museum

In light of the extended showing of the six Lombardi Trophies, I figured this was a good time to review the Heinz History Center. As a side benefit, that meant I had to go see the trophies myself, oh darn. My trip also included a visit to the attached Western Pennsylvania Sports Museum. To see more photos go here.

If there is one unifying theme among all of the exhibits in the History Center and the Sports Museum, it is the idea of covering large events through the lens of the common person. All the major events of western Pennsylvania history are covered, industries represented, sports teams included, but among these larger ideas are the stories of the workers, the fans, the every day person.

There is a lot to see here and I easily spent 3 hours covering it all. In my opinion, the exhibits to see if you have limited time are the Sports Museum, the Pittsburgh: A Tradition of Innovation exhibit, and the Special Collections Gallery; so that is what I will cover. This is not to say that the other exhibits aren’t also interesting, they are and are worth spending some time to see. But the reality is that the kids get tired, dinner plans have been made, etc., etc.; and so if you are forced to choose, these are my suggestions.

WESTERN PA SPORTS MUSEUM
Let me say this, if sports in Western PA is a religion then this museum is the sanctuary. They cover everything here, and I mean EVERYTHING. Football, baseball, and hockey? Yup. College football? Sure. Golf? Oh Yeah. Rowing, car racing, pinbowling, and more? Check, Check, Check.

So basically, if you like anything about sports, you will love this museum. Great stuff here like famous pro jerseys and a Super Bowl ring (very cool!). But there is also fan memorabilia, game day brochures, seats from Forbes Field, plus a few opportunities to play. If you have friends/family coming in for a game day and want to fill an hour or so before the game, bring them here, you won’t be sorry. NOTE: there is an additional exhibit on Forbes Field on Floor 4, so if you’re a baseball fan don’t miss that.

HISTORY CENTER
The main history-of-the-area exhibit is the Pittsburgh: A Tradition of Innovation section on Floor 2. This covers Western PA history from the first human occupation up to the current day. Obviously, that’s a lot of ground to cover and the exhibit focuses on innovations mainly from the 18th-20th centuries. Lots on industry, transportation, and medicine; a nice room on Jazz in Pittsburgh; you get the idea. I don’t know about the Learn to Speak Pittsburghese display at the end of this hall, but overall this is a comprehensive exhibit and shouldn’t be missed by first-time visitors.

The other area I would recommend is the Special Collections Gallery on Floor 4 where the material culture (ie. artifacts) from the large variety of ethnic groups and neighborhoods which make up Pittsburgh are displayed. Grab a headset as you go in and you’ll hear about the specific families and groups that donated these items. There really is a lot to see here and, again, you could spend easily an hour listening to the narrative and looking closely at all of the displays.

Beyond these sections, there is also the Heinz 57 exhibit, Glass: Shattering Notions, a French and Indian War display, and a moving exhibit called The Darkest Month describing a harrowing winter when over 700 mine workers were killed in several disasters and the effect on the survivors. If you have the time or a specific interest, go see these floors as well. If not, then catch them on your next trip because you will want to come back again.

Overall, the Heinz History Center and Western PA Sports Museum is a well-conceived museum complex with tons to see and enjoy.

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Kayak Pittsburgh

I like to see Kayak Pittsburgh not so much as a name but more as a command. As in “come on Pittsburgh, Kayak already!!”

In my completely biased opinion, one of the best new things to arrive in the city since I left has been Kayak Pittsburgh. And every time I’ve visited home, I keep saying I need to get downtown and do that. And of course, every time I’ve come home I’ve been too busy. Well, no longer!

I finally launched my inaugural Kayak Pittsburgh trip accompanied by Your Active Husband and Your Very Active (you’re doing a triathalon?!) Friend. We are all veteran-beginner kayakers, which means we know how to paddle but don’t let us loose on the rapids. No problems here then, because kayaking on the Allegheny is one of the best places for beginners to learn. There is a wide area to move around in, almost no boat traffic (the barges stay mostly on the Mon and Ohio sides), and great scenery. That’s right, great scenery.

The Kayak Pittsburgh launch site for Downtown is directly under the Clemente Bridge, in front of PNC Park. Just head down the steps and turn left under the bridge and you’ll see the cage of kayaks and the launch area. Kayak Pittsburgh has locations in Downtown, Lake Elizabeth, and North Park. For the Downtown location hours are M-F 11 am-dusk, S-S 10 am-dusk and rentals are $15 per hour ($10 per hour for members). These are nice, solid kayaks and the cost is quite reasonable for the quality of the boat and the time.

Although you can paddle wherever your heart desires, we chose to do the Washington’s Landing loop. I can see the attraction of paddling down to Heinz Field and around the Point, but I’ve seen those areas from the water before and I wanted to try something new, with less boat traffic. The paddle from the bridge launch point to Washington’s Landing is about ½ hour, so you’d have an easy 1 hour paddle round trip.

Being the adventurous souls we are, we decided to loop around the island and add some time to our trip (all together we spent about 2.5 hours with the kayak). Ducking into the narrower back channel between the island and the riverbank, you get a nice change from the open water of the river. This channel is shaded by trees on both sides and eventually runs past several rowing club launches. This is also where they launch the Dragon Boats from.

After passing several fishermen and a few crew teams, we rounded the tip of the island and started back home. But wait, what is that we see? Yes, I think a brief stop for food and drink is a great idea!

And so, after a nice hour or so of paddling, we came upon the Redfin Blues on Washington’s Landing and tied up to enjoy some well-deserved rest. I do believe this was among our best choices of the day, as we sat on the deck enjoying beer and steamed shrimp, it felt like a mini-Caribbean holiday. (As an aside, I feel it’s my culinary duty to mention that the steamed shrimp are not steamed in Old Bay, can you imagine! As I learned early on from my Maryland relations that shrimp without Old Bay and beer is like Christmas without Santa; you can do it, but why bother? So I recommend asking for some Old Bay on the side and at least you can sprinkle, or pour, some on before you eat them.) Seasonings aside, the shrimp were excellent and sitting back on the deck, watching the river flow past and the boats bob against the docks, we felt transported to vacationland.

Eventually we did have to leave the deck, recapture our kayaks as they began floating away due to our inexpert dock-tying skills, and return back to the launch. Paddling back past the Strip and the new developments along both banks of the river, you really do get a different sense of what it is to live in Pittsburgh. We are finally beginning to recapture the waterfront for recreation and enjoy activities Downtown because people actually live here now!

If you haven’t Kayak’d Pittburgh yet, take some time out and get down there this summer. The weather is great for kayaking for at least another 2 months. If you want to have a sense of the new Pittsburgh, the green Pittsburgh, this is one of the best ways to experience it. There’s nothing quite like kayaking past your old hometown, seeing it in a whole new light.

NOTE: With all that effort of paddling around the rivers, it only makes sense to add on a quick visit for goodies in the Strip. I can say from personal experience that some macaroons, a crepe, and an iced coffee will help return your strength so that you can continue your day and make it home.

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Love Letter to the Carnegie Museum of Natural History

In 1895, a certain prominent city leader thought that it was important to create a place where the people of Pittsburgh, the “wage-earners”, could go and learn more about their world. A place where people could expand their horizons, see the masterworks of art and sculpture, and learn about parts of the world they would never be able to visit. We are immeasurably lucky to have this institution in our city and the Carnegie Museum of Natural History deserves continued patronage by visitors and locals alike for its long history and invaluable collections.

But I would like to make an argument here that the Carnegie Museum deserves our visits for a very personal reason – I fell in love there……with history (I am such a geek).

I visited the Carnegie like most kids who grow up in Pittsburgh do, during school trips and with family. I was always struck upon entering the Hall of Architecture; I felt transported to Europe and I got to see a replica of my favorite sculpture – the Nike of Samothrace. I simply can’t image the skill it took to make stone look like it’s flowing, like the wind is rippling through layers of cloth. It is amazing and I love visiting the full-sized replica, someday I hope to visit the real thing at the Louvre.

In high school, as a budding archaeologist, I participated in several classes at the museum, and later I even worked there for a time. Our classes were held on Mondays, so we had the relatively rare opportunity to wander through the museum while it was closed. My classmates and I would race through the old Dinosaur Hall and North American Wildlife exhibits in the dark, and almost got locked inside the Egypt Hall once. (I hope the Carnegie staff can forgive these minor transgressions, I swear we didn’t touch anything….nothing important, anyway.)

As with any relationship, the more time we spent together the more I got to know the museum and, as a child and young adult, the Carnegie held a very dear place in my heart. My time there was a large part of why I grew up to love history and archaeology and learning about other cultures. It felt like we had something special - the Carnegie Museum was MY museum.

But sadly, as happens with all young love, people change and grow up and get facelifts. Today’s Carnegie houses a large renovation of the Dinosaur Hall (you may have heard about this). Gone is the incorrectly aligned T. Rex who reared up at you as you entered his domain and stood before his (also incorrect) mural. The Dinosaur Hall is now state-of-the-art, with engaging learning portals and views of paleontologists working in their lab. Other areas of the museum are undergoing similar updates and facelifts. Gone, the old Victorian-style exhibits in the North American Wildlife Hall. (I can report however that the hall on the 3rd floor still retains its old attic charm if you’re able to find it).

Although I have twinges of nostalgia walking through these new halls, I can learn to live with these changes and find the new beauty, even if it’s not quite as magical as the original (at least in my mind, anyway). But here’s my point….the Carnegie of my childhood may be changed, I may never have that attachment to these new halls that I do to the old versions, but that’s ok.

As a child I had the opportunity to connect with, explore, and engage with life on this planet from the earliest dinosaurs to the cultures of today, all right here in my own city. I encourage everyone to make time to visit the Museum, so that the opportunities I had are still around for kids today and into the future. Let them discover and learn and fall in love with this new Carnegie Museum of Natural History. Let it become the museum of their hearts, when they think of those special places from when they were young. Whatever they grow up to do, the Carnegie allows kids (and all of us, really) to expand their horizons, and imagine amazing things, and most of all, to make that learning personal - a part of their own history.

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Raccoon Creek State Park

Raccoon Creek State Park, in my mind, is kind of the tale of two parks…plus a wildflower preserve. It’s a great, basic, all-around state park – and it’s less than 1 hour away from the city. Campers of all ages and abilities can find something here; it has sections of isolated beauty to enjoy but is still very accessible and not too rigorous. You can see photos of my trip to Raccoon Creek State Park here.

THE PARK
The park is split in two by Rte. 18 creating a lake side and a trail/woods side. You can take a look at maps of the park at their website.

The south portion of the park contains the man-made lake with lots of boating and fishing opportunities, a beach for swimming, and an RV camping area. The swimming area is large and clean with a nice amount of sand and grass to lounge around on. There is a boat rental area where you can rent some basic kayaks, canoes, or an odd-looking floating bicycle which Your Active Husband immediately wanted to try. Maybe next time. Driving through the park, this side also contains two large picnicking spaces just before you cross over Rte. 18 and enter the northern side.

The north portion of the park feels more remote, more foresty, and more summer campy. There are many trails here, some of which are multi-use and many of which are single use (either hiking, horse riding, or biking only). **NOTE: The hiking trails extend around both sides of the park and you can put together quite a long hike if you desire.

The Wildflower Preserve at Raccoon Creek is located in the southeast corner of the state park, just before you get into the lake area. This preserve includes approx 1.5 miles of trail, with many shorter options. I spent about 1 hour here and did the longest loop. I absolutely loved this section (although I highly recommend bug spray) because it was perhaps the nicest example I’ve seen yet of trails that wander through several distinct microclimates and really give you a sense of the variety to be found in this part of the PA forests. The trails start from the Interpretive Center (staffed by very helpful park rangers) and lead through brushy slopes, down to the forest floor and meadow. The meadow was beautifully in bloom when I visited and some of the plants were easily taller than me! The trail wanders along the creek then and eventually reaches a shale cliff where the vegetation clears out a bit. Here I saw a veritable flock of woodpeckers. The birds throughout this area were loud and numerous, with great variety. The trail finally finishes along the top of a small hill where large trees and pines abound and you can look out over the creek and forest floor.

For those wishing to learn about flora and fauna and the affect of microclimates, this is an accessible area that covers a lot of ground in a small amount of space. It is great for kids and adults alike and is very well done.

SPECIAL NOTE: Do yourself a favor and visit the Frankfort Mineral Spring located on Rte. 18 just before the main park entrance to the northern side. There is a sign along the road and a small parking area. It is one of those cool natural sites and the location of a health spa throughout the 1800’s.

THE TRAILS
Raccoon Creek offers some great hiking and biking opportunities, with 44 miles of hiking trails and 17 miles of biking. I decided to try out the biking and headed off on a multi-use trail. Much of this trail system is a two-lane dirt road that allows no motor vehicles. This is great for beginner mountain bikers and families because it is wide and easy, although not flat. All the trails do have some up and down and for smaller children you may want to consider taking some of the shorter options.

Having enough of the road, I decided to follow the Appaloosa Trail into the forest and found some sweet singletrack. This trail was much more cleared on the sides than typical PA forest singletrack, thus it is much easier for advanced beginner and intermediate mountain bikers. Although overgrown in places (this was July after all) few trees or roots crowded the track and rocks were virtually non-existent. Veteran bikers may not find much of a challenge on this trail, but it was still fun to swoop around on. **NOTE: There are some serious downhills and slopes on the forest trail I rode and, while it was not technical, there are some places that I would not advise inexperienced bikers to ride down due to the gradient. Again, there are some big hills to go up so consider that when biking with young kids.

THE CAMPING
There are a great variety of camping options at Raccoon Creek, which is another reason I recommend it so highly. For those that like luxury, there is an RV/electric campground, which included some non-electric sites, next to the lake in the southern part of the park. On the northern side, there are several modern cabins with electric heat that you can rent, as well as group cabin areas with a rec hall and playing field.

As a tent camper, I was impressed by the tent campsites which included both a drive-up area and a hike-in only area. Both options are non-electric only and feel nicely isolated and peaceful, but still include a bath area and drinking water. The Pioneer camping area is strictly hike-in, but the biking time from the parking lot was about 20 min, so you’re not so far in that you can’t get to your car in a reasonable amount of time if necessary. This area also serves horseback riders who would like to overnight, although the horses need to be stabled elsewhere from what I read.

DIRECTIONS
Starting from the Rte. 22/30 exit on the Parkway West just before the Ikea in Robinson Town Centre, it takes approx. 20-30 min to reach the park without major traffic. Looking at the map, you can reach the park either by Rte. 18 or Rte. 30. I took both options and found that they are pretty equal in time and both include a section of local, two-way road with somewhat slower traffic. I would say the deciding factor is which side of the part you want to enter – if you’re heading for the Wildflower Preserver or the lake take Rte. 30, if you’re heading for the trails and camping on the north side take Rte. 18.

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