Phipps Botanical Garden

Really nice place to go to, since not only is it a really good place to take photos and stuff, it is also really close to campus! Also, it's super warm inside, so it is a great place to go to if you wanna beat the cold. During the winter, they also have winter lights, which are really cool! Totally recommended even if you aren't into flowers!

Directions: The closest path I found was to go behind Hunt Library, climb up the hill, and then you'll spot it.

Mount Washington

The best view you will get in Pittsburgh. Regardless of whether you come during a sunset or at night, you are guranteed to get an astonishing view. Pretty sure most of the photos of Pittsburgh are taken from Mount Washington, and there are some pretty fancy restaurants up there as well. However, it can get pretty chilly up there, so just keep an open mind!

Directions: If you are driving, you'll drive to Downtown, go on Liberty Bridge, and then climb all the way up. Otherwise, take a 61/71 to downtown, then you can choose to either take another bus to Duquesne Incline, or walk there through the Fort Pitt Bridge (it looks kinda sussy, but it is rly safe)! After that, just ride up the Duquesne Incline, which is an experience of its own!

Randyland

Probably the most colorful landmark you will see here in Pittsburgh. In addition to the crazy colors and murals on the sides of his house, Randy also has a lot of random junk (artwork) just laying around, where you can take a lot of really cool photos! If you are lucky, you may catch him giving a talk about the history of this lovely area!

Directions: Honestly, I would reccomend taking an Uber or smth, but if you aren't in a rush, the 54 also reaches there in 40 minutes!

Point State Park

Personally, it is the best place in Pittsburgh to be in. You get to get a nice view of the sunset, the fountain is on when it is not too cold, there are just random boats and other floating stuff during the summer, and it is just a really chill place to hang out. Awesome place for a date, or somewhere nice to get work done, but yeah, the view is unbeatable. There are also some nice walking trails nearby (three rivers heritage trail) so pretty nice surroundings in general. Also, it is close to Mount Washington, like just go up Fort Pitt Bridge and you’ll reach Duquesne Incline.

Directions: Pretty straightforward, just take the 61/71 to downtown, and it is a short walk from there (just walk to where water is)!

Ascend South Side

If you are interested in bouldering for the first time, this is definitely the place for you. The people are really nice, they give you a quick rundown of what to be aware of/what to expect, and then you just get straight into it! Definitely something I would recommend if you are interested in trying something new. Uses a lot of upper body muscles, so just something to be aware of.

Directions: The 54 bus line does take you close, since it’s only a 5min walk afterwards. However, I would recommend driving there since there is a parking lot, so it's pretty efficient to park.

Highland Park

A pretty decent park, but what makes it special is that there is this massive water storage system in the center that looks pretty impressive. There are some small trails around the area, but it's best to stay on the roads, so it is a decent place to bike for long distances or walk your dog.

Directions: Both the 71AB take you there, but there are also places to park there.

Andy Warhol Museum

Now I’m not a really artsy person, but I do know that Andy Warhol is a pretty famous fartist, and a lot of my artsy friends like the museum a lot. I guarantee you it’s not just a random museum with some portraits, there are some really impressive things to do, like random camera photoshoots, a colorful elephant, 3d visualizations of portraits, and the silver cloud room is definitely something really unique, where there are just random balloons half filled with helium to play with. But yeah, give it a shot, even if you aren’t into art!

Directions: The easiest way would be to take the 61/71 to downtown and then walk across the Andy Warhol bridge. There may be a few spots to park, but not a lot that are free from what I could see.

Carnegie Science Center

If you are an MCS student, you will get a free ride with a bunch of other MCS students during orientation! If you aren’t, well, you can still visit it at your own time for free! I think it is mainly targeted towards children, but there are some really cool things. The observatory is definitely one of a kind (definitely don’t miss it!). There are random experiments about electricity, an entire model of Pittsburgh with moving trains, and just random sciency stuff you can play around with!

Directions: I don’t see a good way to reach there through public transportation, so an Uber of driving there is your best bet, since there is a parking lot there.

Mellon Park

A small garden in Shadyside. There are some really cool flowers there, and if you live nearby, it is a nice place to just take a wall and kind of enjoy the surroundings. Some interesting statues and stuff, but relatively small for a brief walk.

Directions: Best if you already live in Shadyside so you can already walk there, but the 71B takes you close to there as well.

Frick Park

My most favorite park in Pittsburgh, but also the largest park in Pittsburgh as well. A lot of great trails for hiking and also for mountain biking as well. There are some small creeks, some interesting wood stuff that people built, but in general, a lot of trails to choose from. Personally recommend Iron Gate and Rollercoaster for mountain biking trails. Oh and there are also a lot of deers that like to roam around, so excellent choice if you want a place to hike/bike.

Directions: 61AB should take you close, but there is a parking lot also, so if you have your own bike, driving there is a good option as well.

Schenley Park

The closest park to CMU, but also a pretty large one as well! Just one lap around can take around 2-3 hours. There are also some interesting bridges, a lake, and just nice areas to sit around while enjoying the sunset. If you are looking for somewhere to just relax during a school day while it’s sunny outside, then this is the place for you!

Directions: You can literally just walk behind Hunt library and you’ll be there, or take some other route that passes phipps, but it’s still really close.

Cathedral of Learning

Ok technically this is an academic building for UPitts, but during the weekends/during break, it’s pretty empty. There are some really cool places to take photos inside (it has this really Hogwartsy feeling), and in general the architecture is just really cool. You can also take the elevator to the top floor and get a decent view of the Oakland neighborhood. If you need a quiet/nice place to study, also highly recommended!

Directions: Literally just keep walking down 5th/Forbes Ave and you will not miss it. You can just walk in when it’s open, and no one will stop you.

Seven Springs

The closest ski resort to Pittsburgh. It’s actually really nice! There are a lot of really nice trails, pretty beginner friendly, and also diamonds which are pretty fun. Pretty sure there are more than 5 ski lifts, and there are different ski parks in there as well. While it’s not one of those really fancy ski resorts you might see which are massive, it still houses a decent amount of trails, so it’s great if you are just looking to ski for fun during break/a weekend.

Directions: Around a 2 hour drive, and clubs sometimes charter a shuttle so you can ride there and back from free.

National Aviary

Birds, birds, and more birds. They have some really interesting birds in the aviary. They have different habitats for different birds to live in, they have flamingos, penguins (yes penguins), owls, and just all the random birds you can think of. They also have special events every hour or so, where you can get a closer look at the birds, but it’s just a nice place to chill.

Directions: Public transportation-wise, the 54 takes you directly there. Otherwise, there are places to park around.

Arsenal Bowl

Pretty decent bowling arena. People there are really nice, and it really isn’t that crowded. Idk if it’s the best bowling arena in Pittsburgh, but it’s close to campus and it’s nice if you just wanna go bowling for fun with your friends. Also reservable if you wanna have parties and stuff.

Directions: 54/93 should get you pretty close. Since it’s in northside, there may not be as many parking spots.

Simmons Farm

Farms in Pittsburgh, yes you heard that right. Simmons Farm is actually a pretty large farm with a lot of things to do. You can play random farm games, look at animals, there are corn mazes, you can get hayrides, go apple picking or pumpkin picking, the options are endless. The events are also seasonal, so everytime you check their website, there might be another interesting event going on. Oh and they sell some really good food/produce as well, like their apple pie is probably one of the best I have ever had.

Directions: Pretty hard to access, since if you Uber there, you will have a hard time finding an Uber back, so it is best if you know someone with a car.

Kennywood

Pretty large scale amusement park. They have different carnival rides, roller coasters, food stands, bumper cars, pirate ship, basically anything you would expect in an amusement park. However, they have really special seasonal events. During Halloween, the haunted house is open, the entire park is Halloween themed with cosplaying people and smoke stuff. During the winter, while some roller coasters do shut down, they have these really beautiful lights and a huge Christmas tree, so great for taking photos.

Directions: 61C takes you directly there, but there is also a large parking lot and it is some distance away, so both Uber or driving your own car is possible.

Color Park

Super colorful park (hence the name). They have all sorts of graffiti on the floor, on different walls, and it's just a really cool masterpiece in general. Super colorful, right alongside Allegheny river, so it’s a really nice place to relax and go for a walk. Also some great angles to take pictures!

Directions: Definitely recommend driving there. Not sure if there are a lot of parking lots, but taking the bus is a pain.

The UPMC Rink at PPG Place

Outdoor ice rink in downtown. It’s only open during the winter, but it’s really fun. If you know how to skate, go grab someone and skate together! If you don’t know how to skate, get someone to teach you! You basically just skate in a circle around a really large shining Christmas tree, so it's a great place to take photos, or just to hang out with your friends. Since it’s in the middle of downtown, you can also get decent food afterwards.

Directions: Both 61 or 71 take you downtown, and it’s pretty hard to miss with the shining Christmas tree. Kinda hard to park since it's downtown.

Herrs Island

Outdoor ice rink in downtown. It’s only open during the winter, but it’s really fun. If you know how to skate, go grab someone and skate together! If you don’t know how to skate, get someone to teach you! You basically just skate in a circle around a really large shining Christmas tree, so it's a great place to take photos, or just to hang out with your friends. Since it’s in the middle of downtown, you can also get decent food afterwards.

Directions: Both 61 or 71 take you downtown, and it’s pretty hard to miss with the shining Christmas tree. Kinda hard to park since it's downtown.

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Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium

A really large zoo and aquarium in Pittsburgh! It’s surprisingly large, and it has a lot of different animals to see. Best part is that you can get pretty close to them (compared to other zoos I have been too), so it’s pretty neat. It is also a pretty long walk, so you get to see a lot of different habitats. My favorite is the aquarium, because they actually have seals, sea lions, and even polar bears! Great weekend spot to visit for fun!

Directions: 75 takes you there, but I would honestly recommend driving/Ubering there, since it’s pretty easy to get lost once you get off the bus stop.