I will be in the Pittsburgh, PA area this coming week...will have my days free and will have a car.

Can anyone recommend good, non-franchise or local franchise restaurants in the Cranberry-Warrendale area?

Also, I'm looking for some interesting things to do/places to see. I'm not a shopping type person, but more of an outdoors type person. I know the weather may preclude this kind of thing right now. I do like museums and historical things. I also tend to like the more off-beat in general.

All suggestions are welcome! Thanks!

Cranberry is "out there" in the suburbs, unfortunately. The good stuff is downtown Pgh., e.g., Carnegie Science Center, or Oakland (Carnegie Museum, Phipps Conservatory). Another interesting historical site is Old Economy in Ambridge, but it may not be open this time of year. It's FREEZING cold here now, so dress warmly. Snow is forecast for the coming week.

Thanks for your reply, Lynn. I've seen some references in older posts to Fallingwater, the Frank Lloyd Wright house. Is that in the vicinity?

I agree with the other person...the stuff to do is downtown. The Carnegie was a good suggestion; it is 6 different museums under one roof. If it wasn't the middle of winter, the University of Pittsburgh is quite a site itself. The Children's Museum next to Three River Stadium has a navy sub you can tour through. I enjoyed the daylights out of Pittsburgh, but it was in August.

For museums there is the Andy Warhol museum and offbeat museums The Mattress Factory in North Side , I think mattress.org. Might also want to look at realpittsburgh.com

Fallingwater, the Frank Lloyd Wright house, is about an hour's drive south of Pittsburgh, and it's definately worth the trip. It's fascinating, and in a beautiful setting. The Phipps Conservatory in Pittsburgh is pretty cool, and has a lot of unusual plants. You also might enjoy riding the incline (that's pretty historic) up the side of Mount Washington, there's a great view up there; it's especially pretty at night with the city lights spread out below you.

If there is any way that you can stay closer to the city, I would advise it. Cranberry is about a 30 minute drive from the city (and that is with no traffic). There are some terrific things to do in and around downtown. I second the idea of the Carnegie Museums in Oakland (just east of downtown). Also the Carnegie Science Center & Andy Warhol Museums are worth a trip (located on the North Side, near Three Rivers Stadium. Also, you are not going to get mich more that yoru average Outback Steakhouse or Friday's type restaurants in the Cranberry area. PIttsburgh itself does have some fabulous restaurants if you can get into the city. The RealPittsburgh.com site and the Postgazette.com websites have good reviews listed by location. Have a great time, and even though it is freeeezzzing, enjoy our wondeful city!!!

Not only is it cold, it is dam cold. Dress warm and have someone direct you to the strip district - no it is not a "strip " district- it is an eclectic are of shops and markets. Come hungry and have a bite here and there. Stop at Sunseri's and sample some dipping peppers. Go to Wholleys and have a fish sandwich and some chowder or go to Primanti's for the most unusual sandwich. Also stop at the Heinz museum - lots of western Pa. info.Enjoy..and come back when it is warmer !

Thanks for all your great suggestions! I am used to cold and snow as I am from Chicago and now live in west Michigan. I will be spending a lot of time in the Pittsburgh area in the next few months. I hope to visit some of the recommended places as time permits. Thanks for taking the time to post me!

I work in Cranberry, and while I agree that most everything is in the Pittsburgh area, a really neat little historic village is Harmony. It's about 15 min north of Cranberry, and was settled by the same people who started Economy, PA.