I've been wanting to visit western Pennsylvania for a while now, and have decided that I'll take a week at the end of the summer (most likely 28 Aug - 3 Sept).

My predominant reason for doing so is to do a little family history research. My grandfather's family immigrated from Sicily to work in the coal mines, and lived in various towns in Armstrong and Cambria counties.

After doing some preliminary research, my current thoughts on an itinerary are something like this:

Fly from PDX --> PIT
Pick up rental car and drive to Johnstown
3 nights in Johnstown to explore (family gravesites, Flood Museum, Heritage Discovery Center,day trip to Nanty Glo, etc.)
3 nights in Pittsburgh (Heinz History Center, the Strip District, ???)
Return to PDX

I'll be travelling solo, and enjoy most getting a feel for the local area versus constant siteseeing.

Recommendations for lodging in either location? (Particularly what area of PIT?)

Would it be best to return the rental car to the airport after Johnstown, or keep it for the full week?

I'm happy to use public transportation in Pittsburgh if it will take me to where I want to go. I apologize for the long post, but thank you for any helpful suggestions you can offer.

Johnstown is about 80 miles from the City of Pittsburgh and 100 miles from Pittsburgh International Airport - FYI.

Regarding hotels. There is Marriott City Centre (just above the Steel Building/subway stop) and not far from Penn Avenue (walking distance) which takes you straight into The Strip. There is also the Hilton at Gateway Center and right across from the Hilton is a Pittsburgh Chamber of Commerce. Chamber is a very small booth like building next to an underground parking lot and the Gateway subway station. The Hilton is on Penn & Stanwix so the directions would be simple if you stayed at the Hilton to get to The Strip - do not go toward the bridge (Ft. Pitt) on Penn, go the other way about 2 miles on Penn Avenue. Although not Italian I'd suggest a trip to Kennywood (amusement park). Its been around the area since the turn of the last century and many immigrants spent their summers having special ethnic days (there is an Italian day but don't know if its when you are going).

I can tell you about public transportation. Port Authority Transit. All of your travel would be in Zone 1 which is $1.75 with every ride. If you want to connect to another bus route within 3 hours it would be $.50 for a transfer and that transfer is worth a $1.75 bus fare. There are about 2-4 different lines that go to The Strip.

The nicest place to stay in Johnstown is the Holiday Inn downtown. Make sure you visit both Flood Museums and also ride the Incline.

try www.WPXI.com this is radio station website that offers a bunch of info for pitts. (if you register with them, they will send updates of things going on...like festivals or art shows etc.)walnut street in shadyside and beaver str.in sewickley are 2 very quaint shopping areas. the frick mansion is also awesome and features a free museum that is equally awesome.(if you like art) have fun!

If any of your ancestors are buried in Grandview cemetary in Johnstown - be aware that it is a very large place.

Go into the main office and ask for help! It's been a few years, but I seem to recall going in and giving them the gravesites we were looking for. They gave us detailed information and we used a big map to locate the graves. Even so - one of them was very elusive. We ended up going back, reviewing the map again, and then returning to find the site.

If possible, also check out the local history centers. I have not visited ones in Cambria or Armstrong, but the one we visited in Bedford County was a huge help.

My family is also from the Pittsburgh area, specifically Westmoreland County, and Mom and I did a history trip a couple of years ago. I remember laughing at the town named Nanty Glo on the map!

We really enjoyed riding the Incline. We did the Dusquene (sp?) one, and I really liked the little museum in the top station that had photos of old Pittsburgh! There was a good restaurant at the top, and it had a stunning view of downtown.

Do plan to get back to the airport a little early if you like to shop. I was amazed at the quality of shopping there as the airport is like a mall!

A great place to stay in Pittsburgh is at the Sheraton in Station Square. It's right on the river with nice views, and has my favorite restaurant in Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh Rare. I would highly recommend this place if you like steak! It is pricey but worth it. It's close enough to downtown, but I wouldn't recommend staying downtown because it's pretty much dead in the evenings. Plus, Station Square has lots of shops, restaurants, and bars, and there's a T (train) stop right there as well as several bus lines and the inclines. I second the recommendation of taking an incline up to Mt. Washington for the view and maybe a nice dinner (Georgetown Inn and Grandview Saloon are okay). Visit www.ridegold.com for more public tranportation info if you need it. You could go further down the road, East Carson Street to the South Side, which also has lots of unique shops, restaurants and bars. If you'll be in Pittsburgh on a Sat., the Strip Distict has it's market day in the morning so that would be a good time to shop and people watch. I hope you have a nice, enjoyable trip!

Thank you for all your responses and good tips, especially about the size of the Grandview Cemetery.

As I continue to research lodging options for Pittsburgh, are there places to stay where I'll feel more like I'm in a neighborhood versus a business district/corporate hotel?

One I've encountered so far is The Priory, but am wondering if there are others out there.

Thanks!

I'm beginning to consider the Shadyside area...

Hi:

I'd keep the car. The T light rail transit system is very limited and buses can be a pain. If you want to stay in a trendy residential area with a nice "Main Street" (Walnut ST)Shadyside is a good place to stay. There are a couple of boutique hotels: SunnyLedge and the Inns on Negley. If you want a major hotel the Sheraton Station Square is nice. If you want to stay in the southside which is a slightly younger crowd than shadyside (more bars and college students) the Morning Glory Inn is a very nice B&B. There is a new, more upscale shopping area called southside works that is new (Sur La Table, the Cheesecake Factory as a bunch of other shops, food places), but it is quite a few blocks( a really long walk) from the funky shopping area of the Southside. There is a good breakfast place on the Southside on Carson called tom's Diner. Nakama is good sushi on the southside. The history Center is in the Strip district and is great. The strip is great in the early morning and have breakfast at Deluca's in the strip. The Frick Art Museum and Cafe is also a neat, historical place. The Cafe has good food, as well. When I take friends around town we usually go to Station Square, take the incline up to Mt. Washington, have drinks at Monteray Bay Fish Grotto (AWESOME VIEW), and take the incline back down, dessert at the bar at the melting pot (Fondue chain, so yummy). Then we go in the morning to the strip district and depending on what they like, shopping in Shadyside, the history center, the Warhol museum (on the north side) or one of the Carnegie Museums. If the Pirates are in town- definetely take in a game at PNC park. The Priory is a really neat place on the North Side and is a cool place to stay. The north side has the Warhol and the ball parks as well as a fun Irishbar called Finegan's Wake. Pittsburgh really does have a lot to offer. Enjoy your trip!
Kristen

Pres:

I'd highly suggest the Holiday Inn Express in the South Side zip 15203 if you want to stay in a neighborhood. South Side has a bohemian feel with the cafes and young college kids and the senior citizens give it an old world charm. There are about 20 blocks or more of small specialty shops and neighborhood diners and taverns. There are many old taverns that are still in business that are throwbacks from when there were steel mills right across the Monongahela River and the workers would come over there and go to the beer gardens.

Thanks, again, for your thoughtful and detailed suggestions. Exploring neighborhood shops and good eats are definitely high on my list, as well as some of the great museums.

I appreciate your ability to provide a clearer picture of the different areas, and the lodging options I should look into.

I'm originally from Johnstown and visit relatives quite often.
FYI - Johnstown hosts: "Johnstown FolkFest - one of the largest free music festivals in the nation! Produced by the Johnstown Area Heritage Association, the FolkFest features more than 70 hours of free music over Labor Day weekend.
Labor Day weekend, September 1-3, 2006"

It wouldn't hurt to get hotel reservations as soon as you have a firm itinerary. If you can't get the Holiday Inn downtown, there are many chain hotels in the Richland area, about 15 minutes south of the city. FolkFest is a big deal -- lots of visitors to the Flood City that weekend.

Thanks for the caution about FolkFest. I had noticed during my research that it would be that weekend. I think if I weren't travelling solo, it would be a fun event.

I've already made reservations at the Holiday Inn Southside in Pittsburgh, and will look into doing the same for Johnstown given the festival.

Presocia:

Some information for you again. I was sorting through local travel info and came upon: www.Tour-EdMine.com

This is a coal mine tour and museum just 25 minutes from downtown Pittsburgh in a town called Tarentum. Heck I might even go to this place sometime this summer! The complete tour takes about 2 hours. Since you mentioned your grandfather worked in a coal mine this is the perfect visit that would show you what life was like for them. It even shows a picture of a company store and old 1785 log house.

Interesting...thanks for sharing the website. I've bookmarked it and added it to my Pennsylvania folder.

Hi Presocia,

I would recommend having a car for Pittsburgh. You will lose too much time waiting for buses.

I'm a Pittsburgher. You have received a some good suggestions. For lodging, I haven't really tried any in Pittsburgh so I can't comment other than pick one in a good neighborhood (like Shadyside - it is a great location for lotsa cool Pittsburgh stuff).

If in Shadyside, have breakfast at Pamela's...the best in Pittsburgh and anywhere I have ever been. Avoid Delucas. Ugh. Have a burger at Tessaros in Bloomfield, sushi/Japanese at Chaya in Squirrel Hill or Sushi Two in Shadyside. Avoid Nakama - overpriced, run of the mill Japanese steakhouse, try the Penn Brewery for fresh beer, pretzels, mini-beer garten, german food. Avoid the astronomically priced "Cafe at Frick" but do tour the Frick Mansion. Great historical stuff that might appeal to you. all just my opinions here.

As an Italian, you must visit the ambience of the Pennsylvania Macaroni Company and the Strip in general on a Saturday. Meats, cheeses sold in an exciting atmosphere. Have an espresso at La Prima and be transported back to Italy.

Churches. One thing people seem to miss when coming to Pittsburgh. Pittsburgh has dozens of fascinating churches: St. Gregory's in Homestead, St. John the Baptist Ukranian Catholic Church in the Southside, St. Nicholas Croation Catholic Church in Millvale (do not miss this one!), etc...

Try this website for interesting info: http://www.wqed.org/erc/pghist/log_toc.shtml

as you can see, I love this town...three days isn't long enough.

Enjoy!

Thank you for the restaurant recommendations, as well as the tip about checking out some of the local churches. I love architectural details, and am planning on stopping by the Allegheny Cemetery as well.

A friend of mine cannot for the life of her understand why I would select Pittsburgh for vacation. Well, it has always piqued my interest, and I'm beginning to agree with you that three days is not enough...how to remedy that?!? (I wish I had more time.)

That's a good idea- Allegheny Cemetary. Beautiful place. Homewood Cemetary is also interesting...Fricks, Heinz buried there.