Hi!

I live in Baltimore and was planning on taking a weekend trip and some point within the next year. I'd never been to Pittsburgh or Harrisburg (I like to see different urban centers) and had a few questions about the two.

First of all, is Harrisburg worth a stop? I would come in by train, so would there be anywhere I could cab/bus to from there that would be interesting. (historical sites, State Capitol, for example) I hadn't seen any prior posts on Harrisburg...

From previous posts, it seems that Pittsburgh has a decent transit system and is relatively safe. Does the subway run on weekends (may sound like a strange question, but I know it doesn't in some cities, including Baltimore on Sundays)? What are the historical sites of interest there?

Thanks. Dan.

Hi Dan:

You live in Baltimore, and you want to go to Pittsburgh and Harrisburg? Hm.

OK, I'll take you seriously...

Can't say anything about Pittsburgh, except Calvin (of Calvin and Hobbes fame) thinks it's hell. Might be a nice place, but hey, never had a desire to go.

As for Harrisburg, I've been there twice, and will be there again in a few weeks. Seems OK, but worth a stop? Well...the people there swear that it's a cool place. I haven't seen anything compelling. My friend told me when he lived there, he couldn't get a pizza after 11 pm on a weekend! However, when I go this time, I will take a better look, and let you know.

BTW, I will be going to Baltimore the same week. My third time there, and this will be my first time having crabcakes, so that shows you how much I get out when I travel!

Dear Kristian,

Thanks for your response!

I'm really completely serious about this trip! A lot of people seem to like Pittsburgh and I want to see why they think so (see other postings). Plus, it's close enough to make for a good weekend trip.

Harrisburg is close enough to make it a day trip, even. I gather that you would NOT recommend visiting, that you don't think it has any appeal.

I gather that these destinations seem surprising to you... I do also enjoy more traditional weekend getaways, such as Boston, NYC or Washington. And I love visiting other countries and immersing myself in other cultures. But I also do enjoy seeing non-traditional destinations...for example, I enjoyed a recent trip to Richmond, Va., reading about its past at museums (didn't realize there were so many Union supporters there in the Civil War) and getting a feel for its neighborhoods, some of which had delightful architechture. Sometimes there's more to see than one would think off the beaten path!

Thanks again for your thoughts.

Dan

Daniel:

Grew up near Pittsburgh and still love it. Because of the configuration--the hills and the confluence of the rivers--the downtown is very compact. From the main subway station, one can pretty much walk to the points of interest. The last time I was there, the trolley/subway system was indeed running on a Saturday--don't know about Sunday. Point Sate Park is a relaxing place to start. Check a local schedule of events. There are often art shows or small, free concerts going on during the weekend. There are also riverboat tours. And don't miss a trip up the incline (funicular) to Mt. Washington. Pittsburgh has, of course, an incredible number of bridges, and many of those downtown are of great engineering/architectural significance. There's lots to do--research via the net for highlights.

Harrisburg--isn't that where the Hershey plant is?

Daniel, like I said, I have not been to PB so I can't say. It's not that I don't recommend Harrisburg...it's just that I don't think it's worth going out of your way for. As Ozzie said, Hershey is nearby, and I hear lots of people go there and enjoy it.

Certainly, I agree with you that there are plenty of great places off the beaten path. I enjoyed myself greatly in Omaha, NE once, of all places (I can imagine I'd get reamed for such a statement). I even liked some parts of Detroit! =P

So have a good time, you sound like a person who makes the best of any place, which is a sure way to have fun!