Mt. Washington – It’s “Mountains” of Fun

If you’re looking for a peaceful walk, some of the best food in Pittsburgh, or the best view of Pittsburgh you’ll ever see, there’s no better place to do it than the Mt. Washington neighborhood of Pittsburgh.

When someone tells you “I’m from Pittsburgh,” they’re usually being very broad. That’s because Pittsburgh is composed of several different neighborhoods. With that in mind, you’re probably wondering, “Nick, why are you telling us about one of Pittsburgh’s neighborhoods? I thought this blog was about tourist attractions!” Well, the fact that Mt. Washington provides a breathtaking view of Pittsburgh has practically made it a tourist attraction. This neighborhood sitting atop the city is named after George Washington, who stood atop the mountain when planning out a strategy during the French and Indian War. Mt. Washington can be accessed via the Duquesne Incline or the Monongahela Incline, both of which provide breathtaking views of the city. While standing atop Mt. Washington, you can do a variety of things in addition to checking out the city, such as taking a hike through Emerald View Park, getting a bite to eat at one of Mt. Washington’s highly-reviewed restaurants, getting a sweet treat at the Grandview Bakery, or taking a photo with the “Point of View” statue.

While it’s possible to reach Mt. Washington by vehicle, it’s not as “tourist-y” unless you get there by riding one of the Inclines. The Duquesne Incline provides a picture-perfect view of the city and the three rivers. Below, you can view a video of the Duquesne Incline in action. The Monongahela Incline provides an incredible view of the Golden Triangle, a term used by Pittsburghers to refer to the tall buildings visible when looking at the Pittsburgh skyline. In fact, you can see some of the Golden Triangle on the background of this blog. The Monongahela Incline starts in Station Square, which is another great part of Pittsburgh to visit. If you’re spending the day in Station Square, you should definitely consider riding the Incline up to Mt. Washington, and coming back down whenever you’re done. Referring to the Monongahela Incline, a reviewer on TripAdvisor said, “There aren’t many places that you can take a ‘funicular’ and this is one of the best I’ve ever been on.” Referring to the Duquesne Incline, another reviewer said that the view from it is “a way that many cities cannot be viewed.” If you’re headed up to Mt. Washington, leave your car at the bottom and take the scenic route: the Inclines.

Looking for a bite atop Mt. Washington? That is absolutely NO problem – Mt. Washington contains no shortage of places to eat. You’ll find some of the neighborhood’s highly-reviewed restaurants while walking along its two main streets, Shiloh Street and Grandview Avenue. Mt. Washington restaurants will also provide you with breathtaking views of the city, while enjoying a delicious meal. This is also a good suggestion if it’s really hot or cold outside and you don’t want to stand outside to take in the view – you can come in and either warm up or cool off while enjoying the view. If you’re more in the mood for something sweet, check out Grandview Bakery. It’s a full-service bakery that opened in 2011. You can buy baked goods such as cookies, brownies, breads, pies, and cakes (including made-to-order ones for any occasion, such as birthdays and weddings.) You can also buy handmade chocolate candy, as well as baking supplies. It also contains a room that can be rented for private events. Regarding one of the restaurants, Altius  , a reviewer on Yelp said that the food and service were incredible, and that “the view is the best part.” For a delicious meal, a sweet treat, and a view of the city to top it all off, visit one of the restaurants on Mt. Washington as well as Grandview Bakery.

Going up Mt. Washington on one of the Inclines seems rather simple, huh? Even though it was nice to get that view of the city, don’t you wish you had put more work into getting up the mountain? If you’re someone who answered “yes”, no problem. If you want to make up for that easy mountain “climb” with some exercise, then go for a hike through Emerald View Park. It is made up of hiking trails, and it connects Mt. Washington and Duquesne Heights. And of course, just like the rest of Mt. Washington, there are incredible views of the city along the trails. It was officially opened in 2007. It was conceived by a group of community activists known as “Green is Good”. They conceived it as a way to address the damage of a tornado that hit the neighborhood in 1998. A reviewer on Yelp said that it’s a “great way to take a hike within the confines of the city”, and that “the reward is the great views.” So if you want to enjoy some exercise and a great view of Pittsburgh at the same time, make sure to go for a hike at Emerald View Park.

In addition to getting a great view while on Mt. Washington, you can add on an additional view that you can see from only a foot, or even an inch, away. Mt. Washington contains a statue called Point of View. It was built in 2006 by sculptor James A. West. While George Washington was planning out a strategy atop the mountain, he met Seneca leader Guyasuta. The statue portrays the two making peace with each other during their meeting. Point of View weighs 750 pounds, and cost $130,000 to build. Getting a photo with the statue, as well as the city in the background, is truly picture-perfect. A reviewer on Yelp said that she got goosebumps from seeing “the intense stare between two former friends” combined with “the beautiful, marvelous view of Pittsburgh in the background”. Make sure to check out this statue to see Pittsburgh from two different “points of view”.

If you’re looking for some of the best food or sweets in Pittsburgh, looking to get in some exercise in Pittsburgh without having to wait until May for the Pittsburgh Marathon, or just looking for a much better view of Pittsburgh than you’ll see in pictures, then what are you waiting for? Hop on one of the Inclines and enjoy Mt. Washington!