We are putting together a new series on the blog called “The Mets Travel Series” to feature cities around the United States who are hosting the Mets at their home stadiums this season.  We are eager to travel to some new places that have always been on our list, and feature some tried and true favorites that we’ve returned to again and again.  We promise, you don’t need to be a Mets fan to gain some travel tips from these posts, and we eagerly welcome all readers, baseball fans or not, to comment and share their favorite things to do, see, and eat when traveling to the cities we highlight.

Our first post takes us to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, a city we’ve been trying to travel to for many years.  Finding a decent priced flight to Pittsburgh out of Newark or Philadelphia on Mets weekends seemed nearly impossible after many (and I mean many) years of searching the fares of various airlines.  This year, we finally pulled it off and cashed in our stash of British Airways and American Airlines points to book two round trip flights out of Philadelphia.  For a total of 15,213 Avios (British Airways points) and $11.20 in taxes and fees, we booked two First Class tickets for our flight from Philadelphia to Pittsburgh.  For the trip back home, we redeemed a total of 32,000 American Airlines points and paid $11.20 to sit shoehorned in the second to last row.  While the trip home was less than comfortable, we can hardly complain about spending just over twenty dollars total for two round trip flights.  In addition, both flights were operated by American Airlines on larger Airbus A319’s instead of the smaller regional jets often found on these routes.  

We flew out early on a Saturday morning after spending Friday night at the Philadelphia Airport Marriott Hotel.  While not our favorite Marriott when it comes to food, the views and location are ideal for anyone who loves to watch planes take off and land.  We highly recommend staying here when traveling out of Philadelphia on an early morning flight.  Head downstairs, drop off the keys at checkout, and then proceed one floor up for a straight shot to security.  We advise that you also avoid heavy parking fees at the airport and hotel by entrusting your car to one of the many long term parking businesses off property.  Our latest favorite is Express Park which consistently offers some of the lowest prices and some of the very best service.  Upon arrival, you can find the friendliest shuttle drivers behind your car and ready to load your luggage.  Even better, they will drop you off at the front doors of the Philadelphia Marriott Airport hotel without a question, something some of their competitors have refused to do.

There were a total of eight First Class seats on our flight to Pittsburgh, and we considered ourselves very lucky to land two of those seats.  While not the lie down variety most think of when flying First Class, the spacious leg room and arm chair feel was all that was needed to make these two travelers happy.  The 55 minute flight was quick and smooth, and service in First Class included granola bars and drinks served in real glassware.  This was luxury travel compared to the 41 minute flight home which did not even include a plastic cup of water.  It did, however, include a roller coaster landing into Philadelphia.  Who doesn’t love to suffer through some good turbulence while trapped and barely able to breathe in the tiniest of middle and window seats in the way, way back?

The Pittsburgh Airport is located about twenty five minutes from downtown Pittsburgh, maybe a bit less time if traffic is light.  Our Uber cost about $35 to get us from the airport to the Renaissance Pittsburgh Hotel, a downtown accommodation situated just across the street from the Roberto Clemente Bridge and facing PNC Park.  Unfortunately, the Roberto Clemente Bridge is currently closed due to construction, but a short and easy walk east from this location to the Andy Warhol Bridge allows for a beautifully scenic walk to the ballpark.  All of the brightly yellow painted bridges nearby included walking paths for pedestrians and all came with incredible views of the city.  After check-in, we snagged a couple of standing room only tickets on Stub Hub for a whopping $21 a piece to the Saturday afternoon game before venturing out onto the city streets to begin our adventure in the Burgh.

We quickly discovered that Pittsburgh is a great walking city.  You can walk just about everywhere!  We traversed the Andy Warhol Bridge on our journey to the North Shore area to check out the perimeter of the stadium and quench our thirst and appetite.  We stopped for beers at Souther Tier Brewing Company due to its inviting outdoor bar and patio area.  Southern Tier also serves food, but I had my eyes set on Burgatory located just a block away.  We shared an appetizer of huge onion rings and a Phat Patti’s veggie burger to keep us fueled for the afternoon ahead.  I’m sure the beef burgers at Burgatory are way better than the veggie burger, but we were looking for something light that wouldn’t weigh us down and tire us out before the game.  

Upon entry to the game, we realized that PNC Bank Park would rank high on our list of great Major League Baseball Stadiums.  Situated right on the river with a beautiful view of the Roberto Clemente Bridge (and our hotel), PNC Bank Park checks all the boxes for the things we adore about great stadiums.  First, you don’t need a seat to see the action.  In fact, our standing room only tickets were perfect for walking around and seeing the game from different vantage points.  Our favorite location was this small strip of fence that allowed us to see all of the action from the outfield.  Second, there is a brewery in the outfield with bar seats that look out over all of the action.  Third, the stadium is clean and well maintained with a variety of food and drink options and great photo opportunities with life size Pirate’s bobbleheads.  Most importantly, the Pittsburgh Pirates fans were the most welcoming opposing team we’ve ever encountered, engaging these two Mets fans in conversation all around the park.

After a Mets win (which is rare these days) we headed back across the Andy Warhol Bridge with a flock of fans in search of a good dinner.  We had our sights set on Gaucho, an Argentinian restaurant just down the street from our hotel.  We knew we’d probably need a reservation and couldn’t get one, so we decided to try to walk in to eat at the bar.  Unfortunately, we were met at the door by some unfriendly hostesses who took one look at our Mets gear and abruptly told us that if we didn’t have a reservation, we couldn’t eat there.  Sometimes, I think moments like this one are meant to help us find something better.  So we did.

Meat and Potatoes, a restaurant just a few short steps away from Gaucho was just as crowded, but invited these underdressed Mets fans to their last two available seats at the bar.  The staff at Meat and Potatoes was beyond friendly and happy to have us as customers.  We set out to share a Pub burger with a side of creamed spinach.  Paul hates creamed spinach, so I was prepared and happy to eat the entire thing myself. What we weren’t prepared for and came as a delightful surprise, is that this burger would rival our very favorite burger from NJ’s own Nicholas Barrel and Roost.  In fact, after much deliberation, we think Meat and Potatoes’ pub burger is tied for the #1 spot on our list of favorite burgers.  Topped with pastrami belly, aged cheddar, special sauce, and a fried egg, we ate this meal slowly and happily, not wanting it to end.  This was the very best way to end our first day in Pittsburgh.

The next morning, we got up early, stopped at the nearest coffee shop, and walked to the Duquesne Incline for a journey to the top of Mt. Washington.  Our walk to the incline was an adventure in itself as we crossed the Fort Pitt Bridge, which serves as the entrance and exit to the Fort Pitt Tunnel.  While the bridge contains a pedestrian walkway separated by a concrete guardrail, the heavily trafficked highway of speeding and honking vehicles makes even the most laid back person (Paul) a bit uneasy.  Despite the perils of the walk there, we highly recommend taking a trip on the Duquesne Incline for a unique ride in a wooden cable car.  There are only two inclines left in the city of Pittsburgh and while they remain a mode of transportation between Downtown and Mt. Washington, they are also the best way to get a panoramic view of the city.  It’s hard to imagine that a wooden cable car that originally opened in 1877 is still transporting passengers up and down a mountain.  Yet it is all thanks to a group of local residents who restored the Fort Duquesne Incline in 1963 to preserve its history and keep it running for all to enjoy.  

Unfortunately, it was a cloudy day and our view from the top wasn’t as clear as it probably would have been the day before.  We got the best photos we could, and then stopped in for drinks and a snack at the Steel Mill Saloon which is located just across the street from the incline’s platform.  We enjoyed some of the best brussels sprouts we’ve ever had here, tossed and fried in buffalo sauce and topped with a blue cheese crumble.  It was just the breakfast we needed before our trip back down the mountain and our trek back to downtown.  

After our cable car ride and another brisk walk across the Fort Pitt Bridge, we headed across downtown to the Andy Warhol Museum.  The Andy Warhol Museum was totally worth the price of admission and takes you on a seven floor journey through the life of Andy Warhol.  Start at the top, read and see everything you can, and work your way down.  You will love learning about his artwork, his film work, and his untimely death from gallbladder surgery, of all things.

By this point in our day, we’d worked up quite the appetite, so we made our way across the city again to the Strip District for the one meal we’d always said we needed to try when we went to Pittsburgh: Primanti Brothers.  Okay, we know, if you are from Pittsburgh you either love it, hate it, or love to hate it or something like that.  We also know that you can only get the best at the original location and not to try any of the franchised versions.  We were greeted with a friendly welcome and two seats at the bar right in front of the sandwich making action.  We ordered a spicy capicola sandwich to share and watched as it was built: pillowy white Italian bread, griddled capicola, melted provolone cheese, french fries, and slaw.  How could anyone hate this sandwich?  It was just what we needed after walking all over the city, and we enjoyed every tasty bite.  We found out later from a local that Primanti Brothers, according to some, is not as good as it used to be.  Apparently, the fries were better at one time.  From the outside looking in, we thought it was great and would highly recommend any first time visitor go there for a unique experience you’ll never forget.  Plus, the people who work there are great, and that’s just as important.  

There is a Pittsburgh local reading this right now who is probably shaking their head going, Primanti Brothers, seriously?  We get it.  These Jersey natives don’t recommend Jersey Mikes, but I’m sure there is somebody out there who thinks it’s great.

After Primanti Brothers, we rushed around the corner and down the street to S&D Polish Deli for a taste of their pierogis.  You can find them in a warming case in a plastic container.  Four to a container with your choice of whatever is available.  We wanted potato and farmers cheese, but since they were sold out of those, we settled for potato and cheddar.  We took some plastic forks and some knives outside and sat at a tiny paper table clothed table and indulged in the only real pierogis we’ve ever had in our lives.  They were outstanding.  If you do one thing, and only one thing, while you are in Pittsburgh, eat these pierogis.

Since we were full and a long way from our hotel, we decided to check out the Strip District and find a good place to watch the Mets game.  We found Coop De Ville, a bar, restaurant, arcade, and duckpin bowling alley, rolled into one delightful megaplex that makes for a good place to hang.  We pulled up a spot in front of their large televisions to watch the game and the thunderstorm that was slowly rolling into town.

After the game, we started our trek back to our hotel, only to find ourselves caught in the rain.  What to do?  Duck into the closest establishment: City Winery Pittsburgh.  It was here that we enjoyed a flight of wine and great conversation with a lovely local sitting next to us.  We enjoyed a great conversation about food, travel, and all things Pittsburgh while we waited out the storm.

Unfortunately, the storm hung around longer than we anticipated, so we Uber’d back to the hotel before ending our Pittsburgh trip with a taco dinner at Tako.  We cheered to a great trip to a beautiful city as we gulped down Korean flank steak tacos and Baja fish tacos and washed it all down with zesty margaritas.

The next morning, we traveled back to the airport, full of disappointment, in both the Mets and that we didn’t have more time to explore the city of Pittsburgh.  During our quick flight home, we discussed the possibility of returning with a list of all the things we still need to see, do, and eat in the Iron City.

P.S. I forgot to mention that this was our first time traveling with a GoPro that we recently purchased to document our trips. Let’s just say, we have a lot of work ahead when it comes to improving our film making skills. We are no Anthony Bourdain or Kara and Nate, but we are eager to add some video to share with you of all of our travel experiences. Coming soon…