Unusual Attractions in Pittsburgh Near SkyVue Apartments
December 6th, 2016 by Ryan Sundling
The team at SkyVue Pittsburgh Apartments loves the holiday season just like everyone else. We love going to the mall and seeing the giant christmas trees and walking through the city on snowy nights when it’s all lit up. We especially love having family come into town to visit. There is one problem though, the area round SkyVue Pittsburgh Apartments gets busy this time of year. People are out shopping every day of the week and every popular holiday destination is completely packed, making it hard to show family and friends around town. That’s why we came up with three things to do this holiday season that will help you avoid crowds.
USS Requin Reports for (museum) Duty
The recently refurbished USS Requin is now open for the public to explore. The Cold War-Era submarine is stationed at the Carnegie Science Center where visitors can climb aboard and take themselves on self-guided tours. Attractions on the tour include authentic games, posters, clothing and memorabilia from the ship’s numerous deployments.
The USS Requin was commissioned in 1945 and served until its final journey in 1967. Since 1990, the submarine has been moored on Pittsburgh’s North Shore, attracting some 150,000 visitors each year. It was repainted two months ago in an effort to improve the outside appearance and provide a protective coating.
During its heydey, the USS Requin boasted two rocket launchers that were meant to provide offshore firepower during invasions of Japanese islands. However, those were never used as WWII ended just 3 days before USS Requin was due to begin her first war patrol.
The USS Requin will be open to the public on weekends from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Something that weighs 25 lbs, lives for 70 years and flies with a 10 foot wingspan might sound like a terrifying prehistoric beast, but you can actually see this living creature right here in Pittsburgh. We’re talking about the Andean Condor, the largest flying bird in the world and the newest additions to the recently renovated Condor Court at The National Aviary.
In fact, Pittsburgh might be the only place where you can see this many Andean Condors, since The National Aviary is the only zoo in North America to have an exhibit with two pairs of these massive birds.
There are only 50 Andean Condors remaining in the wild, but The National Aviary is on a mission to do something about that. Through a reintroduction program, chicks that are hatched in Pittsburgh will be released into the wild in Ecuador.
Condor Court has added a few other birds as well such as a Bald Eagle and a couple African Pygmy Falcons which are surprisingly cute. Check out The National Aviary website above for hours and prices.
What is this a Pittsburgh for ants?
The Phipps Conservatory is a beautiful place to take a stroll for an afternoon. The botanical gardens and conservatory offer an enchanting escape from the hustle and bustle of Pittsburgh. Now, you can also see The Burgh as you’ve never seen it before thanks for the reinvented Garden Railroad in the South Conservatory. Visitors can pop in and watch as a model train travels from Pittsburgh’s past to its present state, spanning over 150 years.
The Garden Railroad takes visitors to ten different time periods in Pittsburgh history through five interactive stations. The miniature model of Pittsburgh features things like roaring crowds at Three Rivers Stadium, the opening of the H.J. Heinz factory in 1869 and the 2013 relaunching of the Point State Park fountain. Of course, all the buildings and railroads are surrounded by lush plants and beautiful blooming flowers. This is a botanical garden, after all.
The Phipps Conservatory costs $15 for non-member adults and is open for visitors seven days a week.
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