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I'm off work for a long weekend!!! We're taking a road trip out to Pittsburgh, checking out the Pitt Zoo and PPG Acquarium, then heading about an hour out west to the Foggy Mountain Lodge for a wedding.
We started at the Resident's Inn in downtown Pitt, spent a few short hours at Days Inn in New Stanton before jumping ship for a Hampton Inn in Somerset, PA. Word to the wise - AVOID the Days Inn in New Stanton!
Pitt is such a beautiful city. Although, every time we drive out there it seems to rain, and this trip was no exception! The good news is it was just a short sun shower, most of the trip was sunshine and windows down. Actually, it was a battle of the windows and the AC actually. Greg likes AC. :)
WEDNESDAY - MOSTLY A TRAVEL DAY! www.opentable.com/grand-concourse
Resident's Inn - SO nice! Right across the street from PNC Park. LITERALLY ACROSS THE STREET! The first night we unpacked, chilled for a bit and grabbed some dinner at the Grand Concourse downtown.
If you are in the city, I highly recommend checking out the Grand Concourse. Its an old train station that was remodelled into a restaurant. The food is decent (I'm a food snob, most people would say it was really good) and the waitress was a bit odd but in the end we left happy. We got to sit in the back with the windows and got to see the river, some boats going by and even saw a train go by. Pretty neat.
This is our second time at this restaurant. My favorite thing about going there is the piano music. Both times I've been there, they've had someone playing the piano. Something about the setting, the music and the food together just makes it such a unique, relaxing experience. This atmosphere is tough to find anywhere else!!!
WEDNESDAY NIGHT: CASINO www.theriverscasino.com/
Greg and I played poker. I was SO nervous! Lots of "regulars" that knew what they were doing. I was just trying to remember what the blinds were without having to ask someone!
My "I'm not paying attention" strategy must have worked (Ok so its a strategy HALF the time, the other half I really am not paying attention!). I doubled... at one point close to tripled my money. I ended up paying for our hotel room and part of dinner! Woohoo! I would have stayed longer, except it was getting pretty late.. and lots to see and do tomorrow!
Things to know - Apparently, if you look under 21 the casino will make you wear a bracelet! UGH!
THURSDAY - DAY TIME: ZOO & AQUARIUM www.pittsburghzoo.org
We started the day at the Zoo & the PPG Aquarium. I loved this zoo! Besides there being way too much sun and humidity... I came with my sunglasses and hat. Never leave home without them!
Every zoo/aquarium you go to has something completely unique about it that you won't find somewhere else. Usually its an experience. Some zoos you can feed a giraffe (Dallas), some places you can pet the dolphins (Seaworld in San Diego), and other places you can eat ice cream next to a peacock (only in Pittsburgh!). Best zoo/aquarium ever you ask? Atlanta! But, don't take my word for it, check it out yourself!!!
Pitt we saw lions, tigers and bears! I saw an ostrage, and it was looking right at me! Contrary to popular believe, ostrages do not bury their head in the sand. Its a myth people! I saw zebras.. an elephant family.. even the baby elephants are gi-normous. Don't get trampled! I always like seeing giraffes too.
This zoo had a lot of crazy monkeys. Some of them looked like they were naked and should have had some clothes on! One of the monkeys we saw actually never touch the forest floor. They spend their entire lives in trees, and never come down. CRazy, right?
Saw some crazy fish. Danced around in the sprinkler/cool down section with some kids. Thank goodness Greg wasn't feeling witty and taking pictures then. That would have been embarrassing. It was just SO hot!
Saw the penguins! They are SOO cute! They puff up when they are trying to look tough. When we were there, there was a penguin sitting on perch/ledge area next to the water. Another penguin came over and looked like he wanted to take his spot, so the penguin on the ledge puffed himself up to look all big and bad. It worked! The other penguin didn't bother.
Saw some starfish, jelly fish.. Jelly fish are amazingly beautiful. Its just not possible to catch this on film. There is something amazing about seeing them that seems out of this world. Pitt was decent, but if you want the best show of jelly fish ever, I still recommend going to Atlanta.
I like getting "facial expressions" on the fish and putting captions with them. Its hilarious! I get side stitches from laughing, and Greg says I'm cheesy. You decide!
We saw some scary sharks.. eck. Then we got some dip n' dots and sat in the pavilion, only to be joined by a peacock!!! He kept coming around looking for food. At first I thought he escaped, but the zoo personnel let it (him or her??) roam around. It has an anklet on.. and the zoo keepers were feeding it, so I guess it didn't escape from anywhere.
Best Pitt Zoo experience? Eating ice cream next to a peacock!! Don't know that I will get to do something like that again!!
THURSDAY - NIGHT TIME: PNC PARK http://mlb.mlb.com/pit/ballpark
Take me out to the ball game!!! We grabbed some dinner at Jerome Bettis' Grill 36. Apparently, he used to be a Steeler's player? Definitely a fun little sports bar. Portions on the food are HUGE, but I think those guys eat a lot, so maybe that is the idea. I ordered the perogies for appetizers, and that ended up being my meal. If you eat normal portions (IE you are not a football player), then I'd recommend splitting your appetizers and your dinners with someone else. Preferably someone that eats a lot. I saw them bring out some pretty crazy looking nachos that looked like the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Next time I am in town.. so ordering those nachos!!
We headed over to PNC to see the Pirates vs. the Diamondbacks. Nice stadium views.. LOVE the view of the city... of the river... really, really nice. Disappointing was the crowd, the lack of support for the team, and the overall buzz. Being from Philly, we have ultra high standards.. but that stadium cleared house between the 6th-8th inning. It was a stampede to get out the door. You would have thought the stadium was hit by the plague or some sort of natural disaster was on the way. So sorry Pirates, but your passion on a scale of 1 to 10 is just short of absolutely pathetic.
In all fairness, I have to say that I blame the owners. Could you possibly spend any less on your team and talent? Invest a little people!! It such a nice stadium, and a beautiful city with awesome views and restaurants within walking distance... they are squandering it away by just expecting people to show up without giving anything back. ITS NOT WORKING!!!
Anyway, would have loves to see Philly destroy them, but we are off to a wedding!!! After the game we headed back to the Resident's Inn. PS. Don't forget your room key! They lock the doors during the games so all the drunks don't sneak in to use the bathrooms!
FRIDAY: REHEARSAL DINNER PARTY
Yay!! Off to see Lauren and Bryan! We packed up from the oh-so-nice Resident's Inn and headed to the Days Inn in New Stanton. This is probably the worst hotel I've ever been to in my life. There were bugs. I was scared to sleep in the bed. The bathtub was stained yellow. It smelled.. a mixture of mildewy-ness and cigarette smoke. They claimed the part of the hotel we were in was non-smoking. I am quite sure that was not the case. Can someone report this place to the state please?
We got ready for dinner, and I was super careful to touch as little as possible in the hotel. I would not recommend walking on the carpet without shoes, either.
Good news is, the rehearsal dinner was not at the Days Inn, it was at the lodge. This was a buffet style cookout, and everything was great! We had a great time and we even made some friends! I tried to take some pictures in my goal to be a treasure of happy memories.. hopefully these pictures come out OK! I made sure to get a few of me and Lauren too!!
On the way back to the hotel, we just couldn't bare the thought of staying at the Days Inn, so we called the Hampton in Somerset. It was about an hour the other direction, but it was in the direction that is closer to home, and I would have done anything to NOT sleep on that bed and smell that awful hotel room smell that was borderline nauseating.
We called the Hampton in Somerset and THANK HEAVENS there was an opening. I was fully prepared to beg!!! We headed back to the Days Inn, packed up our stuff and still got charged for the night but frankly, the 60-something dollars was not really a concern. I would have paid way more than that to NOT sleep there. Consider it a lesson learned. Remember where you came from (IE college days, can't afford anything) to present (we're not rich, but we are so NOT staying in a Days Inn!).
Walking into the Hampton was the happiest moment of my day. I was so incredibly relieved. I wanted to hug the receptionist. I might have, except there was a really high counter in the way and I'm only 5' 2" without my heals!
The room was beautiful.. it didn't smell, I hopped in the bed and the sheets were white, pristine and smelled liked heaven scented detergent. They even had nice tea bags in the room and no sign of bugs for miles and miles and miles....
By this time, it was really, really late. We lightly unpacked and zonked out to sleep!!! I dreamed sweet dreams that night... no nightmares of bed bugs crawling on me and my stuff...
SATURDAY: THE WEDDING! http://foggymountainlodge.com/
We slept SO LATE! We didn't get to bed until late... and we didn't have to rush to get ready, but we ended up missing hotel breakfast... and breakfast in general actually!
I am such a girly-girl. I love, love, love getting dressed up. I found the cutest dress ever, and I was so excited to wear it. Greg looked super handsome in his suit, and we are on our way back to the Foggy Mountain lodge. We arrive and thank goodness we are early. The restaurant is open so we grab some quick brunch.. say hello to Bryan.. the husband-to-be.
This was my first real taste of the food at the lodge. The rehearsal dinner didn't really count b/c it was buffet style and a more casual setting. I ordered a crab bisque... Remember, I am a complete food snob. I don't love the food anywhere, except places that are Chef Ramsey quality. I'm spoiled, we travel a lot.. what can I say?
I will say that food at Foggy Mountain = AMAZING! Bryan's mom owns this restaurant/lodge and its some freakin awesome food. I LOVED the food. Everything was made perfectly. The place is kind of in the middle of nowhere, but jeez.. make the trip out to the lodge and try the food!!!
We ate brunch then hobbled (I hobbled in my heals, Greg walked) down to the ceremony. It was set by a little lake with a fountain and a little bridge for the bridal party to walk across to enter. It was so, so pretty.
It wasn't too hot, it wasn't sunny.. it was just perfect. Lauren looked so beautiful in her dress. One of the kids in the bridal party cried on their way over, it was super cute. I tried to take a lot of pictures, but I also tried to just enjoy the moment (it a fine line!!!). The ceremony went really well.
Toward the end everyone was escorted inside for reception. It was good timing because the sky turned and it was threatening to downpour!
We went inside... grabbed a drink at the bar, admired the cake... and timing was perfect because it did rain!!! We got seated at the most-fun table in the house. We were the dancing queens.. and the guys were off somewhere else (not sure where b/c I spent the night on the dance floor!). Made some new friends, had lots of fun.
The night ended with a bonfire and smores... such a cute idea! We burnt some marsh mellows, made some smores and then chatted the night away. We said goodnight to Lauren and Bryan, then headed off to our hotel.
FINAL REVIEWS
Pitt.. always beautiful. Foggy Mountain Lodge, in the middle of nowhere and should completely be on the map for having amazing food! Pretty and scenic, I would definitely stay there for a get-away from technology type experience. Dont' worry though, you'll still get cell phone reception.
Zoo and Aquarium - must see! Not too big, not too small, just right.
Grand Concourse - definitely a Pitt-city experience, a must see! Food is decent, nothing to rave about but its above average.
Pirates and PNC Park.. blah on their spirit and fab on their stadium/view of the city. Feel free to insult the Pirates fans. They claim to be passionate, but they have no idea!
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