Pittsburgh Road Trip

At the end of March, we took a short trip out to visit Mama Geek's parents near Pittsburgh, PA.  It's about five hours' drive each way, which is a bit too long for an extended day trip, so we turn it into a mini-getaway and spend time in Pittsburgh itself.

First, we dropped by their business, where Geek Girl gave a brief concert for her grandfather:

Geek Girl plays clarinet for her grandfather

We visited for a while, and then headed off to the hotel and dinner in town.  The next day was sunny and beautiful, so we went to Schenley Park and the Oakland and Squirrel Hill districts for a sightseeing walk.  I had visited the area for a business trip to the University of Pittsburgh last fall, and thought Geek Girl and Mama Geek would enjoy it -- they did.

Our first stop was the Phipps Conservatory, where we spent a few hours wandering through the lovely gardens, stopping frequently for pictures

Geek Girl and Daddy Geek at the Phipps Conservatory

Pretty Geek Ladies with pretty flowers

This was yet another demonstration of the differences between how Mama Geek visits museums and how Geek Girl and I do.  As usual, Mama Geek was content to meander through, taking in all the lovely flowers

and other sights, while Geek Girl and I had a great time going slowly through the rooms, with Geek Girl reading all the scientific names for all the plants and trying to sound them out. She also liked connecting different kinds of flowers based on their scientific names, and was fascinated with being a botanist at the Tropical Forest India exhibit.  We all enjoyed the visit to the spice shop, which nearly triggered a visit to an Indian restaurant for lunch...

Instead, we did the touristy bit and headed off to Primanti Brothers on Forbes Ave, where we split a variety of sandwiches and chili.  Geek Girl even tackled an adult sandwich - grilled chicken - and ate most of it.  (She is definitely developing more of an appetite these days...)

We also dropped by the Heinz Chapel for a quick break, including a trip up into the choir loft.  It's quite pretty, and the stained glass windows have scenes and figures from American history, including George Washington and Abraham Lincoln.

View from the choir loft

We ended the day with a trip to a playground in Schenley Park before heading off to dinner and dessert in the Strip District.  We picked the right day to visit, as the next day was grey and drizzly - sometimes we get lucky!