25 Reasons To Love Pittsburgh

Wanderlust often whisks many of us away from our hometown, especially when we’re just leaving college or have decided at some point to start over with that proverbial clean slate. But, wherever we go, our experiences and how Pittsburgh has shaped our lives goes with us. We instinctively know our fellow Pittsburghers when we meet them and fondly chat of all that makes the city so special. Many return to the Burgh because, like Dorothy said, there really is no place like home. Here are just 25 reasons to love Pittsburgh:

Enjoying four seasons – sometimes all in one day!

Flickr/Via Tsuji

Wearing the same outfit as our friends for Kennywood picnic day…eating funnel cakes and Potato Patch fries at the park.

Facebook/Kennywood

Going to the drive-in. (Yes, we still have a few!)

Facebook/Riverside Drive-In

Visiting the summer church festivals and community fairs.

Flickr/Kevin Harber

Childhood memories of playing outside until the street lights came on.

Flickr/elston

Catching lightning bugs then setting them free.

Flickr/Ashley Harrigan

Running out for a cold treat on a hot summer day (then growing up and watching your six-year-old do the same).

Flickr/Ezra Wolfe

Riding the train from Jumpin’ Jungle to Kiddie Land at Idlewild.

Facebook/Idlewild & SoakZone

Convincing mom and dad to buy a red or a blue slush and a soft pretzel after shopping at Hills.

Wikimedia/Ichabod

Watching the scrolling school delays and closings on KDKA, WTAE, and WPXI on winter mornings – and hoping, hoping, hoping for a day off. (And, if you lived in the Gateway School District in the 80s and 90s, never getting that wish granted).

Flickr/ThoseGuys119

Memories of Isaly’s french fries, egg salad, pickles, and ice cream.

Flickr/Jim Rhodes

Pierogies.

Flickr/Suburban Tourist

Ice skating at PPG Place.

Flickr/Robert Wilholt

Fireworks at the Point on the Fourth of July.

Flickr/Alan Charness

Rooting for the Steelers…

Flickr/Russ D.

The Pens…

Flickr/Natalie Litz

And the Buccos.

Flickr/Pghjared

Stunning fall foliage.

Flickr/Brook Ward

The skyline from Mount Washington

Flickr/Wally Gobetz

The view of the city coming out of the Fort Pitt Tunnels.

Flickr/Bryce Glass

The passion and camaraderie of Pittsburgh’s animal lovers and selfless rescuers.

Flickr/Rym DeCoster

The Southwestern Pennsylvania World War II Memorial.

Facebook/The Southwestern Pennsylvania World War II Memorial

Just a hop, skip, and a jump from Indiana, PA, the hometown of Jimmy Stewart, one of the great actors of Hollywood’s Golden Age.

Wikimedia/Public Domain

A language all of our own.

Flickr/Harriet Schwartz

A community that comes together to help those in need – like Pittsburghers recently donating teddy bears to help children in crisis.

Flickr/The Shopping Sherpa

Those are just 25 reasons to love Pittsburgh, at least from my perspective. Why do YOU love Pittsburgh?