What to Do in Pittsburgh During Fall Break
by Sruti B.
Hi, I’m Sruti, and I’m a fifth-year student studying mechanical engineering, biomedical engineering and music performance. After spending half a decade in Pittsburgh (wow, time flies!), I’m certain there’s no place else I’d rather be in the fall. Pittsburgh has so much to offer outside of Carnegie Mellon’s campus, but it can be hard to find time to explore while balancing school. So, what better time to take advantage of the city than during fall break?!
Frick Park, tantalizingly close to our campus, turns into a world of orange and red hues during the fall. A beautiful backdrop to play tennis at the public courts, or go mountain biking on the twisty-turny roller coaster trail. It’s also a great place to go on a walk with a warm drink, my favorite being a maple-spice latte from KLVN, known (by me) to serve the best coffee in Pittsburgh.
While you may see some birds starting to move south for the winter, plenty are here year-round at the National Aviary. Head over to the North Side to see condors, penguins and more than 500 other birds free-flying around you. The National Aviary has a large focus on conservation, and many of the docents have gotten to know the birds pretty well. Hang around for long enough, and you’ll hear all of the bird gossip! And the best part- we get in for free with our student IDs!
The Carnegie Museum of Natural History and the Carnegie Museum of Art are two other cultural experiences included in our arts pass, through our student IDs. Fall break is the perfect time to explore these galleries, without having to worry about classes or assignments. One of my favorite exhibitions at the Carnegie Museum of Natural History is the “Hall of Botany,” which explores our relationship and dependence on plants. If plants are something that interests you, the Phipps Botanical Garden is also a wonderful facility to visit, where you can see a ton of creatively displayed life forms. They frequently hand out free plants as well- most of my apartment greenery comes from there. As I am in my final year at Carnegie Mellon, I’m trying to squeeze in all of the places we can go with our arts pass. Learn from me, and start early!
Finally, and most importantly, take fall break to rest and recharge. It’s easy to get sucked into the fast-paced current at CMU, so take this time to relax. Whether that’s by going on a walk, reading a book or sleeping in a little extra, use this time to focus on what brings you joy. Happy fall!