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In some areas of the country, living in the city means having little access to the wonders of the great outdoors. But one of the biggest attractions for those who call Pittsburgh home is that you don’t have to go far to take advantage of one of the city’s many ... Read full article » |
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Finding a way to spend a day on the water isn’t difficult if you live in or around Pittsburgh. Not only is the city surrounded by three rivers, but western Pennsylvania is rife with lakes that beckon boaters of every kind.
The Moraine Sailing Club, which will be celebrating its 40th ... Read full article » |
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Spending time outdoors is a great way to get exercise, and as any animal-lover will tell you, it’s even better when accompanied by a dog. I believed this for years, going hiking, walking and camping with my two dogs in tow an 80-pound MacKenzie River Husky and a 40-pound Australian ... Read full article » |
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As Pittsburgh continues in its evolution to become a bike-friendly city, more and more cyclists are choosing to ride into work. And some companies, such as Google, Mullen Pittsburgh and Chemistry, are making it even easier to do.
“I’ve been riding to work for six years, and it’s amazing how ... Read full article » |
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Every individual can make a positive change in his or her environment, just by doing simple things like recycling or conserving water. But when a large group of like-minded people get together to discuss how to better protect the environment, the fact is, they can change the world.
World Environment Day ... Read full article » |
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When I look out my front window, I see a clothesline draped with the remnants of this past weekend’s camping trip. Soaked tents, muddy towels, damp sleeping bags—all reminders of the torrential downpour that occurred on Saturday, accompanied by gale force winds.
The good news is that the bad weather ... Read full article » |
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Imagine waking up before dawn, driving to a trailhead, hiking for 34 miles and paying for the privilege. If this sounds crazy to you, you’re not alone. If this sounds like something you wait all year for the opportunity to do, you’ve probably already taken part in the Rachel Carson ... Read full article » |
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This Friday is Bike to Work Day, and while it’s certainly a day to celebrate the two-wheeled among us, it’s also a day to take time to appreciate the great strides forward that Pittsburgh has made toward becoming a bike-friendly city.
Marc Burgess, who has been biking to work in Pittsburgh ... Read full article » |
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I recently read an article in The New York Times called “I Put in 5 Miles at the Office,” that showcased the growing use of treadmill desks. Using one of these, such as the $4,000 Walkstation, office workers can incorporate extra movement into their sedentary routines while never leaving their ... Read full article » |
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This past summer, Katie Spotz, 21, swam the length of the Allegheny River, raising money for charity and becoming the first person to complete this feat. An endurance athlete now living in Mentor, Ohio, the recent college graduate took time from Read full article » |
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Pittsburgh 250 bike riders on their way to join up with Trailblazers and community cyclist.
Last Saturday morning, 90 cycling enthusiasts loaded their bikes on a box truck and themselves on a bus and traveled to Washington, D.C. to start the journey of a lifetime—the Venture Outdoors 250 Bike Tour. For ... Read full article » |
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Everybody knows that walls are bad, but some of us are more poetic about it than others. Brian Root, 27, shared his views on why walls are bad in our online contest, and as a result, he and a number of students at the University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg are ... Read full article » |
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While I’m all about being outside, I’m not a big fan of exercise. Basically, it seems like a lot of work and not a whole lot of fun. And of course, it doesn’t involve beer.
But there is one group that manages to combine the best of both worlds—the Pittsburgh ... Read full article » |
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Leave it better than how you found it.
For most people who spend time outdoors, that mantra is second nature. In order to truly enjoy a wilderness experience, it needs to look like wilderness—not somewhere that many others have traveled before.
That said, I’m now beginning to think ... Read full article » |
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I’m always encouraging families to get outside and spend time together, but sometimes this is difficult when you’ve got younger children or little ones still in strollers. But an event coming up on September 13 at Frick Park is tailor-made for those families who want to spend time outdoors while ... Read full article » |
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As anyone who reads this blog knows, I like to go camping. And one of my favorite annual events is the Pennsic War, which is held at Cooper’s Lake Campground north of Pittsburgh. I just came home from a few days on-site to catch up on my blogging, as well ... Read full article » |
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One of the issues often raised around the request for money to create new green spaces and trails is how these outdoor amenities will provide a return on investment. While most people agree that it’s nice to have somewhere to hike, creating trails and providing for their maintenance is rarely ... Read full article » |
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Calling Pittsburgh a 'smoky city' is like calling Britney Spears a pop star. While there might have been some truth to this moniker in the past, the fact is, times have changed.
A recent article (July 18, 2008) in USA Today by Jayne Clark tries to put this tired old idea ... Read full article » |
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For stay-at-home moms, getting outside for exercise requires a little more preparation than just putting on some tennis shoes and taking a walk. Anywhere they choose to go needs to be stroller-friendly, and it's often hard to meet other moms for a little adult conversation while wandering through the neighborhood. ... Read full article » |
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There aren't many things that annoy me more than when I hear people whining about the fact that " there's nothing to do in Pittsburgh." Unless you live under a rock, there's something going on every week, in practically every neighborhood, and all you have to do is get ... Read full article » |
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 If you&rsquo ve ever wondered whether children today were spending enough time outdoors, Richard Louv&rsquo s landmark work, Last Child in the Woods, answers that question. And the answer is not good. A recipient of the 2008 Audubon Read full article » |
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| Someday, seeing sailboats racing along the Allegheny River might become as commonplace as watching barges pushing coal along its coastline. A new organization called the Point of Pittsburgh Sailing League hopes to bring sailing to the city of Pittsburgh by encouraging high schools, colleges and businesses to participate in the ... Read full article » |
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| So I don&rsquo t know if you&rsquo ve been reading Forbes magazine lately, (which by the way, you should be perusing while sitting under a tree outside), but they recently published an article by Rebecca Ruiz entitled America&rsquo s Best Cities for the Outdoors. Now I know what you&rsquo re ... Read full article » |
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I’m not a doctor, and I don’t even play one on TV. But even I know that spending time outdoors provides a lot of healthy benefits. But just in case you don’t believe me (and you really should), a couple of recent studies back up this most basic of beliefs.
According ... Read full article » |
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| Biking also reduces healthcare costs, damage to the environment If you drive a car, you know the bad news: gas prices continue to rise and show no sign of decreasing anytime soon. The fact is, every day it costs more to commute, and that doesn't even take into account the rising ... Read full article » |
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| As I'm writing this, the cost of gas is $3.86...no, wait...$3.87...hold on...$3.88 a gallon. And if I don't write faster, it's going to go up again before I can finish this blog. And while I could rant and rave about the cost of filling up my truck, the fact is, ... Read full article » |
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| Welcome back to those of you who spent this glorious Memorial Day weekend outside, enjoying the sunshine and warmer temperatures. Whether you went camping, hiking, biking, kayaking, picnicking...whatever...you couldn't have had a better weekend to do it. I mention this with a pinch of jealousy, because I spent last weekend camping ... Read full article » |
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| Having come to the site, www.wallsarebad.com, you've probably already realized that we've taken a pretty strong position on the idea that for people to be happy and healthy, they've got to get outdoors. Who are we? Well, to start with, a coalition of 60-plus outdoor recreation organizations and agencies in ... Read full article » |
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| If you've ever wanted to try biking, bird watching, rock climbing or kayaking, now's your chance. From May 16th-May 25th, Pittsburgh is celebrating Great Outdoors Week and you're invited to attend. Events include National Bike to Work Day, the Venture Outdoors Festival, and a Learn to Row session that are ... Read full article » |
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| In the last month, people who love to spend time in outdoor parks-both urban and rural-got some great news. In late April, the state of Pennsylvania acquired a 10-acre tract next to Moraine State Park's Slippery Rock Creek Natural Area in Butler County, which will be incorporated into the park's ... Read full article » |
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| “The woods were my Ritalin.” How can you not love that quote? Written by Richard Louv in his book, Last Child in the Woods, he continues, "Nature calmed me, focused me, and yet excited my senses." If only more people knew about the healing effect of nature and its ability to relieve ... Read full article » |
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| If you've been looking for an opportunity to enjoy the great outdoors, there's no better time than this Friday to get started. From Friday, May 16th through Sunday, May 25th, all of Pittsburgh will be celebrating Great Outdoors Week, sponsored by Sustainable Pittsburgh and its outdoor recreation partners. So what can ... Read full article » |
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