Urban Hike News

Urban Hike Scavenger Hunt in Squirrel Hill - Noon on 10/22

2011-10-16T18:06:00.001-07:00

We are just a few days away from the Squirrel Hill Scavenger Hunt! We have been working really hard, and you don't want to miss this one! Knowledge of the neighborhood is not required, and in fact it will be a great way to learn about some unusual features of this super cool area.

Don't worry about sending an RSVP, and don't break open the piggy bank, because no fee is required. Just show up at the public parking lot behind Gullifty's (behind the 1900 block of Murray Avenue) with a team of no more than 5 people, and be ready to go at noon (12pm). If your friends are busy, we'll put you on a team with new friends.

Bring one digital camera per team, and your cable for downloading pictures. The camera should be clear of any other photos. A pen/pencil for writing answers is also helpful. If you want to park in the lot behind Gullifty's, the meters have a pay station that takes credit cards - $4 for 4 hours. Otherwise, it's possible to find street parking if you don't mind a bit more of a walk.

We'll be there, rain or shine!!

Questions? Contact info@urbanhike.org

Save the Date - Urban Hike Scavenger Hunt

2011-10-04T17:19:00.001-07:00

The wait is over, and the location of the annual fall scavenger hunt is....Squirrel Hill! Stay tuned for more details, and mark your calendars for 12 noon on Saturday October 22nd.

If you have somehow missed our clue hunting extravaganza in years past, the drill is: you show up by yourself, or in teams up to 5 people. We will hand you a map with boundaries and clues, and it's up to you to find answers. Some clues require picture taking, so bring a camera and a cable to download your photos onto a laptop. The group will later reconvene to score the answers, announce winners, and, of course, hand out prizes.

We'll see you there, and if you have any questions in the meantime, as always, you can find us at info@urbanhike.org

Sharpsburg Surprises Again!

2011-09-23T14:15:00.001-07:00

Urban Hike seeks out the unexpected in each place we visit, so we've seen it all - castles in Wilmerding, boxing rings in former fire stations in Spring Garden, and secret societies in Swissvale. But, Sharpsburg really packs the surprises into its less than one square mile of surface area. If we say any more we'll ruin the fun, so just come on down and make sure you leave those old, stretched out socks at home because Sharpsburg will knock those off before we round the first bend!

In addition to your newest stockings, we recommend you wear comfortable shoes and bring a water bottle and some sunscreen.

Dogs are welcome, but be warned that this hike will include a few awesome indoor attractions.

The terrain is relatively flat and there aren't any city steps on this hike, so feel free to bring the buggy.

Any questions? Contact us at info@urbanhike.org.

Lunch
We'll be hiking right through lunch time, so we hope you'll stick around for some food or drinks at Silky's Crows Nest at the end. If the weather is nice, they've promised to save us some of their deck seating with river views. They have asked that we get one check per table, so please bring cash or a generous attitude! (Hike will end around 12:30, so plan to stay later if you want to eat.)

Directions - Car
We haven't been able to find a good address for the Crows Nest, but directions are simple. Get yourself to Sharpsburg (it's between the 62nd Street Bridge and the Highland Park Bridge on the north side of the Allegheny River) and you'll surely find yourself on the accurately named Main Street. Cross streets are numbered, so just head for 19th (low numbers in the west and high in the east) and then turn towards the river. You'll go through an underpass and when you come out, surprise!, there's the Crows Nest.

Directions - Bus
Sharpsburg has two buses that run fairly frequently on Saturdays (rather unusual for such a small town, eh? ;> ) - the 1 Freeport Rd and the 91 Butler Street. Get off on Main Street at 19th Street and head towards the river.

Recap:

When: Saturday, September 24 · 10:00am - 12:30pm

Where: Crow's Nest,19th & River Road

What: Urban Hike in Sharpsburg

Who: Everyone, Anyone

Date, Location and Meeting Time - Urban Hikes sets its sights on Swissvale and Swisshelm Park!

2011-08-21T07:21:00.001-07:00

So, you've seen the Edgewood-Swissvale exit on the parkway and you've sped through Swissvale to get to Kennywood, but have you even heard of Swisshelm Park? And did you know Swissvale's secrets include super-sized subs, spruced up old houses, and the headquarters of the Secret Society of Odd Acquisition? No need to stall any longer! Saunter over to Swissvale on August 28th and Urban Hike will steer you through the sights of Swissvale and Swisshelm Park. After the hike, stick around for soups, salads, and sandwiches at Cafe dez Artz.
A few important details:
1. Sunday, August 28 @ 10am
2. Swissvale shopping plaza - Church St & Monongahela Ave, 15218
3. Hike will be 4.5 to 5 miles and contain several steep blocks, but no steps
4. Sunscreen, comfortable shoes, and beverages encouraged
5. We hike rain or shine!
Parking and Directions
Find your way to S. Braddock Avenue near Edgewood Towne Centre. Church Street intersects with S. Braddock near where it passes under the train tracks and busway. Turn the only way that you can onto Church (right if you're heading outbound and left if you're heading inbound) and drive to the next light, which is about a block. The shopping center will be on your left. We have been told that parking isn't enforced on Sundays, so you can park on the street or in the lot.
Buses: P1 (East Busway) and 61B

Urban Hikes sets its sights on Swissvale and Swisshelm Park!

2011-08-20T11:53:00.001-07:00

A few important details:
1. Hike will be 4.5 to 5 miles and contain several steep blocks, but no steps
2. Sunscreen, comfortable shoes, and beverages encouraged
3. We hike rain or shine!

Parking and Directions
Find your way to S. Braddock Avenue near Edgewood Towne Centre. Church Street intersects with S. Braddock near where it passes under the train tracks and busway. Turn the only way that you can onto Church (right if you're heading outbound and left if you're heading inbound) and drive to the next light, which is about a block. The shopping center will be on your left. We have been told that parking isn't enforced on Sundays, so you can park on the street or in the lot.

Buses: P1 (East Busway) and 61B

Swissvale (exact meeting spot coming soon)

2011-08-15T18:57:00.001-07:00

A few important details:
1. Stay tuned for starting location specifics
2. Hike will be 4.5 to 5 miles and contain several steep blocks, but no steps
3. Sunscreen, comfortable shoes, and beverages encouraged
4. We hike rain or shine

Details for Ambridge Hike - July 16th

2011-07-10T16:23:00.001-07:00

The path to the past starts outside the Circle K in Ambridge - Map - and don't worry, the hike does get more scenic and more historic from there. There is plenty of free parking along Duss Avenue near the meeting spot. If you don't want to drive, consider taking the 14 bus - it goes from Downtown to just a few blocks from our meeting spot. You can find the Saturday schedule Here. Or contact us by Tuesday (7/12) about carpooling at info@urbanhike.org. There will be a bit of construction along route 65, but we are not anticipating any major issues.

Don't forget to bring lots of water and sunscreen. Our final eatery is a cash-only locale, so if you think you might stay (and we think you should!), don't forget to bring a few dollars.

Recap:
When: Saturday, July 16th at 10am
Where: Circle K at 1599 Duss Ave, 15003 - Map
What: Urban Hike Path to the Past
Who: Come one and all, and bring friends

Questions? Contact info@urbanhike.org

Save the Date! Urban Hike Goes to Ambridge

2011-07-06T18:25:00.001-07:00

Tired of the problems of the present? Step back into the past with Urban Hike's foray into Ambridge. We will meet at 10am on Saturday, July 16th, and we will provide more details as soon as we dredge them up from the mists of time (that is, as soon as we figure them out).

Ambridge is a ways outside of Pittsburgh down the Ohio River - just be grateful you don't have to make the trip using a horse and buggy! If you are interested in carpooling, let us know at info@urbanhike.org, and we'll make arrangements.

The hike will be about 5 miles, and we'll stop at a few local points of interest along the way. Bring lots of water, wear sunscreen, and stay tuned for more details!

Questions? Contact us at info@urbanhike.org

Next Hike: South Oakland on June 5th

2011-05-26T18:05:00.001-07:00

Think you know Oakland? Think again! We have a great route planned for June 5th that tours the twists and turns, history, landmarks, and religious icons that you might never have known existed. This hike is on the longer side - 5 miles - and involves lots of ups and downs. We will experience a number of really neat Pittsburgh steps, but they make the going tough for strollers.

We will walk for 3+ hours, with a couple of stops along the way. As anyone who was on our last hike knows, we will be there rain or shine. Don't forget to bring water and wear sunscreen. We will probably be out a little longer, and exert a little more energy than usual on this adventure.

We will meet in Schenley Park at what is affectionately know as "Dinosaur Park," where parking is free and unlimited on Sundays. It is located on the unnamed road that creates an "elbow" between Panther Hollow Road and Boulevard of the Allies. The road doesn't actually connect to the Boulevard, so enter from the Panther Hollow side. A link to the spot is below, and feel free to contact us for clarifications at info@urbanhike.org

Recap:

When: Sunday June 5th, 9:45am
Where: Dinosaur Park, Map
What: Urban Hike adventure in South Oakland
Who: Come one and all, and bring friends

Correction! Hike is Sunday May 1st!

2011-04-20T15:48:00.001-07:00

I guess we got a little rusty in the off-season, and forgot how to use calendars. The hike is Sunday May 1st. Apologies for the confusion, and hope you can make it.

When: May 1st, 11 am
Where: Parking lot on the corner of Middle and Foreland
What: Fantastic Urban Hike on the North Side
Who: Come one and all, and bring friends

First Hike of the Season

2011-04-19T18:19:00.001-07:00

The flowers are in bloom, the temperature is starting to rise, and the rain is, well, raining, but it is definitely Spring! And although you might think you know the North Side of Pittsburgh, please join us at 11 am on April 30th for a tour of a few things you might not have seen before.

Never been to the North Side? It is definitely worth the trip. We are meeting at the parking lot at the corner of Middle and Foreland. Foreland is one block north (away from downtown) of East Ohio Street, and you can see it on the map. Meters are free on Sundays.

We will walk for between 2 and 3 hours, making a couple of stops along the way to visit local businesses, historical landmarks, and other unexpected cultural oddities. We will be there rain or shine. Bring water, wear sunscreen, and we hope to see you there!

Recap:

When: April 30th, 11 am
Where: Parking lot on the corner of Middle and Foreland map
What: Fantastic Urban Hike on the North Side
Who: Come one and all, and bring friends

It Was Another Fun Scavenger Hunt

2010-10-24T15:16:00.001-07:00

Thanks to all the teams who participated in the Scavenger Hunt yesterday! We had a great time, and appreciated all the enthusiastic clue hunters. Posted in the notes section on Urban Hike's Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Urban-Hike/21315572698) are the final scores (by team number) and the answer key.

If you have questions, or would like to be added to our mailing list: info@urbanhike.org

Scavenger Hunt is Almost Here!

2010-10-19T18:05:00.001-07:00

We are just a few days away from the Lawrenceville Scavenger Hunt! We have been working really hard, and you don't want to miss this one! Knowledge of the Lawrenceville neighborhood is not required, and in fact it will be a great way to learn about some unusual features of this super cool area.

Don't worry about sending an RSVP, and don't break open the piggy bank, because no fee is required. Just show up at 46th and Butler on 10/23 with a team of no more than 5 people, and be ready to go at 1pm. If your friends are busy, we'll put you on a team with new friends.

Bring one digital camera per team, and your cable for downloading pictures. A pen/pencil for writing answers is also helpful.

We'll be there, rain or shine!!

Questions? Contact info@urbanhike.org

Its Official! We Are Clue Hunting in Lawrenceville on 10/23!

2010-10-11T12:08:00.000-07:00

Think you're smarter than a fifth grader? Or maybe just smarter than the average Pittsburgher? Or maybe you just want to have some fun running around Lawrenceville? Whichever way you look at it, we are set for a great event on Saturday 10/23/10 for our annual fall scavenger hunt.

Meet at 1pm sharp at the corner of 46th Street and Butler Street in Lawrenceville. We will hand out maps/clues and send teams off at 1pm -- if you are late you will lose valuable clue-hunting time!

Form a team of up to 5 people. Friends busy that day? Come on your own and we'll put you on a team of new friends. Bring one camera per team, and don't forget a cable to download photos at the end. A pen/pencil might be helpful to write down answers.

The whole shebang should take around 4 hours. We'll be clue hunting for 2 and 1/2 hours, then scoring, drinking, and awarding prizes! If the weather looks threatening, never fear - just grab your raincoat and your galoshes because we will be there rain or shine.

Questions? Contact info@urbanhike.com

Lawrenceville Scavenger Hunt

2010-10-02T13:42:00.001-07:00

Save the Date! We will be hunting for clues in Lawrenceville on Saturday October 23rd. The exact location and time will be revealed shortly (as soon as we figure out those minor details). So get your thinking caps and your walking shoes, get your camera and your pencils, and get ready! We will see you in a couple of weeks.

Questions? Info@urbanhike.org

Larimer Clarifications

2010-09-21T13:20:00.001-07:00

The Larimer Hike will meet at the Coffee Tree Roasters in Bakery Square on Saturday 9/25 at 12pm (noon). It seems the Coffee Tree is too new to show up on Google yet, but you can look for Bakery Square instead. The link to Bakery Square on Google Maps is below:

Bakery Square Map

Larimer at Last!!

2010-09-20T17:16:00.001-07:00

It's finally happening! We're going to meet at noon this coming Saturday (9/25) at the Coffee Tree Roasters in Bakery Square - its on Penn Avenue, across from Mellon Park. There is a garage at Bakery Square, but parking is only free for three hours. The nearby lot next to Staples (6375 Penn Ave) has plenty of free parking.

We'll get to see a neighborhood in transition, and hear from some of the people making the change a reality. The hike should last about three to four hours, with a few stops along the route. There will be gardens, pigs, churches (even one for sale, so bring your checkbook), and lots of green development. We will be walking about 4 miles through a mostly flat urban neighborhood.

Don't forget to bring water and wear sunscreen. Looking forward to seeing you on Saturday!

Questions? info@urbanhike.org

Save the Date - Larimer!

2010-09-07T06:01:00.001-07:00

We are making progress on the next hike! So mark September 25th on your calendars for a tour of Pittsburgh's latest up and coming neighborhood, and a center of green development. Larimer hosts a variety of interesting activities that you probably didn't expect (we didn't, anyway) and we are looking forward to exploring it with you. See you in a couple of weeks!

Any questions - contact info@urbanhike.org

Urban Hike Returns from Hiatus

2010-09-01T14:22:00.001-07:00

Urban Hike is back! Due to a crazy combination of weddings, babies, new homes, grad school, and job hunts, we were forced to take a short break. But we missed you, and we missed exploring the city, and so we are planning two more hikes before the winter break.

We will have a hike in Larimer in late September, and our traditional scavenger hunt will be in October. Stay tuned for more details (and we mean it this time!).

We are looking forward to seeing all of you soon.

Urban Hike Explores the Heights - Brighton Heights!

2010-05-03T06:26:00.001-07:00

We hope you'll join us for the 2010 inaugural Urban Hike on Saturday May 8th in Brighton Heights. We'll meet at Friendly Grounds, 3619 California Ave, at noon. There is metered parking in front of the coffee shop, but if you go just one block further (past Davis) you can find free on-street parking. Or, avoid the parking dilemma altogether and take the bus - the 500 stops just outside Friendly Grounds.

Bring plenty of water since we will have to climb a couple of hills to enjoy the surprisings vistas of the city (that's why they call it Brighton *Heights*). And of course we always recommend sunscreen.

In case of questions - contact us at info@urbanhike.org

See you next weekend!

Final Details on Scavenger Hunt for Saturday

2009-10-22T20:03:00.000-07:00

The Urban Hike Scavenger Hunt is just around the corner - in Bloomfield, to be exact. We will be meeting at Friendship Parklet at 1:00pm this Saturday (10/24), rain or shine. Bring a team of up to 5 people, or come on your own and we'll put you on a team.

Good news!! We have arranged for free parking in the lot behind Immaculate Conception Church (4712 Liberty).

Don't forget a digital camera for your team, and a connector to upload photos for scoring.

We will be checking clues at a local bar/restaurant at the end. Please plan to order at least one food or beverage to show your appreciation to our host.

Any questions - contact info@urbanhike.org

Scavenger Hunt Location: And the Winner is.....

2009-10-10T14:34:00.001-07:00

Although the competition was intense between the four locations that made it to the final round, the Urban Hike Committee agreed that Bloomfield's bid was the most compelling.

Join us there on Saturday October 24th for our annual Scavenger Hunt. We'll meet in Friendship Parklet (near the intersection of Friendship and Mathilda) at 1:00pm. Get ready to compete against teams from all around the world (well, all around the city, anyway) for bragging rights, and maybe even a few prizes (we might be just a little short on medals).

Your team will need one digital camera, and a connector to upload photos to a laptop (we can't accept photos via e-mail). We also highly recommend you delete any non-Urban Hike photos from your camera prior to the event - this is mostly for speed and ease of scoring, but for your own embarrassment factor as well. ;-)

Form a team of up to 5 people, or come on your own and we'll put you on a team. RSVP's from teams would be much appreciated, and you can respond to info@urbanhike.org, or on Facebook (become a Facebook Fan of Urban Hike, if you haven't already!).

Any questions - feel free to contact info@urbanhike.org

Verona: Print Your Own Map & Save!

2009-09-18T16:33:00.000-07:00

If you're coming on the Verona hike tomorrow, consider printing our your own map. We usually only have a limited number. The map can be downloaded here. See you tomorrow!

2009-09-09T07:13:00.000-07:00

Fall is coming, and Urban Hike is heading to fair Verona on Saturday September 19th at 10:30am. We'll meander along the river, get some aerobic exercise in search of great views, and we might even end the hike with some group "hugs." Alongthe way we'll learn about Celoron (no, not the vegetable, but an important part of Pittsburgh history). As usual there will be a local dinning option for those who want to stick around after the 3 hour (more or less) hike.

We'll meet at the parking area on E. Railroad Ave. between South Ave. and James St. Questions? Email us!

Save the Date: September 19th, 2009

2009-08-31T06:19:00.000-07:00

This one goes out to all you Urban Hikers: We'll be hiking on Saturday, September 19th in fair Verona. More details are forthcoming, but now would be a great time to mark your calendars! See you then!