First timer to Pittsburgh, what should I explore?

1) The Mount Washington Overlook at night is one of the best city skyline views in America. Drive to the Duquesne Incline at dusk and buy a round trip ticket for $5. 

2) If you are there during baseball season, seeing a night game at PNC Park is a great time. On certain days (you can look up online) they end the game with a spectacular fireworks show.

3) Check out the Strip District on Penn Avenue for a look at Pittsburgh's cultural market district. I recommend  Lucy's Bah Mi stand if you get hungry. 

Pittsburgh has wonderful neighborhoods.  Try Shadyside for boutiques, Lawrenceville for independent stores and restaurants (they compare it to Brooklyn, NY), Bloomfield (Pennsylvania) (for everything Italian), South Side (for bars and tattoo shops), Oakland for museums, universities and restaurants, Squirrel Hill for all things Jewish, theatres, restaurants and shopping. There are great museums; The Carnegie Museum of Art, The Carnegie Museum of Natural History, The Andy Warhol Museum, Carnegie Science Center. The Mattress Factory, The Children's Museum of Pittsburgh and more. Pittsburgh has also become a great restaurant town with new ones opening up all the time. They are also known for great craft beer. Phipps Conservatory  is beautiful and has wonderful spring, fall and winter flower shows. We also have a lot of great coffee shops. Downtown is also fun with theater and sport venues. The baseball and football stadiums are on the North Shore but are easily walkable over the bridges from downtown. Pittsburgh is very green, lush and hilly unless you come in the winter when it is often white. There is a wonderful Fairmont Pittsburgh Hotel downtown and many other hotels in other neighborhoods. 

Depending on how long you're here and what you want to do I would recommend this: Night life - Cultural District downtown, North Shore near the stadiums, South Side Flats (Pennsylvania) (college crowd), Lawrenceville('hipster' area). If it's day time ideas you need: (on the weekend) Strip District, Pirate Game No. 2, Mt Washington, Grandview Avenue(take the incline - Duquesne is more fun), Southside. Have fun!

Pittsburgh is a sports town in every season. Be sure to take in a football, baseball or hockey game. Professional and college level sports are available. The Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium is great for adults and kids plus it gives you a view of the Allegheny River. In the same vein Kennywood Park offers family amusements and a trip across the Monongahela. 

I would add the Mattress Factory (http://mattress.org/) on the North Side if you like art and a Pirates/Steelers/Penguins game because this is a sports town and definitely go to the Strip for great food, people watching and to buy Pittsburgh souvenirs.  Be prepared to eat well in Pittsburgh as there is great food and beer here along with great neighborhoods and parks.

Pittsburgh is so beautiful.  When you visit Pittsburgh, please be prepared for lots of steep hills and windy roads with sharp bends.  Speaking of hills, be sure to take in the view from Mt Washington (http://www.visitpittsburgh.com/about-pittsburgh/neighborhoods/mt-washington/)!  Be sure to visit the Phipps Conservatory (https://phipps.conservatory.org/) in Oakland and the Carnegie Museum of Natural History as well as the Carnegie Museum of Art, also in Oakland (http://www.carnegiemuseums.org/).  It would be a quick bus trip from downtown to Oakland.  Phipps and the Carnegie are a short walk.  The Carnegie museums are each part of one large building.  The Andy Warhol Museum is small, but worth visiting(http://www.warhol.org/).  Also downtown is the Senator John Heinz History Center which is the history of Pittsburgh and the area (http://www.heinzhistorycenter.org/).  It's an amazing place to visit and probably one of the most unique regional history centers in the country.  And don't forget to visit the National Aviary, (https://www.aviary.org/) which is on the North Side near the stadiums.  Also, since you will be in the Pittsburgh area, take this opportunity to visit Frank Lloyd Wright's masterpiece of architecture, Fallingwater (http://www.fallingwater.org/).  And, not to far from Fallingwater, you can visit another Frank Lloyd Wright house, Kentuck Knob (http://kentuckknob.com/).  They are about an hour southeast of Pittsburgh.  Easy drive.  And, if you go to see Fallingwater, be sure to visit Ohiopyle State Park, where you will be rewarded with a beautiful waterfall and wonderful photo opportunities (http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/stateparks/findapark/ohiopyle/).  There are so many things to do in Pittsburgh, with biking trails, hiking trails, and lots of county parks (http://www.alleghenycounty.us/parks/index.aspx).  Pittsburgh is unique and hilly and walkable and very beautiful! Enjoy your visit!