I recently spent 24 hours in Pittsburgh — a city I had never been to before — and somehow managed to see… the airport, the highway from the airport to my hotel, and my hotel room. Oh, and I did take the photo above as we were landing…in case that counts as seeing Pittsburgh.
That’s it. That was the tour.
To be fair, it was a work trip, so there wasn’t much else on the agenda. And there happened to be a Steelers game the night I arrived. If you’ve ever been in a city on game day (especially one where the team is basically a religion), you know that normal traffic laws and timelines cease to exist.
By the time I made it to my hotel, I quickly realized that any plans I might have had to “explore” were replaced with one overwhelming desire: to not get stuck in a traffic jam.
So instead of strolling through neighborhoods, popping into local coffee shops, or taking in scenic views after my work day, I made peace with seeing more of the hotel after hours. Fortunately, I have a friend who lives in the area and was kind enough to come meet me there for a drink, which turned out to be exactly the kind of evening I needed.
And honestly? Despite not seeing much of Pittsburgh proper, the trip was wonderful. I got to catch up with an old friend. I met new people. And I landed in a city that I already know I want to go back to.
We’re so conditioned to believe that travel has to be a big adventure. That if you go somewhere new, you have to do something with it. See the sights. Capture the moments. Document every meal, landmark, and aesthetic corner of a place you may never return to.
But this trip wasn’t about checking Pittsburgh off a list.
It was about being somewhere different, even briefly.
It was about a pause between meetings and responsibilities.
It was about letting a city simply exist around me without feeling pressure to consume it.
And there was something oddly poetic about that.
I didn’t experience Pittsburgh through its museums or bridges or neighborhoods. I experienced it through its energy. Through the sea of black and gold jerseys moving through the airport. Through the way the entire city seemed to vibrate with anticipation for a football game. Through the way everyone I encountered felt like they were part of something collective and spirited and distinctly Pittsburgh.
So no, I didn’t “see” Pittsburgh.
But I felt it.
And maybe that counts for something, too.
Someday, I’d love to go back — without a major sporting event taking over the city — and actually wander. Actually explore. Actually see what everyone loves so much about it.
But for now, I’ll remember Pittsburgh as the place I went to not go anywhere at all.
The city that gave me 24 hours of stillness instead of sightseeing.
And honestly, that was all I needed it to do.
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