Here Are The 10 Weirdest Places You Can Possibly Go Around Pittsburgh
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Beth Price-Williams
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Weird is a pretty subjective term. But, most will probably agree that weird is typically endearing because, after all, normal can be somewhat boring. Here are 10 of the weirdest places around Pittsburgh (and near Pittsburgh) that you’ll definitely want to visit for a unique adventure.
Head to Gravity Hill in Allison Park - 601 McKinney Road - to experience what can only really be explained as a weird phenomenon or an optical illusion, depending on your personal beliefs. Put your vehicle in neutral on Gravity Hill and your car will inch backwards (or at least appear to) uphill. (Of course, you should never stop in the middle of a street if traffic is coming or if it will put you in a dangerous situation.)
Get lost in the self-described tourist trap that is Trundle Manor, the city's largest and weirdest private collection of oddities. Stroll through the collection, where you'll discover jarred animals, medical devices, antique taxidermy, and coffins. Trundle Manor welcomes guests by appointment only.
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Quick! Where's the steepest street in the United States? Why, Pittsburgh, of course. Accept the challenge of biking or walking up and down the steep street in Beechview. Canton Avenue spans 1,150 feet and has a grade of 35 percent.
Unique. Weird. Whatever you want to call it, the Bayernof Museum is certainly an interesting place to visit. Occupying 19,000 square feet, the museum houses countless unique music boxes and musical instruments. Explore the museum by using secret passages and hidden doors and enjoy the stunning views of the Allegheny River from the south side of the museum, which is made of glass.
Lester Madden really loved the movie Jaws. Need proof? Just visit his grave at Allegheny Cemetery. Find Section 26 and look for the shark tombstone, perhaps one the most unique headstones in the cemetery.
How many people can say they've seen an 18 foot coffee pot that dates back to 1927? Become one of those people by driving to Bedford, the perfect town for a day trip, and snap some selfies against the weirdly charming roadside attraction.
Some may call it weird but ghost hunters, both professional and amateur, hope for a chance encounter with the paranormal at Hill View Manor in New Castle. Tour Haunted Hill Manor to uncover the spirits that remain in the former Lawrence County Home for the Aged. Join a day tour or one of the popular night tours, if you dare.
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Back in 1965, a UFO is said to have crashed in Kecksburg, about an hour outside of Pittsburgh, but it wasn't until 1990 that the Space Acorn came into existence thanks to Unsolved Mysteries. The popular television show traveled to Kecksburg to cover the decades-old UFO story. They built a replica of the UFO from eyewitness testimony and left it behind. In 2005, the town decided to display it prominently and voila! Visitors now go out of their way to visit the famous Space Acorn.
You've got to admit that it's just a little bit weird - although incredibly endearing - that we take our weather cues from a groundhog named Phil. The hour and a half drive to Gobbler's Knob in Punxsutawney is worth the adventure that awaits, especially on Groundhog Day.
Just about every Pittsburgher knows that the horror flick, Dawn of the Dead, was filmed at Monroeville Mall in the mid-1970s. Channel your inner zombie when you visit the Living Dead Museum in Evans City. With memorabilia and film clips, the museum leads visitors on a journey through the history of zombies in films.
Are you ready to visit one or more of the weirdest places in Pittsburgh? Or, do you know of a spot that should make the list?
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