Hello Pittsburgh!

After a string of flight delays, we finally landed in Pittsburgh, where we plan to begin our 10-day road trip following the Ohio River. We checked into the Best Western Parkway Center, just outside of town. It's got just what a family traveling on a budget needs: swimming pool (free entertainment!), complimentary breakfast, and affordable rates.

We're looking forward to spending our first day and Saturday morning in Pittsburgh (although the weather looks nothing like that in the photo above. It's raining). Here's a look at some places we hope to visit:

Primanti Bros: It's a local chain of sandwich restaurants, where you can get french fries in your sandwiches. My friend Jennifer Reese, author of Make the Bread, Buy the Butter, suggested it.

Mount Washington: The best place to take in views of the city. It's free!

Architectural walking tour: The Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation offers a series of free downloadable walking tours that will take you by the historic buildings on Grant Street and Fourth Avenue, in Market Square and the Cultural District, as well as the city’s bridges and river shores.

Oakland District: University of Pittsburgh, Carnegie Mellon University and a bunch of museums including the Carnegie Natural History Museum (we plan to hit this before we leave on Saturday because Bank of America customers get in free on the first consecutive Saturday and Sunday of each month in 2012)

Andy Warhol Museum: Half-off admission on Friday nights.