Best Places For Holiday Photos
By Sally Turkovich
Get ready... it's time pose for the family holiday photo! In Pittsburgh, where there are so many different neighborhoods with different personalities, it's easy to find a unique place to gather the family together for the annual snapshot. Skip the trip to the mall's one-hour studio and head out into the city for a more creative and original photo for this year's holiday card! Here is a list of the top five places to head to for that family snapshot no one else will have.
West End-Elliott Overlook
Rue Grande Vue Street (between Lorenz and Navajo Way)
Pittsburgh, PA
412-881-8300
Everyone knows about the overlooks on Mt. Washington. Head further down the river to the West End Overlook, also called the Elliott Overlook Park, to get a completely different perspective of the city in the background of your portrait. Bundle everyone up, get some coordinating scarves and set the self-timer for this outdoor photo. Fun perk: since the shot is outdoors and in a city park, the location is dog friendly! Get extra scarves for your furry family members and include them in the photo!
Cathedral of Learning
4200 Fifth Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15213
www.pitt.edu/~natrooms
Take things indoors for this one. Beginning November 12th, the Nationality Rooms are decorated in the traditional holiday styles of each room's heritage. Be sure to check out the understated elegance of the American Room and the over-the-top-opulance of the Austrian Room. Not all rooms allow for photography, but in the rooms that do, make yourself at home for this quirky home-away-from-home snapshot. Keep in mind that while school is in session at Pitt, classes may be taking place so plan on visiting the Cathedral on an evening or weekend to snag an empty room.
PPG Skating Rink
4 PPG Place
Pittsburgh, PA 15222
412-394-3641
www.ppgplace.com/rink
If you're feeling more adventurous and have a family of sports enthusiasts then hit the PPG Skating Rink, rent some skates, and snag a spectator to get a holiday photo that shows your family in action! The rink is 2,000 square feet in size so you won't have to compete for space and the giant Christmas tree in the middle of the rink will make for an excellent backdrop. The rink opens on Light Up Night, November 18th.
Carnegie Museum of Art
4400 Forbes Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15213
412-622-3131
www.cmoa.org
The Hall of Architecture at the Carnegie Museum of Art in Oakland gets a holiday makeover each year with five statuesque spruce trees decorated in unique ways. Head to this location and plan on spending some time there after you've gotten your photo. You'll need to buy an admission ticket to get to the Hall of Architecture so while you're there make the most of it and stroll through the whole museum!
Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens
One Schenley Park
Pittsburgh, PA 15213
412-441-4442
www.phipps.conservatory.org
Like the Carnegie Museum of Art, you'll have to pay admission to get in to Phipps but the photo opportunity is well worth the price of the ticket. Every year the Winter Flower Show takes over this classic greenhouse and turns Phipps into a lush winter flower garden. Poinsettias, evergreens lit with tiny twinkle lights and visits on the weekend by Santa make Phipps a magical place for a family photo that includes little ones. The Winter Flower Show starts November 25th and Santa visits every Saturday and Sunday from November 26th through December 24th.
Sally Turkovich lives in Pittsburgh with her fiancé, Jason, and German Shepherd, Zeus. By day she works as an eyewear stylist for an independent eye doctor. By night, she writes a twice-weekly column for Twoday Magazine. Catch up with her there at twodaymag.com.
