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NEWS & NOTESPittsburgh to Host First-Ever ISI Northeast Championships
Pittsburgh – Site of the 2022 ISI Northeast Championships (Visit Pittsburgh/Dustin McGrew Photography)
by Eileen Viglione
Hip, Hip, Hooray! We’re bringing a national event (including all the fun and excitement that goes along with it!) to the picturesque Northeast this year — our first national competition in this beautiful area of the country! Hosted by Ice & Blades Figure Skating Team (of Western Pennsylvania), the 2022 ISI Northeast Championships takes place May 13-15 at Alpha Ice Plex in Pittsburgh, Pa., otherwise known as “The Steel City” or “City of Bridges.” Test and entry deadline is March 25. Visit skateisi.org/northeastchamps.
Alpha Ice Complex
Alpha Ice Complex
Located just 20 minutes from downtown Pittsburgh, the Alpha Ice Complex features three sheets of spectacular ice, ready for eager skaters to showcase their moves.
Famous Scenic Vistas
If Pittsburgh isn’t on your bucket list of places to visit, you’ll want to rethink this. Better yet, go ahead and register for Northeast Champs, and you’ll soon discover for yourself why it’s a must-see destination. With its snaking hills, meandering rivers and golden, arched bridges, you’ll be blown away by its scenic beauty. Add to that its numerous family-friendly attractions, unique cultural sites, award-winning restaurants and fabulous outdoor recreation opportunities, and you may never want to leave!
Here are just some of the many sensational attractions in the “Steel City” that won’t disappoint:
Duquesne Incline Station.
Duquesne Incline — Ride in a restored cable car on the wooden rails scaling Mount Washington for a scenic view of Pittsburgh and its three rivers. Today Weekend Magazine calls it one of the “10 most beautiful views in America.” Visit duquesneincline.org
Kennywood Park
Kennywood Park — Founded in 1898, Kennywood amusement park was recently named “Favorite Traditional Amusement Park” by the National Amusement Park Historical Association. Members of this group are mostly amusement park enthusiasts who have visited countless amusement parks. (Surely, they know what they’re talking about!) Visit kennywood.com
Gateway Clipper Fleet — Have fun taking in the sights of Pittsburgh from a different vantage point — aboard a Gateway Clipper riverboat! Several types of cruises — dining, sightseeing and kids’ theme — are available. Visit gatewayclipper.com
Carnegie Science Center/Photo by David Heath
Carnegie Science Center — Enjoy exploring four floors of interactive exhibits that highlight space exploration, the human body, water, sports (as they relate to physics) and more. Visit carnegiesciencecenter.org
Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium — The Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium is home to more than 8,000 animals representing over 600 species, including the African elephant, Black rhinoceros, Komodo dragon and Amur lion. What’s more, the facility made animal medical history in September when one-year-old “Floppy” the penguin became the first member of his species to get a wing successfully amputated, after the zoo discovered he had a broken wing bone. (ISI’s Flip and Twizzle are flippin’ out about meeting him!) Visit pittsburghzoo.org
Other fun places to visit in Pittsburgh: Randyland, Heinz History Center, Andy Warhol Museum, Invention Land and Heinz Field (home of the Pittsburgh Steelers).
5 Fab Facts about Pittsburgh
- Known as the “City of Bridges,” with 446 bridges — more than any city in the world!
- Birthplace of the emoticon J, the McDonald’s Big Mac, Heinz Ketchup and the Ferris Wheel
- Features 700 sets of public stairs that are maintained by an Inspector of Steps (really!)
- Home to the steepest street you can drive on in the United States — Canton Street
- Spelled as Pittsburg from 1891 to 1911 (which may explain why people frequently misspell it!)
More Information
Sources: “41 Fun Facts About Pittsburgh You Weren’t Taught in School,” Uncovering PA (uncoveringpa.com); “50 Best Things to Do in Pittsburgh,” Travel Lens (travellens.co)
Photos courtesy of Visit Pittsburg, Kennywood Park and Carnegie Science Center
